Talking About Pet Care Supplies

When you get a new cat, both you and the cat need to take a little time to adapt to one another. As a part of this adaptation, you'll need to decide which food is best suited to your cat's needs. Standing in the aisle of your local pet food store can be overwhelming if you're not sure what you're looking for. Most pet food stores carry tons of various cat foods, and it's not always clear which is best for your cat. Here are some tips to help you pick the right one.

Make sure the food contains meat.

While there are some vegan cat foods on the market, the consensus in the veterinary community is that a vegan or vegetarian diet is not healthy for cats. Felines need a specific amino acid called taurine that is only found in animal products. Cats cannot produce this amino acid themselves, so when they do not get taurine in their diets, they develop symptoms like digestive trouble, blindness, and weakening of the heart muscles. As such, the first thing to check for when searching for a cat food is that the food contains meat products of some sort. This way, you know your cat's taurine needs will be met.

Aim for fewer ingredients.

Cats don't all need super limited ingredient diets. Those are usually reserved for cats who have allergies and need to undergo an elimination diet. However, feeding a food with 100 different ingredients is not usually the best, either. A lot of those ingredients are likely to be preservatives and fillers, which are not always as healthy as you'd hope. Look for a cat food with somewhere between five and fifteen ingredients, and you'll generally get a better product.

Only choose a specialty food if your cat has been diagnosed.

If your cat has been diagnosed with a urinary tract problem, then by all means, select a food formulated for urinary health. If he or she has had skin problems, a formula for healthy skin is a wise choice. Just don't select one of these specialty foods if your cat has not been diagnosed with any health problems. The food may contain nutrients or components that do your cat more harm than good, considering he or she does not actually have a health problem. If you're not sure what type of therapeutic food to buy, ask your vet for recommendations.

Choosing a cat food should be a lot easier if you reference the tips above.