Hello! Nigel here! I know it has been awhile since I last checked in with everyone, but things have just been so busy at the hospital. We had quite a scare with Hurricane Matthew, but luckily, no damage done to For Cats Only. We have also been working on adding some new services for all of our favorite cats and their guardians.
One that I would specifically like to talk to you about today is food. Many cat guardians are understandably very concerned about what they feed their precious kitties. With so many choices out there on the market, it can be quite overwhelming when you step in to a pet store and try to decide what to choose to feed your cat. Trying to pick a brand of food based on the can or the commercial on TV can be misleading. Luckily, Dr. Stephanie’s primary focus is veterinary nutrition. She has been most kind and allowed me to share some tips with you on how to pick not only a good diet, but an excellent diet for your cat overlords.
From time to time, I like to put a mouse in my food dish as a reminder to Dr. S as to what I would prefer to eat.
As you have heard me mention before, cats are obligate carnivores. This means we MUST eat meat. In the wild, we would eat mostly rodents, baby rabbits, birds, lizards and insects. The only carbohydrates we would eat are those that are inside the bellies of our prey (I know this is gross…but I’m trying to educate you so just stick with me here). Cats are also not really natural fish eaters. Although many of us do enjoy a fish dinner, it is not the best choice of protein for cats. Fish are high in certain toxic chemicals and there are studies that suggest a link between eating fish and hyperthyroidism. Fish are also quite high in phosphorous, which is bad for felines with kidney disease. In addition, fish are high in Vitamin D, which has a potential link to dental disease problems. For all of these reasons, the docs at For Cats Only recommend that you feed your cats chicken, turkey, duck and rabbit. Be sure to read labels carefully, as even cans of food that are called “Chicken Dinner” can have fish as a primary ingredient.
It is of extreme importance that you humans understand that cats need moisture to have healthy kidneys and urinary tracts. For this reason, the doctors recommend that you feed us only wet food. No dry food at all..ok…maybe a few kibbles for a treat here and there… but the majority of our diet should be canned.
Cecil enjoying some “Paw Lickin’ Chicken” from Weruva.
At For Cats Only, the docs know that trying to choose a good diet for your cat can be confusing. This is why the hospital is now carrying varieties of brands that the doctors recommend. I can tell you that my little brother Cecil and I have personally tried each and every food that Dr. S brought home that met her requirements for high protein level and low carbohydrate level. The brands that we liked the best and that Dr. S felt had the best overall companies are now being sold for convenience at For Cats Only. Come on in and see what we have selected for you…we really think you are going to like it!!
If you have any questions about nutrition and what is best for your cats to live long and healthy lives, please call Dr. S or Dr. J at the hospital. They would be happy to advise you on an appropriate (and delicious) diet for your kitties.
That’s all for now. This is Nigel, signing off. Meow!
