CATS

🐾 Healthy Diet for Cats

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🐾 Healthy Diet for Cats





📌 Introduction

Proper nutrition is one of the most important factors in maintaining a cat's health and quality of life. Cats need a balanced mix of proteins, fats, vitamins, and minerals to ensure healthy growth and normal bodily functions. While purchasing store-bought food makes feeding easier and accurately meets their nutritional needs, some cat owners may wish to prepare complete homemade meals to meet their pets' needs and avoid certain artificial additives.

In this article, we recap the basics of "cat food," adding scientific advice, homemade recipes, and new sections on cats' nutritional needs.

🥩 Main Diets for Cats

1. Commercial Ready-Made Diets

  • Dry foods (croquettes): Rich in energy and nutrients, with a longer shelf life, but may contain less moisture.

  • Wet foods (canned): Provide high moisture, which supports urinary tract health, and are often more palatable for cats with sensitive tastes.

  • Semi-moist foods: Between dry and moist, but check their ingredients to avoid excess sugars and oils.

💡 Tip: Choose products approved by veterinary associations and check their content of essential nutrients such as taurine, fatty acids (omega 3 and 6), and calcium.

2. Homemade Diet 




🔹 Raw Diet (BARF/ACBA)

Relies on providing fresh or frozen meat and fish, ground with crushed bones, boiled or ground vegetables, and nutritional supplements such as fish oil and vitamin E.

  • Ingredients must be clean and finely chopped.

  • Meat should be frozen beforehand to kill parasites.

🔹 Home-Cooked Diet

  • Prepare boiled meat (chicken, turkey, lean beef) with boiled wheat or rice, and ground vegetables (carrots, peas).

  • Add supplements such as vitamins and minerals as recommended by your veterinarian.

💡 Tip: Consult a veterinarian to develop a balanced nutritional formula containing all the necessary amino acids and vitamins.

🥛 Yogurt and Its Role in a Cat's Diet

✅ Benefits:

  • Contains probiotics that support digestive health and strengthen immunity.

  • A good source of calcium for healthy bones and teeth.

⚠️ Precautions:

  • Choose natural, full-fat yogurt free of artificial sweeteners.

  • A little strawberry, raspberry, or natural vanilla may be added.

  • Offer in moderation (one teaspoon daily) and ensure your cat is not lactose intolerant.

🍲 Healthy Foods for Cats

  • Cooked Meats: Skinless, boneless beef, chicken, or turkey, boiled or grilled without fat.

  • Cooked or Canned Fish: A source of omega-3 fatty acids, but avoid overfeeding.

  • Whole Grains: Oats, brown rice, and barley, well-cooked and mashed, in small amounts.

  • Boiled Vegetables: Carrots, sweet potatoes, peas, mashed or cut into small pieces.

💧 Tip: Always place a clean cup of water next to the food dish to encourage your cat to drink regularly.

🚫 Prohibited and Harmful Foods

  • Garlic and onions ❌

  • Raw eggs ❌

  • Hard bones ❌

  • Saturated fats ❌

  • Caffeine and chocolate ❌

  • Whole milk ❌

🐾 General Cat Feeding Tips

  • Balance is important: Ensure 70–80% of daily calories come from animal protein.

  • Taurine is essential: Found in meat and fish, necessary for heart and eye health.

  • Weight monitoring: Divide meals into 2–3 per day, avoid free feeding.

  • Veterinary monitoring: Regular checkups to adjust diet based on age and health.

📝 Conclusion

Providing proper and balanced nutrition for cats contributes to their long-term health and well-being. Whether you rely on high-quality prepared foods or carefully prepared homemade recipes under medical supervision, paying attention to a variety of food sources, adjusting portion sizes, and meeting your cat's specific needs (such as age, weight, and health) remains essential to ensuring an active and healthy life for your furry friend.

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