Should I feed my cat wet or dry food, what is the best for their health?
Emma Mason, Elizabeth Vale, S.A
Cats are strict carnivores, they need to eat animal based proteins, just like cats in the wild. Cats don’t have the enzymes to digest carbohydrates, and they use protein & fat for energy. My recommendation is to feed your cat 2-3 cans of wet food a day and limit dry food to very small quantities if necessary.
What should I look for when choosing a wet food for my cat?
Danielle Salmon, The Ponds, NSW
There are a lot of hidden nasties in cat food that are bad for cats. Look at the ingredients on the label and avoid cereal fillers. Look for a wet food that is high in real fish & meat, as cats are strict carnivores and need these nutrients. On the label ingredients are listed in terms of largest to least, look for fish or meat as the first or second ingredient.
I have heard that cats are bad drinkers, how do I give my cat the water it needs daily?
Wendy Smith, Hornsby, NSW
As cats evolved from the desert they naturally have a low thirst drive as they obtain the water they need from the prey they eat in the wild. The best way to give your cat the moisture it needs is by feeding them a wet food daily. The benefits of wet cat food is that it’s higher in animal protein and water & closer to the natural diet of wild cats. The higher moisture content also helps to avoid chronic diabetes, kidney and urinary tract problems.
Is there anything I need to know about reading a cat food label?
Nicola Parsons, Melbourne, Vic
When choosing a cat food for your cat, always read the ingredients section of the label, the ingredients are listed in order of largest constituent of that cat food to least constituent. Look for cat foods that have meat or fish as first ingredient and try to avoid grains and cereal fillers. We know that cats do not digest carbohydrates well, so why would there be cereal and cereal by-products in a wet product?
