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balanced diet provides all the nutrients in proper proportion and amount.
Though foods specially formulated for cats are more nutrient-dense, a diet for
"all stages" may be fed as well. Although your cat requires the entire complement
of nutrients, calcium, phosphorus, zinc, vitamin A, vitamin D, thiamine, essential
fatty acids and taurine are especially important. For example, a diet that's otherwise
sufficient but deficient in one nutrient, such as zinc, can result in poor growth,
dermatitis and other deformities Cats are strict carnivores and require food of
animal origin to survive.
Cats are unique in that they need specific nutrients, which they cannot manufacture
in their body, unlike dogs, and are not present in foods of plant origin. These
essential nutrients found in animal tissues must be supplied in the cat's
diet and include Vitamin A, taurine and certain fatty acids. Cat food is the best
alternate and exact supplement source, which comes in a variety of forms that
include dry food, semi-moist food, canned food and natural prey. Dry foods:
Dry foods are the most convenient type of commercial cat food. They can help prevent
the tartar buildup that leads to gum disease and tooth decay, and they are the
most economical option Semi-Moist Foods: Semi-moist foods contain
about 25 to 40 percent water and are often chosen for their convenience and palatability.
They have a similar nutritional value to their dry and wet counterparts.
Canned Cat Food: Canned or wet foods are often the most appealing to felines
since most cats enjoy the texture and aroma of canned foods. Those with
a high fat concentration are usually the favorites.
Feeding
tips Serve
cat food at room temperature as the smell encourages the cat to eat. Avoid
feeding large amounts of raw fish and liver, which can harm your cat.
Remove uneaten portions of food and replace with a fresh supply. Cats like
privacy so feed separately to dogs and other cats in a quiet place. Raw chicken
bones can be fed to cats to help keep their teeth clean. Cats can be fed
milk if you wish but best to dilute first. Specially formulated cat milks
are available but are not a complete diet. Fresh water should be available
at all times.
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