Pet Blog

“Cats are not small dogs” is a common saying in the veterinary profession.  Nowhere is this more true than when it comes to diet.  Dogs are omnivores while cats are pure hunters – carnivores at heart.  In fact, cats that are fed a regular diet of dog food can develop a potentially fatal form of heart disease due to their relatively higher need for taurine, an amino acid.

So, when it comes to the question of what to feed cats, the simplest answer is “ cat food .”  Diets made for other species are completely inappropriate, as are most home-cooked regimens, unless an owner is working from recipes formulated by a veterinary nutritionist.  In general, kittens should eat kitten food until they are one year old and can then be switched to an adult formula.   Milk  and other dairy products should be avoided.

Because cats are carnivores, they tend to do best on diets high in protein and low in carbohydrates.  Check out the food’s label.  The more meat and meat products that are listed early on in the ingredient list the better.  Compare the protein percentage listed in different foods’ guaranteed analysis, but remember that quality also matters.  For example, “deboned chicken” is more nutritious than “chicken meal,” which is superior to “chicken byproduct meal.”

The choice between canned and dry formulas is a difficult one.  Different studies have shown potential benefits and pitfalls with each choice.  For example, obesity and diabetes mellitus seems more common in cats fed dry diets, particularly if they have access to food throughout the day.  On the other hand, cats fed from cans may be at higher risk for dental disease and hyperthyroidism.  Convenience and cost play a large role in this decision, so owners should feel free choose what works best for them

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Jennifer Coates, DVM graduated with honors from the Virginia-Maryland Regional College of Veterinary Medicine in 1999.  In the years since, she has practiced veterinary medicine in Virginia, Wyoming, and Colorado and is the author of several short stories and books, including the Dictionary of Veterinary Terms, Vet-Speak Deciphered for the Non-Veterinarian.  Dr. Coates lives in Fort Collins, Colorado with her husband, daughter, and a menagerie of pets.