Types of Cat Food

To elaborate a feeding program for cats, one has to have in mind its age, race, size, type of hair, activity and climate. It is important to remember that nourishment requirements and his likings or aversions, have nothing to do with the cats diet. If food servings are well balanced, unless there is a disturbance in its metabolism, the cat must not need additional supplements.

Home nourishment: When preparing a home diet, you must have in mind that the animal needs to eat a well balanced meal that can satisfy all his needs for nutrients, therefore, the servings must be composed of meats (muscular tissues) as a source of proteins; greasy meats, as a source of fats, and sugars, as a source of carbohydrates. Cereals and some vegetables, will provide fiber, and organs, as a source of vitamins. Blood and bones, will provide minerals.

Nourishing ingredients: Meats: Meat is a basic ingredient in cats meals. One can provide meat coming from cattle, horse, pork, sheep, chicken, fish, or others. It is recommended to cook meat lightly to eliminate any possible parasites, specially with pork and fresh fish meat.

Pieces of fat or of low quality ground meat can be used as a valuable source of fat for servings.

Liver: Besides being highly appreciated by cats, liver is a valuable source of vitamin A and iron. It must be lightly cooked to avoid diarrhea. Cats are able to devour all the liver at his reach, so you must be careful, because an excessive consumption of this organ can cause death by intoxication.

Kidney: Besides being cheap, kidneys, specially of cattle, are also a valuable source of iron and vitamins.

Before cooking kidneys, it is recommended to wash them for about an hour in cold water to cleanse away any uric acid residue.

Heart: The heart, specially that of the chicken and of the rabbit, are very much appreciated by cats and are a good source of proteins.

One must not remove the pericardial sack, or fat tissues that surround the heart, it is a good source of fat.

Lungs: Lungs have a low nutritional value, so it is not recommended to add them in food diets because probably cats will not eat them.

Udders: As lungs, they have low nutritional value and it is not recommended for cats.

Guts: One can feed them to the big cats, but it is not recommended for little ones.

Milk: Milk can provide lots of calcium and phosphorus that a cat needs to develop its bones and teeth. Many cats loose the ability to digest milk with age. In order to prove cats tolerance of milk, one must give them some of it, and if they not develop a diarrhea in the next 6 hours, there is no problem.

Yogurt: Because it is very much appreciated and it is already partially digested by the lactic bacteria, they are easily digested by cats.

Butter: It is an excellent source of fat, but not so cheap. It is suggested only in rare occasions.

Margarine: Not recommended. These do not contain calcium or phosphorus and its polisaturated fats are not easy for cats to take advantage of.

Eggs: The yoke of a raw egg has a good flavor and provides proteins, vitamins and minerals. On the other side, the raw white eggs destroy vitamins B.

Vegetables: Despite cats being carnivorous, they can consume small quantities of cooked vegetables ( 5% of its diet ).

Fruits: Fruits contain simple carbohydrates and some vitamins, the difference with vegetables is that they do not need to be cooked.

Cereals: Cereals, in an adequate quantity, are good for the cat. They supply them with carbohydrates. Do not feed them raw cereals.