Having a cat is good for you. A feline’s presence alone can improve your mental and physical health. In addition to being a good friend and a great cuddle buddy, your cat is your family. You’re responsible for feeding and caring for the cat, and no matter what anyone says, that cat is your child.
Do not feed your “child” (i.e. cat) food that affords no benefit to his or her health. Sure, generic, store brand cat food might not make your cat sick, but if there are healthier options to improve health and longevity, why not take those?
When it comes to finding the right food for your cat, you can’t just choose the healthiest option and call it a day. You love your cat; you want your cat to run excitedly for the food dish like in the “Fancy Feast” commercials. That won’t happen if your cat despises his or her food. You may have to try several things before finding the right brand and flavor.
Here are a few things to consider when choosing cat food:
- Read the label and examine it thoroughly to ensure that it meets the AAFCO standards. You also need to ensure that your cat will get enough nutrients from this food.
- Remember that food labels like “gourmet” and “premium” have no true definition and are not recognized by the AAFCO. This means they have no standards to meet, they can just title a product “premium” and charge more for it.
- Cats are carnivores, and you’ll be hard pressed to find a cat that doesn’t thoroughly enjoy salmon.
- Do a few taste tests with your cat, and once you find a winner, slowly wean him or her to the new diet. You don’t want to instantly introduce your cat to a new diet.
- Talk to your vet; ask for healthy options for both wet and dry food.
- Don’t let sticker shock get you. In this case, you get what you pay for. The good pet food is often more expensive, but what is a few more years with your pet worth?