Cat Food

Do you feed your cat wet or dry food?  Cats are carnivores.  That means cats are meat eaters.  Wild cats hunt for their food, eating small animals like mice and birds.  They get a lot of their water from their diet.  Even though dry food is easier to store and serve, your cat will probably do better on wet food. Did you know that Amazon.com sells Pet Supplies?  Just click on the Amazon logo and browse their online store.  Amazon.com is the best place online to buy Books, DVDs, Clothes, Electronics and EVEN PET SUPPLIES - and at Great Prices!

Carnivorous Cats by Angelica Candelaria   1/16/09 It was with surprising endearment and absolute ignorance that I adopted a stray feline that had wandered to my front door approximately four years ago. Quite suddenly and unexpectedly, I had become a cat owner. All of my previous contentions that my family were "dog and bird people, not cat people" were shattered as "Boots" craftily insinuated his way into our home and our hearts despite (and because of) his prickly personality. I naively assumed responsibility for his care, committing a host of errors along the way. For his first few years, I fed him dry kibble. It never occurred to me that this may not be the optimal diet for felines. It was inexpensive, convenient, and easy to store. I had him on a free-form feeding regiment. In a manner of speaking, I would leave the dry food in his dish and he would consume it at will, whenever it struck his fancy. Although I would not make the discovery until later, he developed an addiction to the additive-laden, over-processed food (much like humans do, I dare say!) Although it did not immediately occur, Boots's fur began to clump in various places. Each clump was tightly held together by a host of white, miniscule specks that appeared to be dandruff. He remained in this condition for quite some time. Brushing his fur did not render satisfactory results. Therefore, when he permitted it, I would attempt to carefully and painstakingly detangle each strand. I persisted in this tedious (although oddly enjoyable) exercise until his appearance returned to some semblance of normalcy. In the meantime, I had conducted research that suggested I refrain not only from free-form feeding, but from offering him dry food altogether. It was at that point I switched him to an all wet food diet. It initially proved to be a challenge, as he missed the kibble, yet he soon adjusted and his condition disappeared. In fact, his coat assumed a sheen as never before. Even so, Boots's love of dry kibble remained. Whenever the opportunity presented itself, he would sneak into our garage and eat bits of our dog's dry food. I would do all within my power to prevent it, yet he would occasionally slip through, undetected, and greedily consume his forbidden "treat." Certain family members, witnessing these mad dashes for the dog food, insisted that I lacked proper compassion and should indulge his whim by returning to a dry kibble diet. Despite my repeated explanations, such comments were (and still are) sporadically proffered, propelled by Boots's continued persistence. BUY High Quality Pet Food Here! Although owners and veterinarians alike have recommended dry kibble for years, recent studies have shown that as a main dietary staple, kibble not only fails to benefit our cats, but may prove deleterious to their health. As obligate carnivores, cats in the wild derive as much as 70% of their moisture from their prey. In stark contrast, kibble consists of 10% moisture. Any water your cat may be drinking to supplement his dry diet is insufficient to satisfy his daily requirements. As a result, he is most likely in a state of continual dehydration, which can progressively result in urinary tract diseases and, ultimately, kidney failure. Alongside the higher incidences of disease and renal failure linked to kibble is the problem of obesity. I witnessed firsthand how my lack of knowledge in this area resulted in a sudden and "mysterious" weight gain for Boots. Since his main dietary source consisted of 45% carbohydrates and he only required 1-2%, it is little wonder he became overweight. There are several alternatives to a dry diet. Some owners choose to strike a "happy" medium by combining kibble with canned food. Others, like myself, have switched entirely to wet food. Commercial canned food, although not containing the moisture of natural prey, holds significantly more water than dry food: up to 45%. While this is not ideal, it may be the only viable choice for certain owners. The final option is a raw food diet. Short of capturing live prey for your cats, this is hailed by many as the best alternative. Even so, this endeavor must be undertaken with great care. I would suggest not only conducting extensive research, but consulting with veterinarians who have successfully fed their own cats this type of regiment. They will be able to advise you regarding proper feeding and essential supplements. As a loving pet owner, you want to offer your little ones the most balanced diet possible for their long-term health. Comments

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