I didn’t like it much when I was young, but as I got older I genuinely started to appreciate my mom’s interest in eating healthy. I know having a healthy diet has helped keep me at a healthy weight and I also believe it helps me avoid getting sick. In general I just feel better. I’ve had my times, like college, when I wasn’t as conscientious and I can definitely tell the difference.

I’m a firm believer that nutrition is the foundation of health and I wanted good nutrition for my cats too. I want them to have a good quality of life, to be with me for a long time, and none of us are fans of unnecessary visits to the vet. Regular check ups are essential, of course, but by feeding them a healthy diet I hope to lower the risk of them contracting some of the common cat health problems that seem to occur all too often.

I decided it was time to start doing my research. The first thing that’s important to understand is how a cats body works. Cats are obligate carnivores meaning they require a high percentage of protein for their systems to function appropriately. If they don’t intake proper levels of taurine, a component found in meats, cats may be subject to an array of health problems that could include loss of vision. Because of this protein should be the main ingredient in a good cat food.

We may have domesticated them, but by nature they hunt their food and eat it raw. That sounds pretty unpleasant to us but it’s natural for them. By nature they also have a low thirst drive because they were made to get some of their moisture in their food. Some cats that only eat dry foods aren’t getting enough liquids, this can contribute to problems with feline urinary tract infections. It’s important to add at least some moist food to your cat’s diet. Moist food can include canned, raw or frozen. It’s also important to encourage your cat to drink more by providing fresh, clean water. Keeping water in a couple areas of the house can help.

Too much of the food in our grocery stores is over processed and contains bad ingredients. The same seems to be true for cat food. Manufacturers can produce food much cheaper by adding fillers, unfortunately cat’s bodies don’t always respond so well to these fillers. It seems more and more cats have been developing allergies and sensitive stomachs. A sensitive stomach can cause them to throw up a lot after eating which makes it hard for them to absorb the nutrition in their food.

A good general rule when looking for a healthy cat food is to make sure the first ingredient is a quality protein. Additionally look for whole foods and grains like brown rice, carrots and even blueberries, and quality fats like flax oil or chicken fat. Avoid cat foods with artificial colors and preservatives. Cats can often be sensitive to these too.

Me and my kitties (one over 19, the other 10 years old) have been very happy with the results of feeding them a good quality, healthy cat food. And I actually feel like I save money in the long run even though I am spending more on their food. Our vet bills have remained pretty low over the years.

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