Feed Cats an Appropriate Species Diet
Cats are OBLIGATE CARNIVORES - their bodies are designed specifically to thrive on meat-based nutrition. Unlike omnivores, cats require the nutrients found exclusively in animal tissues to maintain optimal health. Cats who exclusively eat dry food are addicted to carbohydrates. Most dry cat foods contain corn with lectins that directly stimulate fat production. It's no surprise that approximately 60% of pet cats are overweight, which will lead to various health conditions, and a reduced lifespan.
When feeding your feline companion, prioritize diets that honor their biological requirements:
Pet food regulations differ significantly from human food standards and are not regulated by the FDA! While packaging may feature appealing designs and marketing claims, all commercial pet food is cooked and too high in fat for proper feline nutrition.
When feeding your feline companion, prioritize diets that honor their biological requirements:
- High-quality animal proteins
- Minimal carbohydrate content
- Essential taurine and other nutrients naturally found in meat
Pet food regulations differ significantly from human food standards and are not regulated by the FDA! While packaging may feature appealing designs and marketing claims, all commercial pet food is cooked and too high in fat for proper feline nutrition.
The Natural Diet for Cats - Cats are obligate carnivores whose bodies evolved specifically to process raw meat. Unlike humans and dogs who can digest both plant and animal proteins, cats possess only the digestive enzymes needed to properly break down and utilize animal proteins.
Unfortunately, the majority of commercial pet foods contain low-quality ingredients enhanced with artificial flavors and additives designed to increase palatability and are high in fat. When selecting food for your feline companion, consider options that honor their biological requirements as meat-eating predators who eat lean prey.
Over recent decades, commercial pet foods have introduced diets that don't align with cats' natural nutritional needs. It's worth noting that cats instinctively know when to fast for healing, and forcing them to eat can interfere with this natural process.
Unfortunately, the majority of commercial pet foods contain low-quality ingredients enhanced with artificial flavors and additives designed to increase palatability and are high in fat. When selecting food for your feline companion, consider options that honor their biological requirements as meat-eating predators who eat lean prey.
Over recent decades, commercial pet foods have introduced diets that don't align with cats' natural nutritional needs. It's worth noting that cats instinctively know when to fast for healing, and forcing them to eat can interfere with this natural process.
A Kitty's Purrsuit of Happiness provides our rescue kitties with a 100% obligate carnivore natural diet, and we recommend this approach for optimal feline health!
WHY WE FEED THE NATURAL DIET - Cats are experiencing alarming rates of health issues including vision loss, kidney disease, heart disease, and muscle wasting. Many cats are living shorter lives with more chronic health problems than ever before. This concerning trend isn't a natural progression but rather a direct result of what we feed our cats and kittens.
We have the opportunity to choose health or disease for the cats in our care simply by selecting the appropriate fuel for their unique anatomy and physiology. This is why we feed in alignment with nature—to help our cats achieve the pristine health that is their birthright.
The natural cat diet is based on what a wild feline would eat according to their biological design. Feeding cats in alignment with their true nature creates the conditions for a long, healthy life and can help prevent—and even reverse—many disease conditions.
* Consultations on the natural feline and canine diets or help with navigating diet change are available.
We have the opportunity to choose health or disease for the cats in our care simply by selecting the appropriate fuel for their unique anatomy and physiology. This is why we feed in alignment with nature—to help our cats achieve the pristine health that is their birthright.
The natural cat diet is based on what a wild feline would eat according to their biological design. Feeding cats in alignment with their true nature creates the conditions for a long, healthy life and can help prevent—and even reverse—many disease conditions.
* Consultations on the natural feline and canine diets or help with navigating diet change are available.
We also use and recommend RAWZ minimally processed natural cat food. RAWZ’s high meat formulas contain fewer carbohydrates than most commercial pet foods. Rawz pet foods also provide healthy levels of quality, highly digestible protein and a healthy amount of naturally occurring fat. This makes RAWZ an ideal option for overweight cats or those who need to maintain an existing healthy weight!
* Important Pet Food Recall List * Another reason to feed Raw!
Harmful for Cats:
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No Corn (maze) and its derivatives (including corn syrup) can be problematic ingredients in cat foods. As obligate carnivores, cats' digestive systems are primarily designed to process animal proteins rather than plant-based ingredients. When selecting cat food:
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NEVER Microwave pet food When warming kitten formula or pet food to body temperature, it's important to use gentle heating methods:
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No Dairy Products: No species in nature continues to consume milk after weaning. Milk is a food designed specifically for infants, with a composition uniquely tailored to the nutritional needs of the young of each species.
The consumption of milk, whether from the same or different species, can lead to various health complications in adults across all animal species. |
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No Dietary Supplements: Cats obtain essential nutrients from animal tissues that have transformed inorganic minerals into bioavailable organic forms. Whole, unprocessed foods provide optimal nutrition for the body's needs. In contrast, isolated nutrient components such as supplements or extracted oils can place stress on biological systems, potentially hindering digestive processes and natural healing mechanisms.
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Recommended Dishes
It is best to use shallow, stainless steel or glass dishes to feed and hydrate your cat. These non-porous surfaces prevent bacteria growth that can occur on other materials. The shallow design is important because it prevents your cat's whiskers from touching the sides of the bowl during eating or drinking.
A cat's whiskers are an essential sensory mechanism, and contact with bowl sides can cause sensory overload and discomfort for your pet. This condition is sometimes called "whisker fatigue."
Proper bowl maintenance is equally important:
A cat's whiskers are an essential sensory mechanism, and contact with bowl sides can cause sensory overload and discomfort for your pet. This condition is sometimes called "whisker fatigue."
Proper bowl maintenance is equally important:
- Wash water bowls daily with soap and water (don't just rinse)
- Provide fresh water daily
- Consider using distilled water, as it doesn't contain minerals that may burden your cat's kidneys
If a cat's whiskers become damaged, it causes not only discomfort but also confusion and disorientation, among other negative side effects. Like human fingerprints, every cat's whisker pattern is unique.
The nerves at the base of the whiskers are remarkably sensitive, capable of detecting even slight air movements that cause the whiskers to vibrate. This sensitivity allows cats to detect air flowing around furniture indoors, helping them identify objects even in complete darkness.
This sensory system is essential because cats are farsighted and have difficulty seeing objects clearly up close. Blind cats rely almost exclusively on their whiskers to navigate their environment—which is why you should never hesitate to adopt a partially or completely blind cat. With their extraordinary whisker sensitivity, they can navigate their surroundings just fine!
The nerves at the base of the whiskers are remarkably sensitive, capable of detecting even slight air movements that cause the whiskers to vibrate. This sensitivity allows cats to detect air flowing around furniture indoors, helping them identify objects even in complete darkness.
This sensory system is essential because cats are farsighted and have difficulty seeing objects clearly up close. Blind cats rely almost exclusively on their whiskers to navigate their environment—which is why you should never hesitate to adopt a partially or completely blind cat. With their extraordinary whisker sensitivity, they can navigate their surroundings just fine!
Scoop the Litterbox Daily!
The Importance of Observation:
ALWAYS pay attention to what is happening in the litter box. Changes in urination patterns and stool characteristics can provide valuable insights into your cat's health:
Long, slimy material in stool often indicates mucus or mucoid plaques that build up in the digestive tract, particularly when cats consume commercial foods. This mucus serves to protect the delicate digestive tissues from potentially harmful substances in the food.
When the digestive system is no longer exposed to irritating ingredients, the body will eventually expel this accumulated mucus in the stool, which can cause:
If you notice these digestive irregularities:
A healthy litter box should have minimal odor. Strong smells often indicate dietary issues. Commercial kibble and canned foods frequently contain indigestible ingredients that:
ALWAYS pay attention to what is happening in the litter box. Changes in urination patterns and stool characteristics can provide valuable insights into your cat's health:
- Urination amount (too much or too little)
- Stool shape, consistency, and color
Long, slimy material in stool often indicates mucus or mucoid plaques that build up in the digestive tract, particularly when cats consume commercial foods. This mucus serves to protect the delicate digestive tissues from potentially harmful substances in the food.
When the digestive system is no longer exposed to irritating ingredients, the body will eventually expel this accumulated mucus in the stool, which can cause:
- Initial constipation as the body works to eliminate the buildup
- Followed by diarrhea as the body flushes out the blockage with water
- Slightly looser stool immediately after the blockage clears
If you notice these digestive irregularities:
- Consider fasting your cat for 24 hours while monitoring for continued loose stool
- Resume feeding only after 24 hours have passed without diarrhea
A healthy litter box should have minimal odor. Strong smells often indicate dietary issues. Commercial kibble and canned foods frequently contain indigestible ingredients that:
- Create fermentation in your cat's digestive system
- Result in larger, more odorous stools
- Indicate that food is not being properly utilized by your cat's body
