Anyone who lives with cats knows they are an important part of the family, and like other family members you likely want to take good care of them to ensure they live a long, healthy life. An important part of that is finding a healthy cat food. Unfortunately this can be a little more difficult than finding healthy food for yourself, unless you know what to look for in a cat food, as cats have different nutritional needs than we do.
What To Avoid
Cats require protein as their main ingredient in food, but unfortunately many pet food companies cut corners and use cheap sources of protein as the main ingredient. Avoid cat foods using meat byproduct meals or meat and bone meal as the main source of protein. These byproducts meals can vary a great deal from one batch to another so they are not a reliable nutrition source for your companion. They are inexpensive rendered products that are cheap for pet food companies to use.
In general it is best to stay away from any foods that use various meat byproducts as the main source of protein. While using them occasionally may be okay, it is best to choose a higher quality source for their regular food. These byproducts are made from a variety of leftover parts and organs, in some cases even diseased or dying livestock, that are not acceptable for human consumption.
What To Look For
Instead look for meat sources that are named, for example chicken meal. A quality named meat source should be the first ingredient in a healthy cat food. Often times choosing brands that are promoted as "natural", or better yet organic, is a good idea. While the term natural can be somewhat misused at times, more times than not these pet foods will use better ingredients. This is especially true if you choose a trusted brand that has a history of making higher quality natural foods.
Many quality cat foods will also add ingredients like flax seeds, probiotics and enzymes. They will also use vitamins C and E as preservatives instead of things like BHA and BHT.
Since proper nutrition is a basis for a healthy life choosing a healthy cat food is important. It can help keep your cat's immune system strong and give her the nutritional profile she needs to help her live a healthier life. As with any member of the family you want to take good care of her so you can have enjoy a long, healthy life together.
