Feeding your feline friends a balanced diet is necessary to ensure you provide high-quality pet care. However, since there are many varieties of cat food, it can be challenging to find one that fits your pet’s unique needs. If you’re unsure how to narrow down the options, below is more information about how to navigate the pet food aisle. 

What to Prioritize

Because cats are carnivores by nature, their diet must include a high amount of animal protein. This nutrient is common in fish, poultry, and red meat, and it will help your cats thrive. They also require taurine, which is an essential amino acid that cats need to survive. Furthermore, you should look for options that contain fatty acids, enzymes, vitamins, and minerals. Finally, cats need a moderate amount of fat and small amount of carbohydrates to provide energy.

What to Avoid

You should never feed cats a vegetarian diet, or food that is primarily carbohydrates, such as corn, rice, or wheat. These filler foods only provide empty calories, without offering any nutritional benefits. Additionally, be wary of foods that contain preservatives, artificial colors, and chemical flavors. These processed, human-made additives contain chemicals that can negatively affect your cats’ health. 

Differences Between Wet & Dry Food 

While your cat can get essential nutrients from either variety, veterinarians recommend feeding them a combination of wet and dry food for proper pet care. This is because cats who only eat dry food are vulnerable to dehydration, as they may not drink enough water throughout the day.

On the other hand, cats who only eat wet food can develop dental issues because there are no hard crumbs to scrape food particles from their teeth. Feeding a combination diet will also prevent allergies and addictions, both of which your cat can develop if they eat the same brand and flavor of food for every meal. 

Choosing the right cat food is only one component of pet care. To achieve optimal health, your cats also need annual wellness exams. If they’re due for a trip to the veterinarian, contact Pearson Animal Clinic in Russellville, AR. For more than 50 years, this full-service veterinary clinic has been caring for pets in the River Valley community. To learn more about the preventive pet care and specialized services they provide, visit their website. To make an appointment, call (479) 968-3535.