Articles - Page 3 of 5 - Best Cat Foods Advisor

Why Do Cats Need Taurine? (Deficiency Explained)

Trevor Uncategorized June 28, 2022September 10, 2022amino acids, meat, taurine, taurine deficiency

Most cat lovers are likely familiar with taurine as an ingredient in cat food. So, you might wonder why do cats need taurine? Taurine is an amino acid that aids your cat to stay healthy by preventing many major health problems.

Taurine occurs freely in many body cells, tissues, and bile. To understand why cats need taurine, let’s briefly examine amino acids and their function in the cat’s body.

What functions do amino acids serve?

Amino acids assist the body cell in the production of protein required for the proper functioning of all parts of the human and cat’s body. The acid helps with the metabolic process and play a crucial role in the transportation of nutrient and storage.

When proteins are broken down, amino acids are left. The cat’s body utilizes amino to grow and repair body tissues. Therefore, the cat’s body produces a significant number of amino acids.

However, it needs to obtain others from food.

Types of amino acids

Amino acids are classified into three groups.

Essential amino acids:Essential amino acids cannot be produced by the cat’s body. As a result, they must come from food.
Nonessential amino acids: They can be produced by the cat’s body even though their bodies can make them
Conditional amino acids: These acids are only essential in times of illness and stress.

Can cats synthesize taurine from other amino acids?

Taurine is an essential amino acid in cats. That means they are required in large amounts in the cat’s diet. However, while omnivores like humans and dogs can synthesize enough taurine from other amino acids, cats can barely do the same.

Although cats can have some taurine, the enzyme required to synthesize it from cysteine to taurine is lacking. Therefore, cats need reasonable amounts of essential amino acids in their food; otherwise, their health may begin to deteriorate.

Causes of taurine deficiency in cats

Taurine deficiency occurs when you feed your cat food on a commercial or raw diet that does not contain taurine. Similarly, your cat may risk developing taurine deficiency if she enjoys sampling dog food.

Since dogs can create their taurine, their food does not contain taurine. So, a steady dog diet for your cat could lead to taurine deficiency.

Effects of taurine deficiency in cats

Taurine deficiency in cats can cause some severe health issues for cats. Here is a look at some of them:

1. Blindness

One of the earliest known diseases of taurine deficiency is central retina degeneration (CRD).

Taurine plays a vital role in the structure of rods and cones within the retina. A lack of taurine can make these structures degrade, leading to vision loss.

Unfortunately, these cells can not be regained once they are lost. However, early treatment with taurine supplementation can slow the progression of the disease.

2. Dilated Cardiomyopathy

Dilated Cardiomyopathy affects the heart and causes it to enlarge, affecting its ability to pump blood effectively.

Taurine within the heart muscles helps maintain suitable calcium levels and other charged particles on either side of the cell membrane.

Taurine deficiency prevents the heart from contracting normally, leading to congestive heart failure. Cats suffering from this condition may also experience congestive heart failure due to pumping problems.

3. Reproductive failure

A taurine deficiency can lead to reproductive failure in cats. As a result, affected cats would not be able to produce kittens.

4. Tooth decay

One crucial reason cats need taurine is that it keeps their teeth strong and healthy. A lack of taurine would cause cavities in the teeth, thereby leading to decay.

5. Gastrointestinal issues

Taurine aids the cat’s body in producing bile salts required for fat digestion. A lack of taurine would see your cat to develop gastrointestinal issues, including diarrhea and indigestion.

6. Immune system disorders

The immune system helps your cat ward off disease-causing organisms. However, a taurine deficiency could give rise to a range of immune system disorders in your cat, making them experience frequent illnesses.

7. Diabetes

Taurine helps the cat’s body to regulate blood sugar concentration. Your cat may develop diabetes due to a lack of taurine in her diet.

Diagnosis of taurine deficiency in cats

Diagnosing taurine deficiency is quite a difficult task. To begin, your veterinarian would need a comprehensive medical history and a recounting of the progression of any symptoms.

You must provide your veterinarian with a documented record of your cat’s diet ingredients. Subsequently, your veterinarian will perform a complete blood panel and urinalysis by taking a blood sample from your cat.

Because taurine level does not always result in elevated levels, these tests may help rule out diseases that may manifest related symptoms. In addition, your veterinarian may conduct other tests based on your cat’s symptoms.

These tests may include an eye examination to check for retinal degeneration.

Chest X-rays or ultrasounds can also help rule out any severe heart defect. Your veterinarian may also want to conduct an electrocardiogram which helps monitor the electrical functioning of your cat’s heart for normal rhythm.

Treatment of taurine deficiency in cats

The primary treatment for taurine deficiency in cats is the supplementation of taurine.

Given the severity of the symptoms and the length of time the cat has suffered, ongoing supplementation may be required to correct a taurine deficiency.

Your veterinarian may also suggest the inclusion of synthetic taurine in your cat’s diet.

This is necessary because dietary taurine alone cannot resolve the situation, especially when a taurine deficiency has progressed significantly.

Including meat in your cat’s regular diet can also help increase their taurine intake.

Note that taurine is naturally found in uncooked meat, and cooking food could degrade or destroy taurine.

Cats that depend solely on homemade food or a vegan diet are at more risk of developing severe health challenges associated with taurine deficiency.

Why Do Cats Need Taurine? Final Comments

Taurine is a type of amino acid considered the building block of all proteins. Taurine is essential for heart muscle function, good vision, and digestion.

Feline lovers must endeavor to provide their cats with a diet that supports taurine supplementation to keep them healthy.

Your Cat Won’t Use Litter Box

Trevor cat spraying problem, Uncategorized March 22, 2022September 3, 2022cat urinating, litter box, spraying

Is your cat suddenly peeing outside its litter box? This problem causes much angst for cat owners and their pets! Understanding cat behaviour as to why your cat won’t use litter box can be complex. In this guide we look at the root cause of the problem and make suggestions on how to resolve the behavior.

Litter box evasion can occur in the following two ways:

Your new cat or kitten simply refuses to use the litter box you provide.
Your cat suddenly stops using the litter box.

Cats are very choosy in their habits, and even very young kittens will make an attempt to use a designated litter box rather than pee on the floor or furniture.

When you discover that your cat has had an ‘accident’, it’s important that you refrain from punishing him/her – harsh words or reprimands will not persuade your companion to return to the box!

Rather, you need to determine why your cat is eliminating inappropriately. Identify the root cause of the problem.

Understanding the Reasons Why Your Cat Won’t Use Litter Box

The first thing to do if your cat starts evading the litter box is to organise a visit to your veterinarian. There could be factors such as a bladder infection, bladder stones, urinary infection, Interstitial Cystitis, diabetes or constipation that may well be causing the problem.

However, if your cat is healthy, there are other reasons why your cat is suddenly avoiding the litter box.

A Key Reason

Cats are super clean animals. One factor that can drive a cat from their litter box is a box that is filthy. Put yourself in your pet’s situation and imagine how you would feel having to use an overflowing toilet! You wouldn’t, so why would a cat. Today’s busy world frequently leaves us trying to do too much in too little time; however, the litter box cannot be neglected.

In many cases cats will avoid using a dirty box. Cleaning the box regularly will often solve the problem. Too many cats using the same box contribute to this problem.

6 More Reasons Your Cat Won’t Use Litter Box

Relocating the litter box to a new spot in the house can cause confusion. Cats are creatures of habit, and moving the box to a place that might be convenient to you can result in soiling inappropriately.
Using a new kind of litter may upset your cat. Your cat may decide that he/she does not like the new smell or texture of the new product. Cats have delicate noses and scented litters may be too strong for your cat.
While mechanized, self-cleaning litter boxes do save owners effort and will keep the box cleaner; however, many cats are spooked by the noise these boxes produce, and may take some time to get comfortable with them.
The litter box needs to be the correct size. Boxes that are too small can make the cat uncomfortable.
Hooded litter boxes do keep the home looking better and the floor tidier, but some cats are fearful of entering a dark place. Litter box liners may also cause a problem.
Intact adult cats mark their territory by spraying with urine. This is especially evident with toms. Neutering the cat will help solve to problem of litter box avoidance.

Getting your cat back on track and utilizing their litter box may take some problem solving and require time, but generally a solution can be found that will work for both you and your pet.

Tips to Introducing a Litter Box to Your Cat or Kitten for the First Time

The following suggestions are for people introducing a new cat or kitten to the home and then training them to use a litter box for the first time.

In a natural state, cats seek dry, loose soil in which to urinate and defecate. If you provide a litter that imitates this, you will likely have your cat using the box without any issues. Not all cats take too well to scented litter. It is best to stick with an unscented brand at least until your cat gets familiar with its box.
Keep the litter box clean. Remove sullied litter daily- the sooner the better. All the litter in the box should be changed entirely once a week and the litter pan washed.
It is best that pet owners with more than one cat, provide a litter box for each of them. In most cases cats are not fond of sharing the box with other cats.
Select a location that the cat likes to use for toileting. Preferably locate the litter box away from where the cat eats and drinks. Most cats like privacy, so placing the box in a more out-of-the-way spot will encourage use.
Should your cat be resisting using the litter box, try confining him/her in a small room with the box available. Most often, the cat will get the idea and start making use of the box.
Kittens can be easily trained to start using a litter box by using an attractant in the box. Do this until they become comfortable with using it.

Cleaning Up After Accidents

There is no mistaking the heavy, ammonia odor of cat urine. Whether your cat is just urinating wherever he/she wishes, or is marking its territory by spraying, the result will be the same- a strong odor that will affect a surprisingly large area of the house.

Urine smell on hard surfaces can be difficult to get rid of. Getting the smell out of fabric can be much worse.

Cats have been known, not only to defecate behind furniture to hide the deed, but they will seek out places such as the bed!

You may have read that soap and water or baking soda will eliminate cat urine odor, they won’t!

Several of the organic compounds in cat urine are not water soluble, thus requiring an enzyme cleaner to remove the smell entirely. One such compound is uric acid. Not only is it non-soluble, but it is also capable of binding to adjacent surfaces.

The process of using an enzyme cleaner may need to be repeated several times until all the odor is gone.

Your nose will let you know when the job is done!

Cat Urine Odor, Removal Tips

Once you locate the problem area, it is important to remove the urine as completely as possible; not only for the sake of your nose, but to discourage your cat thinking that this particular spot is now the new bathroom.

When you find fresh urine, you should:

Wipe urine from hard surfaces with a paper towel (if you use a cloth, you’ll need to throw it away after cleaning up). Use the same to blot urine soaked in furniture or rugs.
An enzyme cleaner is your best choice. These cleaners are specifically made to break down the uric acid contained in cat’s urine, into ammonia and carbon dioxide. These compounds will simply off gas naturally afterwards.
Don’t rush the drying process after using an enzyme cleaner. Hasting the process will interrupt the normal dissipation of the ammonia and carbon dioxide.
Use the best enzyme cleaner available – inexpensive cleaners, often, require multiple uses before they rid the odor of cat urine.
Be plentiful when applying the cleaner. Soak the target area to allow the enzymes to go to work.
Leave the cleaner on for about 15 minutes, blot it up, then let the spot dry naturally.

Although rugs are the usual areas where cats may urinate; beds, sofas, and clothing can also be soiled. The same procedure can be used in all cases. After treatment with the enzyme cleaner, slipcovers and clothing should be washed separately.

With cats that spray in the home you’ll find their markings on vertical surfaces such as door fames or chair legs.

Best Cat Litter to Buy

Clumping litter is the best choice for the litter box. Not only does this kind of material make it easier to remove excrement, but it also makes it easy to remove urine. Use a scoop to take out the clumps twice a day. Better still, if you are home, scoop the box as soon as your cat is finished. Remember to add fresh litter to compensate for what was removed.

Avoid scented cat litter, at least to start with. The smell may be overpowering for your cat causing it to avoid the box.

Final Thoughts

Cat behavior is complex, and the challenges with litter box use and the solutions we’ve presented above only scratch the surface of the justifications and modifications for why your cat won’t use litter box.

The most important aspect is to first eliminate medical problems. After this is done a common-sense approach, looking at the root cause of the problem will have your cat and you feeling content once again.

We have only provided a simple guide. For a comprehensive understanding, we refer you to the ‘Cat Spraying No More’ program. Not only does this excellent guide specifically diagnose the root cause of your cat’s inappropriate toileting, put it gives you a specific procedure to follow.

CLICK HERE to view the ‘Cat Spraying No More’ program.

Feline Interstitial Cystitis

Trevor cat spraying problem, Illnesses March 20, 2022September 3, 2022FIC, Interstitial Cystitis

Feline interstitial cystitis (FIC) is one of most perplexing of the cat illnesses to manage and treat. The problem partly lies in the fact that the symptoms of this disease can be so unclear and broad, that pinpointing an accurate diagnosis can be difficult. The typical victims of interstitial cystitis are young male cats, although it can afflict female cats as well. Cats who are afflicted with this illness, in most cases, outgrow it eventually.

Symptoms of Feline Interstitial Cystitis

Diagnosis of interstitial cystitis is normally made on a basis of the symptoms that the cat is exhibiting. In most instances, there is no sign of infection. However, your veterinarian will suspect feline interstitial cystitis if you cat displays some of these symptoms:

Straining when trying to urinate
Frequently urinating (with sleep disturbed by the necessity to urinate)
Blood usually presents in the urine
Symptoms appear when the cat is subjected to stress

Causes of Feline Interstitial Cystitis

Research is still in progress to fully understand exact causes of interstitial cystitis in cats. Theories of the cause of this illness have not been absolutely agreed upon, but several lines of thought have been suggested. The nervous system seems to play a major role.

Nerves that serve the cat’s bladder may have become inflamed. Some veterinarians believe that stress alone is accountable for this bladder inflammation. Others say that an irritated bladder lining initiates the cycle.
A protective coating of mucus inside the bladder protects it from becoming irritated and inflamed by the waste products filtered out by the kidneys. Harm can be done to the bladder wall if the mucus is somehow damaged.
Stress is just as detrimental to cats as it is to humans. Flare-ups of interstitial cystitis are often associated to a stressful situation. This particularly concerns cats that remain indoors exclusively or in households where several cats live.

Treatment

Despite the seriousness of interstitial cystitis, it is one of the more complicated of urinary tract illnesses to treat successfully. Antibiotics are generally ineffective in providing relief; however, bacterial infection should be ruled out to begin with.

In most cases veterinarians treat interstitial cystitis in cats with anti-inflammatory medications such as prednisone. These help reduce inflammation. Anti-inflammatories are generally given in combination with pain relievers.

Another method, considering stress appears to be a major component, is to give the cat anti-anxiety and antidepressants medications. Veterinarians may prescribe drugs that will help restore and strengthen the mucus coating, thus helping to heal the bladder, making it less susceptible to damage.

You can help avoid a recurrence of interstitial cystitis by feeding your cat canned food (rather than dry food) and ensuring that he/she drinks plenty of water. Making the home stress free for your cat, giving your cat plenty of affection and providing cat toys all help to keep your cat free from feline interstitial cystitis.

Not Using Litter Box

Interstitial cystitis may be a reason why some cat refuse to use the litter box, electing to urinate around the home instead. This leads to angst and frustration for the pet owner and for the cat. This can become a vicious cycle, the more stressed the cat feels the bigger the problem with not using the litter box.

Effectively treating FIC, will likely see your cat using its litter box.

There are a multitude of reasons why cats suddenly stop using their litter boxes, FIC being one of them. To understand more about why cats urinate outside their litter box and what you can do to rectify the problem CLICK here.

Why is My Cat Peeing All Over the House?

Trevor Best Cat Litter, cat spraying problem March 9, 2022September 3, 2022cat problem, peeing, spraying

“Why is my cat peeing all over the house?” Is this a question you’ve been asking yourself?

Are you the owner of a treasured cat whom you could not live without, but have become frustrated with its recent “spraying” issues?

Are you bewildered as to why your cat is doing this and have run out of ideas to fix the problem? Look no further. This product may be your saviour.

‘Cat Spraying No More’ Product Review

‘Cat Spraying No More’ is a system that provides everything you need to understand why your cat is doing what it’s doing. It gives a peaceful solution that will not only fix the problem, but will help to bring you and your cat closer.

Spraying, or peeing, in the home is a big no-no!

Sometimes, cats that regularly use their litter box will then go to other areas in the house to urinate or spray. Is this what’s happening in your home?

As a result, pet owners are inclined to focus on the issue of the “spraying”, rather than on why the behavior is occurring – which is a key component to Cat Spraying No More.

The Cat Spraying No More System carefully defines the different scenarios of unwanted spraying and identifies likely causes- all presented in an easy to understand well-laid out format.

The approach eases the reader into the subject matter and light-heartedly chides with owners about the author’s own unfortunate encounters with “spraying”. The author tells how they were able to overcome the issues and reveals how you can too.

The author reassures cat owners, helping them better understand their cats. There are underlying reasons for why cats do what they do, and when situations are not quite right, cats react. This approach enables cat owners to better understand their cats by examining reasons why cats urinate outside their litter box.

It then describes a system for people to follow (based on the individual situation of pet owners) ensuring that they get an effective targeted result.

The method gives detailed step-by-step, easy to follow instructions that address the different scenarios cat owners may have. The author guidance comes with plenty of support and encouragement.

Benefits

1.Saving money and time.

No more carpet scrubbing, upholstery shampooing and time wasted detecting these incidents and attending to them.

2.Tricks to get your cat to “love” its litter box again.

This method helps you direct your cat back to utilizing the litter box on its own, without force.

3.No more stress and smell.

Once you find out how easy it is to get your cat back on track, you’ll have a home that will smell fresh and be cleaner. You’ll also relax again, and the rest of the family will be happier, much happier!

4.Helpful tips to effectively clean up the misfires.

The system gives detailed instructions on methods to successfully and permanently clean accident areas and eradicate the smell, so you would never know they existed.

5.Affordable and easy to follow system.

Nothing in this system is too expensive or hard to implement.

6.Money back guarantee.

The company gives a no questions asked, 60-day money back guarantee. Buy the “Cat Spraying No More” system, and if it doesn’t meet your expectations, send it back for a refund.

Cons

Consider the following points to before purchasing this system:

The methods presented in this system are not 100% effective in correcting undesirable cat behaviors. While the company claims the system is effective in 95% of the cases, there will be instances when it does not work.
Individual results will differ. When used as instructed, results are generally attained quite quickly, however if the system is not followed properly, it can be expected that the desired outcomes would not be achieved.

Bonuses Offered

When you purchase the solution to your cat urination problem, the company gives 4 bonus guides to boost your understanding of caring for your cat:

Cat Training Bible
101 Recipes for a Healthy Cat
The Cat Care Blueprint
Pet Medical Recorder Software

Final Comments- Why is my cat peeing all over the house?

If you’re at your wits-end with your cat urinating in your home, then there would be no harm in trying out this product- potentially, bringing peace back to the household!

With a full money-back guarantee, there really is no risk. If matters don’t work out as you expected you get what you paid back.

With the bonuses offered, and guidance provided by the author, you’ll better understand your pet, helping both you and your feline friend grow a little closer in the process.

Go ahead and check this awesome product out. It is the key to: “Why is my cat peeing all over the house?”

Learn more by clicking this link:

What Do 4 Week Old Kittens Eat?

Trevor Best Kitten Foods February 7, 2022November 5, 20224 week old kittens, kitten food, kitten milk, milk formula

Not only will we address our viewer’s question, ‘What do 4 week old kittens eat?’, but we review several kitten food products that you can buy in preparation for your kittens arrival to your home.

A critical time for kittens

Taking care of 4-week-old kittens can be an overwhelming job. It’s around the age where a kitten should just be beginning the weaning process from its mother. It is the most important time to be providing foods that boost growth and development.

So, what do you need to know about getting messy in the kitchen and looking after your young cats?

It’s important to get specific when feeding your kittens by following criteria that will ensure they grow strong and healthy.

When should you feed 4 week old kittens?

The older your kittens get, the space between feeding them gets longer. Kittens less than 4 weeks tend to need feeding every few hours and 4-week-old kittens should be fed around every six hours.

However, it’s crucial that once you’ve picked a feeding routine, you should stick to it to avoid unnecessary stress on your pet.

What do 4-week-old kittens eat?

4-week-old kittens can be fed a ‘gruel mixture’, cat food to help in the process of weaning and easing them into eating solid foods safely. Gruel is made up of kitten replacement formula (used to replace its mother’s milk), warm water and high quality wet or dry kitten food, stirred to oatmeal consistency. Our recommended kitten foods can be found below.

Gruel is the best option as you can slowly create a thicker and thicker mixture over the following weeks, until your kitten has transitioned to plain food.

If your cat doesn’t take to the diet immediately, don’t stress! Just include the milk addition to make sure they’re getting enough calories. Most milk replacements contain 1 calorie per millilitre and 4-week-old kittens generally need about 8 calories per ounce of body weight.

Getting Started

There are a few important things to note before you jump straight into the kitchen!

Milk replacements should never be sourced from cow’s milk, it doesn’t have the nutrients your kitten needs and can cause gastrointestinal upset.

Teaching 4-week-old kittens how to eat thicker foods might be a bit new to you too, but here are some tips:

After washing your hands, stick a bit of gruel on the tip of your finger and place it in the kitten’s mouth. Slowly let it follow your finger back to the bowl of gruel until it starts to eat by itself.

Make sure your gruel is made with good quality products specifically made for kittens. It should be labelled on the packet you buy, or to save you some time, we’ve listed our favourites here.

Our recommended foods for 4-week-old kittens

Purina ONE Healthy Kitten Formula Dry Cat Food

4.7 Star rating

Purina One Cat Food is a popular cat food brand, because of its more affordable prices and stated high protein content. The Purina One Healthy Kitten Formula Dry Cat Food’s number one ingredient is real chicken and can be bought in bags ranging from 3.5lb to 16lb.

[su_row][su_column size=”1/2″][su_box title=’Pros’ box_color=’#009906′ radius=’0′][su_list icon=”icon: check” icon_color=’#009906′]

Made from real higher quality chicken, peas and carrots.
Contains DHA, an omega-3 fatty acid usually found in the mother’s milk that’s good for brain development.
A source of 4 antioxidants, including vitamin E and A.
Texture and taste are appealing to kittens, helping them transition to their new diet.
More affordable than a variety of other cat food brand alternatives

[/su_list][/su_box][/su_column]

[su_column size=”1/2″][su_box title=’Cons’ box_color=’#bf000a’ radius=’0′][su_list icon=”icon: ban” icon_color=’#bf000a’]

One flavour variety
Chicken by-product 2nd ingredient
Rice flour and corn/soy meal ingredients included

[/su_list][/su_box][/su_column]
[/su_row]

[su_button url=”https://amzn.to/3sq0G5b” style=”3d” background=”#ff9900″ color=”#ffffff” size=”5″ icon=”icon: shopping-cart” icon_color=”#ffffff”]Buy on Amazon[/su_button]

[su_button url=”https://prf.hn/l/znvEOAB” style=”3d” background=”#0000FF” color=”#ffffff” size=”5″ icon=”icon: shopping-cart” icon_color=”#ffffff”]Buy on Chewy[/su_button]

Blue Buffalo Wilderness High Protein Grain Free Kitten Dry Cat Food

4.8 Star Rating

Blue Buffalo is a well-establish cat food brand, acknowledged especially for its lack of artificial flavours, preservatives and by-products of chicken and poultry. The Blue Buffalo Wilderness High Protein Grain Free Natural Kitten Dry Cat Food, Chicken can come in 2lb and 5lb bags, along with a bag bundle option that includes a salmon grain-free canned kitten food.

[su_row][su_column size=”1/2″][su_box title=’Pros’ box_color=’#009906′ radius=’0′][su_list icon=”icon: check” icon_color=’#009906′]

A high protein meal option
Made from real chicken and other poultry.
Grain, soy and corn free.
Contains DHA/ARA, omega-3 fatty acids usually found in the mother’s milk, essential nutrients for healthy brain development.
Contains taurine, another essential nutrient for healthy heart and brain functioning.
No chicken/poultry by-products and no artificial flavours or preservatives

[/su_list][/su_box][/su_column]

[su_column size=”1/2″][su_box title=’Cons’ box_color=’#bf000a’ radius=’0′][su_list icon=”icon: ban” icon_color=’#bf000a’]

A slightly more expensive option than other cat food brands.

[/su_list][/su_box][/su_column]
[/su_row]

[su_button url=”https://amzn.to/3otf3o4″ style=”3d” background=”#ff9900″ color=”#ffffff” size=”5″ icon=”icon: shopping-cart” icon_color=”#ffffff”]Buy on Amazon[/su_button]

[su_button url=”https://prf.hn/l/PkGWoob” style=”3d” background=”#0000FF” color=”#ffffff” size=”5″ icon=”icon: shopping-cart” icon_color=”#ffffff”]Buy on Chewy[/su_button]

Wellness Complete Health Kitten Canned Wet Cat Food

4.6 Star Rating

Wellness Complete Health Kitten Canned Wet Cat Food, Chicken Pate is a meat-based wet food option that comes in packs of 24 cans, either 3 ounces or 5.5 ounces. This product can be bought as a bundle that includes the CORE Natural Grain Free Turkey & Chicken Liver Pate Canned Kitten Food.

[su_row][su_column size=”1/2″][su_box title=’Pros’ box_color=’#009906′ radius=’0′][su_list icon=”icon: check” icon_color=’#009906′]

Real chicken is the number one ingredient (other recipes available too).
High protein content.
Contains added taurine, to ensure healthy brain and heart functioning.
Wet food provides kitten with extra hydration.
No wheat, soy, preservatives or added artificial flavourings.
Can be bought in bulk, particular beneficial if feeding more than one kitten

[/su_list][/su_box][/su_column]

[su_column size=”1/2″][su_box title=’Cons’ box_color=’#bf000a’ radius=’0′][su_list icon=”icon: ban” icon_color=’#bf000a’]

Slightly on the pricier side for the amount of product you receive.

[/su_list][/su_box][/su_column]
[/su_row]

[su_button url=”https://amzn.to/3LhFYg8″ style=”3d” background=”#ff9900″ color=”#ffffff” size=”5″ icon=”icon: shopping-cart” icon_color=”#ffffff”]Buy on Amazon[/su_button]

[su_button url=”https://prf.hn/l/pmX1Jd0″ style=”3d” background=”#0000FF” color=”#ffffff” size=”5″ icon=”icon: shopping-cart” icon_color=”#ffffff”]Buy on Chewy[/su_button]

Purina Pro Plain Focus Kitten Favourites Variety Pack Canned Food

4.5 Star Rating

Purina Pro Plan variety pack includes 24 cans of high protein wet kitten food offering nutritionally balanced meals with a choice of three recipes.

[su_row][su_column size=”1/2″][su_box title=’Pros’ box_color=’#009906′ radius=’0′][su_list icon=”icon: check” icon_color=’#009906′]

A tender texture, easier for kittens to digest in most cases.
Contains taurine, good for developing healthy heart and brain functioning.
Contains DHA and vitamin A, which helps develop keen eye vision.
An appealing flavour for kittens.
High protein content.
Real poultry/fish
Health-checked for quality and safety in the US

[/su_list][/su_box][/su_column]

[su_column size=”1/2″][su_box title=’Cons’ box_color=’#bf000a’ radius=’0′][su_list icon=”icon: ban” icon_color=’#bf000a’]

Some kittens can be fussy about the soft, dense consistency of the wet food.
Uses artificial and natural flavoring.

[/su_list][/su_box][/su_column]
[/su_row]

[su_button url=”https://amzn.to/3HrBgKB” style=”3d” background=”#ff9900″ color=”#ffffff” size=”5″ icon=”icon: shopping-cart” icon_color=”#ffffff”]Buy on Amazon[/su_button]

[su_button url=”https://prf.hn/l/A3Om1M5″ style=”3d” background=”#0000FF” color=”#ffffff” size=”5″ icon=”icon: shopping-cart” icon_color=”#ffffff”]Buy on Chewy[/su_button]

What do 4 week old kittens eat? Final Thoughts.

Being prepared is key to your new kitten getting the nutrients it needs. Having the correct kitten food ready to go before kitty arrives to live with you is important and will allow for a smooth weaning process.

Observe as your kitten adjusts to its new diet. If it develops gastro problems or is resistant to eating the kitten food, then take a step back. Moving from kitten milk formula (or mother cat milk) to a dry or wet kitten food is a gradual process and shouldn’t be rushed.

A Final Word

Cat Food Advisor is privately owned. We do not accept money, samples, gifts, or other incentives in exchange for special consideration in preparing our reviews.

However, we do receive a referral fee from online retailers, like Chewy or Amazon (at no extra cost to you) when readers click over to their websites from ours. This helps cover the cost of operation of our free blog. Thanks for your support.

For more information, please visit our Disclaimer and Disclosure page.

What to Look for in Cat Food- What’s Good and What’s Bad Checklist!

Trevor What to look for in Cat Food Guide August 8, 2021September 3, 2022Cat Food Advisor, Dry Cat Food, Wet Cat Food, what to look for in cat food

16 Point Check List of What to Look for in Cat Food

Commercial cat foods come in all kinds of recipes formulated by companies keen to dominate the pet food market. The virtues of these cat foods will be plastered across their marketing. It is left to the consumer to plod through this information and the ingredients lists to determine what is best for their cat. In this article we point out, in layman’s terms, what to look for in cat food. We also provide a useful infographic tool for our viewers.

Dry vs Wet

Whether cat owners should be buying dry cat food as opposed to wet, or visa versa is not the aim of this discussion. In our view, both have merit, and both can have flaws.

It isn’t whether the food is dry or wet that is important, but rather the quality of the ingredients and formula. There are some excellent dry cat foods and there are some excellent wet cat foods.

What is Considered a Quality Cat Food?

A quality cat food will be a well-balanced meat-based formula providing all the nutritional requirements that cats require, without the inclusion of harmful additives.

The Cat Food Advisor Team have researched and analyzed countless cat foods. By reading the ingredient’s lists of the different products it is a relatively simple task to determine which offers the best cat nutrition.

Checklist of What to Look for in Cat Food

Here is a useful check list designed to guide our viewers with assessing and selecting a premium cat food.

Simply, copy and print the infographic or save it to your device, then utilize it when reading ingredient cat food lists.

We have elaborated upon the details of this Checklist below.

Share this Image On Your Site

Please include attribution to https://www.catfoodsadvisor.com with this graphic. <a href=’https://www.catfoodsadvisor.com/cat-food-appraisal-tool/’><img src=’https://www.catfoodsadvisor.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/08/Cat-Food-Assessment-Checklist-Tool-1-772×2048.jpg’ alt=’Cat Food Appraisal Tool’ 540px border=’0′ /></a>

What to Look for in Cat Food- 6 Must Haves!

Meat Protein/Amino acids

Cats are obligate carnivores deriving their protein from meat. Adult cats require above 25% protein dry weight from meat in their food.

Protein is broken down into amino acids. There are many amino acids essential for cats. An important one, which cats are unable to synthesize, is Taurine.

Omega Fatty Acids

Fatty acids contain anti-inflammatory properties and are essential nutrients for skin and coat health.

They need to be present in the correct ratio/balance in cat food. This ratio is 5 to 1 for Omega-6 to -3. Health problems can occur if the ratio is out.

-Omega 3 Commonly found in oily fish meat.

-Omega 6 Commonly found in chicken fat.

Real Meat

The #1 ingredient on the ingredient’s list should always be named real meat. The better meats are poultry, beef, lamb, rabbit, or fish (in moderation).

Minimal Processing and Cooking

In the wild, cats derive all their nutrients from raw meat.

The process of cooking destroys many nutrients such as vitamins, probiotics, and essential amino acids such as Taurine.

Very high temperatures during cooking will alter the molecular structure of proteins, making them harmful for cats. Slow cooking and baking are better cooking methods.

Balanced nutrition

Ensure a range of vitamins, minerals, probiotics, and prebiotics are present in cat food. Probiotics can help with digestive tract health, and vitamins and minerals maintain overall health.

Conforms with AAFCO Profiles

The Association of American Feed Control Officials regulate the production and sale of cat food. Look for the nutritional adequacy statement located on the pet food label to see if a product conforms to AAFCO Cat Food Nutrient Profiles.

10 Things to Avoid in Cat Food!

Grains

Avoid food with soybean, corn, wheat, barley, or rice. Carnivorous cats’ digestive systems are not geared for them.

Mycotoxin, a by-product of fungi and mold that forms on contaminated grains is damaging to organs, especially the liver.

Pet food companies use grains as a binder, especially in dry kibble. They will validate grains as a requirement for high fiber and essential carbohydrate, however, cats get these from meat.

PH Out of Balance

The ideal PH range for cats is 6.3 – 6.7. A PH above or below this range can cause crystal formation in the urinary tract resulting in painful infections.

Unnamed Meat By-products/Meat Meal

Meat by-product is the offal discarded in meat processing. Meat Meal is similar. Unnamed by-product could include anything from road kills, deceased pets to deceased zoo animals.

By-product meat is usually fine for cats, so long as you know what is in it.

Food Coloring

Food colorings are problematic to cat health. The main colors added to some cat foods are:

-Red 40: contributes to cancers

-Blue2: linked to brain tumors

-Yellow 5: causes allergies and genotoxicity

Preservatives

Chemical preservatives like butylated hydroxytoluene (BHT) and butylated hydroxy anisole (BHA) are very effective at preserving dry cat food but are suspected to be potentially cancer-causing agents. These chemicals are often added to oils and fats.

Look for natural preservatives such as Vitamin E and C.

Flavor Enhancers

Sodium Acid Pyrophosphate– synthetic palatant can cause dehydration, organ damage, cardiovascular disease and bone and tooth damage)

MSG Mono Sodium Glutamate– tricks the brain into thinking the food tastes good and can lead to obesity and brain cell damage

These will be disguised as “Natural Flavors’ or “hydrolyzed protein”

GMO

Genetically Modified Organisms (GMO) have been linked with diseases of the liver, pancreas, renal and reproductive system.

Look for non-GMO, or better still, organic ingredients.

Legumes

Enzyme inhibitors found in legumes like peas and beans can interfere with digestion. These may be responsible for taurine and other amino acid deficiencies in cats.

Excessive Oily Fish and Fish Oil

Not an acceptable food for daily feeding. Fish contains high levels of fatty acids, which can lead to a vitamin E deficiency in cats, and painful conditions. Some cats develop allergies as a result of eating too much fish based cat foods.

Starchy Tuberous Vegetables

Potatoes and sweet potatoes are included in many cat foods as a binder. Although not toxic, it is unnecessary to feed cats excessive carbohydrates as this leads to weight gain.

Final Thoughts

Being confident in knowing what to look for in cat food will relax cat owners when buying cat food. Please use our ‘What to Look for in Cat Food’ infographic to assist you.

Viewers are welcome to share the infographic with their friends who have cats. They may well appreciate this simple guide.

Dry vs Wet Cat Food Pros and Cons

Trevor Cat Food July 31, 2021September 3, 2022Dry Cat Food, Wet Cat Food

Pet owners want the best for their cats! As a new owner of a furry feline, pet owners may become overwhelmed with the responsibility of providing for their essential needs of food, water, shelter, and safety. We are here to help our viewers provide for their cats. Let us start by looking at what to feed your pet? In this article we will discuss dry vs wet cat food pros and cons.

Also, we review some of the better products available in Amazon and Chewy stores to help our viewers with food purchases.

Dry vs Wet Cat Food Options

Walking down the pet food isle of the supermarket, you are presented with multiple brands of wet and dry cat food, each with brightly decorated packaging marketing depicting hungry cats devouring their product!

Generally, cat owners do not have the time to scrutinize each product, compare pricing and read ingredient lists to work out which cat nutrition is best for your cat, and their budget. Most people just want to ‘cut to the chase’.

Even though cats may have differences in age, lactating, health, breed, weight and whether they are an indoor cat or an outdoor cat, essentially, they will all have similar nutritional requirements.

A good cat food, whether dry or wet, should offer a diet with the correct balance of nutrition suitable for carnivorous cats.

There has always been a debate as to which is better- wet or dry food. Our team at Cat Food Advisor has studied cat nutrition and looked at many cat food products. Our view is: they are both suitable!

It is not whether the food is dry or wet that is important, but rather the quality of the recipe, particularly regarding the ingredients, that is important in determining if the product warrants a place in your home.

8 Best Wet Cat Foods (Fully Reviewed HERE)

Canned Food	Customer Ratings Average	Good For
Soulistic Moist & Tender	4.3 STARS	Free of by-products & additives
Delectables Soft Pate	4.7 STARS	100% nutritionally complete with Vitamins
Dr. Elsey’s 03255 Clean Protein	3.9 STARS	Hydrated and made with clean protein
Dave’S Grain Free Cat Food	4.3 STARS	Protein-rich, grain &gluten-free
Muse Natural Canned Food	4.4 STARS	Balanced diet with tender cuts of real meat
HILL’S Rx DIET i/d Digestive Care	4.6 STARS	Improve digestion and stool quality
Purina Pro Plan UT Health	4.7 STARS	Specific for Urinary Health
Royal CaninUrinary SO	New	Good for cats with Urinary Tract issues

Cat Nutrition 101

We have written many articles on our advisory site on cat nutrition. The best way to look at it is to study what cats in the wild eat. We are not referring to lions and tigers (although their general nutrition is pretty much the same!), but wild cats cousins of your pet.

Cats will chase down and eat small rodents, frogs, birds, lizards and even insects. A hungry cat will eat the entire animal, head, organs, skin, and bone. You will not find cats grazing on grass, eating grain, or munching on fruit and vegetables. Cats are obligate carnivores. That means, they get all their nutrition from meat.

The #1 Ingredient Must be Meat

When considering dry vs wet cat food pros and cons, it is important that the first ingredient is a quality meat/s. A quality meat is ‘real meat’ from poultry, beef, lamb, fish, or rabbit. Taurine, an essential amino acid required by cats is abundant in unprocessed meats. Unlike dogs, cats are unable to synthesise taurine, therefore they require it in their meat based diets.

6 Best Dry Cat Foods for Outdoor Cats (Fully Reviewed HERE)

Product	Average Customer Rating	Features
Friskies Dry Cat Food, Surfin’ and Turfin’ Favorites	4.8 STARS	All age cats Inexpensive Chicken flavor
Purina Beyond Grain-Free, Natural	4.8 STARS	Adult cats Grain free Natural probiotics No artificials Chicken
Purina One Tender Selects Blend	4.8 STARS	Adult cats Crunchy bites Real chicken Omega-6
Blue Buffalo Wilderness High Protein Grain Free, Natural	4.5 STARS	Adult cats Real beef High protein 36% Grain free
Royal Canin Fit Active Dry Cat Food	4.8 STARS	Adult cats Chicken flavor Balanced calories
Wellness Complete Health Natural Dry Cat Food	4.5 STARS	Adult cats High protein 36% Salmon meat Balanced nutrition

What About Meat By-product?

Meat By-products are essentially the non-rendered, clean parts, other than meat derived from slaughtered mammals.

Much of it is organs such as kidneys, brain lungs, spleen, livers, cleaned stomachs and intestines; as well as blood, bone, undeveloped eggs and feet.

Cat food companies use meat by-products in their wet and dry cat food recipes largely because it is an inexpensive ingredient as it is the offal from animals not considered suitable for humans.

Is Meat By-product Good for Cats?

Meat by-products do provide nutrition for cats, and it is accepted by the AAFCO as suitable for use in animal food, however, we suggested that meat byproduct should not be the first ingredient on the list. It may, however, be used in conjunction with real meat. Read more

Can Cats Eat Grain? (What You Need to Know)

Trevor Can Cats Eat Grain?, Grain Free Cat Food July 8, 2021September 3, 2022Best Grain Free Cat Foods, Can Cats Eat Grain, Cat Food, grain, grain free 0 Comment

There seems to be a lot of debate around whether cats should eat grains or not. Some people are in full support of cats eating grains. There exists another set of cat lovers who detest the idea of giving grains to cats. Many people have said that feeding grains to cats will harm them in the long run. But what is the correct stance? Can cats eat grain?

Can Cats Eat Grain?- What do the Veterinarians Recommend?

To answer the question ‘can cats eat grain’, we have to turn to experts for answers. So what do the veterinarians recommend?

In summary, there is no single consensus amongst veterinarians as to whether grains are harmful to cats or not. Some veterinarians fully support feeding cats with grains without having to take any necessary precautions. For instance, the C linical Nutrition Center located at Tufts University clearly states that there is no verifiable evidence pointing to the fact that grains pose any harm to cats or dogs.

3 Best Grain-Free Cat Foods- Quick Review (full review later)

Product	Customer Average Rating	Features
Sheba Perfect Portions Pate Wet Cat Food Variety Pack	4.7 STARS	Cost-friendly Low carbs Minimal plant-based
Purina Fancy Feast Seafood Classic Pate Wet Food	4.8 STARS	Affordable High carbs Balanced nutrition
Purina Beyond Grain Free- Ocean Whitefish & Egg Recipe	4.7 STARS	Rich in nutrients Plant & animal nutrients Dry meal Inexpensive

What Do Veterinarians Recommend Continued…

Other veterinarians support grain food use, although they recommend you use it sparingly and in measured quantities.

However, several veterinarians strongly advise against the use of grains in planning cat meals. Many believe that grains in food bring about cats developing various allergies, including gastrointestinal issues and skin irritations.

So, why are there differing opinions and views even amongst practitioners and experts? Can cats eat grain?

Just as humans, animals need a decent supply of different food classes to maintain good health. Pets are not left out. To supply these nutrients, pet food companies have come up with processed supplemental meals. These supplements contain excesses of nutrients, and in the end, cats get an oversupply of carbohydrates in their food which they don’t need.

When these excess carbohydrates store up over time, they lead to the build-up of fat, and therefore an increase in the cat’s weight.

The Effects of Grains on Cats

We must understand both the benefits that grains offer as well as the downsides. This will further help us in providing answers to the question, “can cats eat grain?”

Benefits of Grains for Cats

Consuming grains poses a lot of benefits to cats. These include:

Supply of Carbohydrates

Grains are known to be a good supplier of carbohydrates, which are essential for cats

Supply of Fiber

Grains are one of the best food items rich in the supply of Fiber. Fiber is essential for the proper functioning of the cat’s digestive system. It helps clean the cat’s gastrointestinal tract of harmful toxins, leading to better and more seamless bowel movement.

Cat Shape and Body Structure

While carbohydrates help the functioning of the internal organs of cats, they are also very instrumental in helping form the external structure of your cat.

Thus, it would be best to feed your cat with supplements that help them achieve a reasonably robust and firm shape. Grains can provide exactly that.

Downsides of Feeding Grains to Cats

On the other hand, grains can cause several issues to cats. These include:

Weight Gain

As discussed earlier, stored carbohydrates coming from grains can lead to a lot of weight gain.

Sensitive Skins and Irritations

When this happens, your cat can get quite restless and highly irritable.

While many attribute the allergies that cats develop to an excess of grains and carbohydrates, the truth is that grains only contribute a lesser amount of these allergies. Also, there are a few identifiable grain sources responsible. These allergies are caused more by protein-based food rather than by grains. (see our article on fish allergies in cats)

Different Types of Grains

When discussing grains, we should not blindly categorize them as being the same. For instance, some grains such as barley and rye contain gluten, while some other grains are gluten-free, including oats, corn, and rice.

However, one of the most popular sources of grains used in commercial foods for cats and other pets is wheat.

Wheat in Cat Food

Wheat is one of the “high-quality” carbohydrates. It is high in fiber content and helps to encourage digestive and other internal processes.

There is the misconception that wheat, being one of the grain items that contain gluten, causes allergies in cats. This is far from being the case. As we have made clear, these allergies are rare and are more commonly caused by proteins, not wheat.

Dry and Wet Food Grains

While choosing food grains for your cat, it is easy to get torn between dry or wet food items. Just as the name suggests, wet foods are those with some form of water content, while dry foods completely lack moisture.

There are different benefits to both. For instance, wet foods usually come in a little more variety than dry ones. Moist foods typically come in malleable textures and contain ingredients that your cat will get to love. Finally, it is quite easier to chew them.

On their part, dry cat meals are pretty convenient. Because they have much less moisture, they tend to come in larger quantities, which means that they are preferable from a cost perspective.
Furthermore, they also last longer as no moisture will encourage bacterial growth.

However, when you are to choose, you should never be absolute. Never settle for just one; go for both. They have different strengths, and your cat needs to enjoy the best of both worlds.

You should note that cats are known to be neophiliacs, which means they prefer to try new things. They appear to get bored quickly when fed with the same diet ceaselessly. Thus, it would help if you mixed both types of meals in appreciable quantities and intervals.

Best Grain-free Cat Meals

Here, we profile some of the most popular cat food lines that are sure to provide nutrients to your cat.

1. Sheba Perfect Portions

Sheba is a pet food line from pet food conglomerate Mars Inc. While there are other products in the Sheba line, including Signature Broths and Treats, by far the most popular is Perfect Portions.

Perfect Portions is a primarily meat-based wet cat food. It does not contain any grains or starch, or plant proteins. This means that it is low in carbohydrates but contains a lot of protein.

Its chief protein product is whitefish, which essentially is a mixture of various species of fish. There are other meat ingredients which include tuna, chicken liver, and different chicken- byproducts.

[su_row][su_column size=”1/2″][su_box title=’Pros’ box_color=’#009906′ radius=’0′][su_list icon=”icon: check” icon_color=’#009906′]

It is cost-friendly.
Sheba perfect portions don’t contain a lot of carbohydrates.
It is low in plant-based produce.
Offers 6 different flavors.
Chicken and whitefish are the main meat ingredients.
Easy to use food trays- just snap, peel and serve.
Formulation suitable for all ages.
Crude protein 12%

[/su_list][/su_box][/su_column]

[su_column size=”1/2″][su_box title=’Cons’ box_color=’#bf000a’ radius=’0′][su_list icon=”icon: ban” icon_color=’#bf000a’]

The product could have come in even more variety.
The ingredients contained could have been more diverse.
Some compromised packaging of the cat food reported (damaged/bugs)

[/su_list][/su_box][/su_column]
[/su_row]

[su_button url=”https://amzn.to/3yvfpNi” style=”3d” background=”#ff9900″ color=”#ffffff” size=”5″ icon=”icon: shopping-cart” icon_color=”#ffffff”]Buy on Amazon[/su_button]

[su_button url=”https://prf.hn/l/eQJ1g2n” style=”3d” background=”#0000FF” color=”#ffffff” size=”5″ icon=”icon: shopping-cart” icon_color=”#ffffff”]Buy on Chewy[/su_button]

2. Purina Fancy Feast Cat Food

Another wet cat food, Purina Fancy Feast, is made by Nestlé-Purina, a food manufacturing giant. The Fancy Feast has chicken as its primary source of protein. There are, however, other sources of protein which include poultry liver and broth. The type of liver is not, however, specifically named.

Other ingredients also come from fish, although it is also unclear which type of fish. Then there are meat by-products. Others include natural flavors made from animal tissues.

The key nutrient in Purina Fancy Feast is protein, although we can say that the protein component is comparatively lower than the Sheba Perfect Portions. Then, it contains quite a decent amount of carbs and fats. Others include minerals and vitamins, although they are in sparing quantities.

[su_row][su_column size=”1/2″][su_box title=’Pros’ box_color=’#009906′ radius=’0′][su_list icon=”icon: check” icon_color=’#009906′]

Comparatively affordable.
Has a higher amount of carbs.
Much more balanced than close competitors.
Crude protein 12%.
#1 ingredients are cod and shrimp.
Offers 3 different seafood recipes in the pack.
Pate texture.

[/su_list][/su_box][/su_column]

[su_column size=”1/2″][su_box title=’Cons’ box_color=’#bf000a’ radius=’0′][su_list icon=”icon: ban” icon_color=’#bf000a’]

It contains several artificial components that cannot be said to be entirely healthy for your cat.
The specific items used as ingredients are not clear.
It has less moisture.
Includes some meat by-product in its recipe.

[/su_list][/su_box][/su_column]
[/su_row]

[su_button url=”https://amzn.to/3qWs09V” style=”3d” background=”#ff9900″ color=”#ffffff” size=”5″ icon=”icon: shopping-cart” icon_color=”#ffffff”]Buy on Amazon[/su_button]

[su_button url=”https://prf.hn/l/ZQ8DPNN” style=”3d” background=”#0000FF” color=”#ffffff” size=”5″ icon=”icon: shopping-cart” icon_color=”#ffffff”]Buy on Chewy[/su_button]

3. Purina Beyond Grain Free – Ocean Whitefish and Egg Recipe

Purina Beyond Grain Free seems to combine some of the features of both the Sheba Perfect Portions and the Purina Fancy Feast but in a dry meal.

It is mainly a protein product, and the primary source of protein is ocean whitefish mixed with eggs. Also, chicken is another ingredient in this dry meal. What makes this product different is that the fat in the chicken is removed.

The product goes further to add plant-based protein in the form of peas. Other plant ingredients in there include pea fiber, dried yeast, and dried potatoes. This means that there are more carbohydrates and a higher concentration of vitamins and minerals.

[su_row][su_column size=”1/2″][su_box title=’Pros’ box_color=’#009906′ radius=’0′][su_list icon=”icon: check” icon_color=’#009906′]

Rich in a variety of nutrients.
Features both plant and animal-based nutrients.
Dry meal, so there are advantages around cost management.
Free from artificial flavors, colors and preservatives.
No poultry by-products included in the recipe.
#1 ingredients are hake (fish) and chicken meal.
Balanced nutrition with probiotics.

[/su_list][/su_box][/su_column]

[su_column size=”1/2″][su_box title=’Cons’ box_color=’#bf000a’ radius=’0′][su_list icon=”icon: ban” icon_color=’#bf000a’]

This meal contains relatively high carbohydrates.
Too much emphasis on variety over quality.

[/su_list][/su_box][/su_column]
[/su_row]

[su_button url=”https://amzn.to/3yDOtuP” style=”3d” background=”#ff9900″ color=”#ffffff” size=”5″ icon=”icon: shopping-cart” icon_color=”#ffffff”]Buy on Amazon[/su_button]

[su_button url=”https://prf.hn/l/zjyl4Pl” style=”3d” background=”#0000FF” color=”#ffffff” size=”5″ icon=”icon: shopping-cart” icon_color=”#ffffff”]Buy on Chewy[/su_button]

Can Cats Eat Grain? Conclusion

In conclusion, there is no absolute answer to the question of whether can cats eat grain. Selecting the best meal for your cats can be tasking, but grain-Free meals are healthy for your cats and can be a great choice.

The Cat Food Advisor Team have reviewed additional grain-free cat foods and low carb cat food that viewers may like to consider.

A Final Word

Cat Food Advisor is privately owned. We do not accept money, samples, gifts, or other incentives in exchange for special consideration in preparing our reviews.

For more information, please visit our Disclaimer and Disclosure page.

4 Best Cat Patties of 2023 Recipes and Reviews

Trevor Cat Food, Cat Patties, Grain Free Cat Food, Low Carb Cat Foods July 8, 2021August 30, 2023Cat patties, patties, Wet Cat Food 0 Comment

Taking an in-depth look into the term cat patties would quickly provide insight into this cat meal and help you as a cat owner know what is best suited for your pet. We would look at some recipes for making your homemade cat patties that are only suited for their digestive purposes. We also review 4 cat patty, commercially available, freeze-dried products.

Feeding your feline shouldn’t a debacle when you understand their nature and what works best for their digestive system. Unlike humans, who fall into the category of omnivores and can feed on all kinds of food sources, you should know that your cat is quite different.

When it comes to consumption and feeding, your cat is an obligate carnivore. Since these types of animals do not always require animal flesh in particular, unlike the consummate carnivores, sourcing for their meal shouldn’t be a problem, as other sources would also serve the purpose. Cat patties are one such nutrient source for your felines.

Quick Review of 4 Best Cat Patties (Full Review Later)

Product	Customer Average Rating	Features
Vital Cat Freeze Dried Grain Free Rabbit Patties	4.4 STARS	Grain free Gluten free Essential proteins Resealable packaging Rabbit patties
Stella and Chewy Freeze-Dried Raw Meat for cats	4.3 STARS	Different flavor variant Grain-free Organic fruit inclusion Duck/turkey morsels
Paw Paws Frozen Green Beef Tripe Cat Patties	4.6 STARS	Great packaging Unprocessed Grass-fed beef tripe patties
Wysong Archetype Freeze-Dried Raw Dog & Cat Burgers	4.2 STARS	High protein Beef burgers AAFCO approved Naturally preserved

What is a Cat Patty?

The term patty is associated with any serving of ground meat and all its substitute, flattened, rounded and cooked with several recipes to provide an enjoyable serving. Now, since we are all aware that patties are meals that are eaten by humans, introducing patties to your cats is a means of attending to their obligate cravings.

With the pet food manufacturers now delving into cat patties production, a perfectly prepared Patty has been made available for your cat in several variants. This helps bypass the possible adverse effect of human-oriented patties in your feline’s digestive system.

Home Recipes for DIY Cat Patties

Homemade cat patties have mostly become common due to cat owners trying out their hands to provide a customized patty experience for their felines. This has made them come up with several variants of cat patties that you would almost find a stroke of brilliance in every recipe.

However, understanding what works best for your cat is essential, as your cat may be allergic to some ingredients hence causing discomfort. So it would help if you considered your cat’s allergy before going on a homemade cat patty recipe journey. So below, we would look at a few recipes and how to make those delicious homemade cat patties.

1. DIY Gourmet Salmon Patty

Salmon is a desirable source of protein for your feline. This cat patty provides your cat with the essential nutrients needed in every meal to keep them active and energized. With this recipe, your cat would get about 417 calories of goodness in just 40 minutes.

Ingredients

1 Salmon Fillets
A quarter cup of oats
Two eggs

Directions

Heat your oven to about 350°F
Next, you have to cook your salmon in a foil-lined wrapper for 10 minutes while the heat is set to 145°F. Once that has been done, cool the fish refrigeration.
Now blend the oats in a food processor until it’s in powdery form.
Once the salmon has cooled, shredded till it’s in tiny pieces and then add to the mix of oats and egg. Beat the mixture until it becomes a thick solid.
Form the mix into a patty and cook for about 10 minutes in an oven set at a heat of 315 degrees until the color gets golden brown.
Once ready, allow to cool.

Chicken Dinner Cat Patty

There is no better way to enjoy your dinner than with the assurance that your feline is also feasting. Now, this doesn’t have to be your leftovers, but a specially prepared homemade chicken patty just for her. This recipe would catch the attention of your cat in no time, and you might have discovered your feline culinary skills.

Ingredients

1 cup of boiled or baked chicken
A quarter cup of mashed steamed broccoli
Chicken broth
A quarter cup of steamed, mashed carrots

Directions

Add the cup of boiled or baked chicken to a bowl and mash.
The mashed carrot and broccoli would then be added to the mix and poured into a food processor.
Add the chicken broth.
Blend the mix and allow to puree until it’s in a soggy state, not watery
Serve in a patty style
Refrigerate the mixture and allow to cool

Chicken and Tuna Patty

Only a few of your neighbor’s cats would be able to resist ending up at your doorsteps when the aroma of this recipe hits the air.

Ingredients

Canned Tuna
A cup of boiled chicken
1tbsp of mashed carrot
2tbsp of brown rice

Directions

Mix the mashed carrot with the canned Tuna, ensure the oil gets into the mix.
Now add the remaining ingredients into a food processor and pulse until it gets thick.
Serve in a patty style and refrigerate.

Great Ingredients Choices for Cat Patties

Chicken
Salmon
Tuna
Meat
Soybean
Oatmeal
Peas

Product Review of Cat Patties

1. Vital Cat Freeze Dried Grain Free Patty

The Vital Essential brand is a leading name for the production of cat patties of premium quality. The Vital Cat Dried Patty product is a rabbit-flavored dry patty that would keep your cat active through its all-inclusive single protein source. This dry cat meal can keep your cat in optimal shape as weight gain rarely occurs when cats fed on this patty. The Vital Cat Patty is also grain and gluten-free, a choice now accepted by most owners.

This recipe offers rabbit meat patties. Vital Cat also have other meat recipe patties.

[su_row][su_column size=”1/2″][su_box title=’Pros’ box_color=’#009906′ radius=’0′][su_list icon=”icon: check” icon_color=’#009906′]

Grain and Gluten-Free
Increased shelf life
Packed with essential proteins
Resealable packaging
Crude protein 60%
Farm raised rabbit meat
Made in USA
Free from artificial preservatives, flavors and colors
No meat by-products
Gluten-free and grain-free
Raw freeze-dried meat
Rich in amino acids and vitamins

[/su_list][/su_box][/su_column]

[su_column size=”1/2″][su_box title=’Cons’ box_color=’#bf000a’ radius=’0′][su_list icon=”icon: ban” icon_color=’#bf000a’]

It can be stale without proper preservation
The large patty size needs to be broken up for some cats
Not all cats take to it.

[/su_list][/su_box][/su_column]
[/su_row]

[su_button url=”https://amzn.to/3hkE1Td” style=”3d” background=”#ff9900″ color=”#ffffff” size=”5″ icon=”icon: shopping-cart” icon_color=”#ffffff”]Buy on Amazon[/su_button]

[su_button url=”https://prf.hn/l/0GBJX8P” style=”3d” background=”#0000FF” color=”#ffffff” size=”5″ icon=”icon: shopping-cart” icon_color=”#ffffff”]Buy on Chewy[/su_button]

2. Stella and Chewy Freeze-Dried Patty

The Stella and Chewy Freeze-Dried Patty is one formulated to be conducive for both cats and dogs. The patty comes in a meaty flavor which is very digestible and convenient. Packed with organic fruits, this dry cat food is rich in protein and quite tasty.

[su_row][su_column size=”1/2″][su_box title=’Pros’ box_color=’#009906′ radius=’0′][su_list icon=”icon: check” icon_color=’#009906′]

Different flavor variant
Grain-Free
All-organic fruit inclusion
Duck/turkey meat recipes (98% poultry meat, organs and bone)
Crude protein 40%
Minimally processed
Made in USA
Freeze-dried morsels (not patties)
Can be safely stored at room temperature

[/su_list][/su_box][/su_column]

[su_column size=”1/2″][su_box title=’Cons’ box_color=’#bf000a’ radius=’0′][su_list icon=”icon: ban” icon_color=’#bf000a’]

It is costly
Strong scent
Inconsistencies in the product

[/su_list][/su_box][/su_column]
[/su_row]

[su_button url=”https://amzn.to/2UhWjf3″ style=”3d” background=”#ff9900″ color=”#ffffff” size=”5″ icon=”icon: shopping-cart” icon_color=”#ffffff”]Buy on Amazon[/su_button]

[su_button url=”https://prf.hn/l/zjylL0J” style=”3d” background=”#0000FF” color=”#ffffff” size=”5″ icon=”icon: shopping-cart” icon_color=”#ffffff”]Buy on Chewy[/su_button]

3. Raw Paws Frozen Raw Green Beef Tripe

The Raw Paw Frozen beef trips are dry cat food rich in nutrients and have a high semblance to naturally occurring sources. The meal, which is an excellent choice for picky eaters, is formulated with the green idea, which means that the dry cat food is unprocessed and unaltered. With neat packaging, you wouldn’t have to worry about the mess of cans.

[su_row][su_column size=”1/2″][su_box title=’Pros’ box_color=’#009906′ radius=’0′][su_list icon=”icon: check” icon_color=’#009906′]

Great Packaging- easy to separate and serve
Unprocessed formulation
Free range grass fed- 100% beef tripe
Satisfaction guaranteed- offering full refund if not satisfied
Crude protein 14%
Free from additives (color, flavor or preservatives)
Small family owned business
Product for cats and dogs

[/su_list][/su_box][/su_column]

[su_column size=”1/2″][su_box title=’Cons’ box_color=’#bf000a’ radius=’0′][su_list icon=”icon: ban” icon_color=’#bf000a’]

The smell is not so pleasant

[/su_list][/su_box][/su_column]
[/su_row]

[su_button url=”https://amzn.to/3jYTUAq” style=”3d” background=”#ff9900″ color=”#ffffff” size=”5″ icon=”icon: shopping-cart” icon_color=”#ffffff”]Buy on Amazon[/su_button]

4. Wysong Archetype Freeze Dried Burgers

Wysong freeze-dried burgers is a meat diet for dogs and cats with no starch ingredients and no un-natural colors, flavors or preservatives. Made from beef and chicken meat, bones and organs with the inclusion of a plant botanicals for additional fiber, minerals and vitamins.

[su_row][su_column size=”1/2″][su_box title=’Pros’ box_color=’#009906′ radius=’0′][su_list icon=”icon: check” icon_color=’#009906′]

Beef and chicken meat, organs, blood and bones
Freeze-dried product
50% crude protein
Addition of plant botanicals such as carrots, celery and beets
Suitable for cats and dogs
Free of grains
Naturally preserved
Inexpensive

[/su_list][/su_box][/su_column]

[su_column size=”1/2″][su_box title=’Cons’ box_color=’#bf000a’ radius=’0′][su_list icon=”icon: ban” icon_color=’#bf000a’]

[/su_list][/su_box][/su_column]
[/su_row]

[su_button url=”https://amzn.to/3jUYe3M” style=”3d” background=”#ff9900″ color=”#ffffff” size=”5″ icon=”icon: shopping-cart” icon_color=”#ffffff”]Buy on Amazon[/su_button]

[su_button url=”https://prf.hn/l/1Mgv3G4″ style=”3d” background=”#0000FF” color=”#ffffff” size=”5″ icon=”icon: shopping-cart” icon_color=”#ffffff”]Buy on Chewy[/su_button]

In Conclusion

Introducing your feline cat patties is another way to help them stabilize their innate composition as obligate carnivores. These cat patties can act as a substitute and provide them with the proper nutrients. They are a terrific high protein meat cat food that can be integrated with commercial wet and dry cat food, adding variety to a felines diet.

When preparing home cooked meals for your cat it is important to ensure the ingredients offer a well balance diet. This article delves into a common mistake that pet owners make when feeding their cats a homemade diet.

A Final Word

Cat Food Advisor is privately owned. We do not accept money, samples, gifts, or other incentives in exchange for special consideration in preparing our reviews.

For more information, please visit our Disclaimer and Disclosure page.

Best Cat Food for UTI Health

Trevor Cat Food, Cat Food for UTI Health, Cat Health July 7, 2021September 10, 2022Urinary health, urinary tract infection, Uti cat food, UTI Health 0 Comment

In this article we Discuss Urinary Matters in Cats and Review the Best Cat Food for UTI health.

The health of our cats is essential!

With proper care, a cat can live for a long time without having health challenges; however, there are times when they undergo issues beyond our reach. One of such health issues is the urinary tract infection which puts your cats in considerable discomfort.

This would lead to them frequenting the litter box with lots of whining and cries of pain. Watching your cat undergo this can be alarming, and a visit to the vet is crucial.

The veterinarian may put your cat on a prescription to tackle the health issue; however, there are circumstances when adjusting their meal would be the trick required.

Now, cat food manufacturers have produced some of the best cat food for UTI health. So, what does the UTI entail, and how can you help reduce the pain your cat is undergoing. In this post, we would shed light and try to guide you through the recovery process.

2 Best Cat Foods for UTI Health- Quick Review (Full Review Later)

	Product	Customer Average Rating	Features	Price AMAZON	Price CHEWY
	Royal Canin Veterinary Diet Wet Food	4.4 STARS	Tackles struvite stones Helps urinary ease Eradicates crystals
	Wysong Uretic Dry Cood	4.3 STARS	Quality ingredients Urinary health inclined Chicken meat

What is Urinary and UTI health?

When we talk about UTI health, we talk about all that encompasses the health of your cats’ urinary system. UTI, an abbreviation for urinary tract infection, is a painful infection that gives so much discomfort to your cats and causes lots of obvious pain.

This kind of infection affects the urethra, kidneys, and bladders. When not correctly checked, it could lead to other health complications over time. A veterinarian has to run tests on your cat to give an adequate diagnosis.

Signs a Cat has issues with UTI

Cat owners who don’t pay attention would not quickly identify that their cat has contracted urinary tract infection, as the signs aren’t obvious. However, if you pay attention, you can easily notice the tell-tale signs due to the cat’s pain during urination. However, for those who are relatively new to raising cats, the symptoms of UTI are as follows;

Avoiding the litter box
Pain during urination
Whining and crying during urination
Licking of areas around urine
Constant urination

Once you see all or any of these signs, it is imperative to contact a veterinarian to begin the treatment process.

Ways to help cats with UTI

When your cat has been diagnosed with a UTI, you must take active measures to ensure that your cat is well treated.

After the vet diagnosis your cat with UTI, they go-ahead to prescribe an antibiotic to help ease the pain and make the urinary process easier. It is also essential to be there for your cat, as the pain can be bearable with a bit of attention.

Also, ensure that your cat takes the full dose administered as the bacteria could return if your cat fails to do so. Also, some cat foods help combat UTI. Keep reading to know some of the best cat food for UTI health.

What Cat Food Ingredients Causes UTI

Food plays a vital role in the digestion and overall well-being of your cat. However, some meals can also be detrimental and cause infections such as UTIs. To avoid cases like this where crystals could develop in your cat, causing irritation and pain, you have to pay attention to the kind of meal your cat consumes.

Many people ask what could be the leading cause of such issues, such as UTI; well, some ingredients could cause such infections. Minerals such as Calcium, Phosphorus, and Magnes6 are some of such ingredients in cat food. Some ingredients raise the pH of the cat’s body which could lead to increased acidity hence upscaling the balance required to stop bacteria formation.

Treating your Cat with UTI

Once you have noticed UTI symptoms in your cat, you must understand that the process to recovery can be a tough one that you need to undertake religiously. Different types of methods exist to treat such infections, and what works for each cat varies.

Some people treat their cat’s UTI at home with home remedies, and these have been seen to work, while others have to consult the services of a vet for a more direct approach. So whichever you choose should be better understood to ensure the safety of your feline.

Apple Cider Vinegar: For a long time, apple cider vinegar has been a remedy used to tackle the pH level, which could be a significant factor in bacteria formation. You can add this vinegar remedy to your cat’s meal, and half a teaspoon should be good enough in the long run. This remedy is suitable when the alkaline level of your cat’s urine is way high.
Marshmallow Roots: Mucilage, found in Marshmallow roots, is a factor that also aids the easing of the urinary infection, as it calms the pain of the membrane of the bladder. This is another homemade remedy that could save you the trip to a vet.
Bone Broth
Glucosamine and Chondroitin
Cranberries

How to know if your cat has crystals in its urine?

Crystals are a painful occurrence accumulated in the bladder due to several stony collections of crystals and minerals. When your cat has these crystals, the results are easily noticeable, as their symptoms are painful. So to know when your cat has this infection, you would notice the following symptoms:

Blood in the urine
Genital licking
Urine spraying
Urinating everywhere
Painful urination

Best Cat Food for UTI health

Royal Canin Veterinary Diet

The Royal Canin Veterinary Diet is a wet cat food manufactured to help cats tackle symptoms and causes of urinary infections. This meal helps tackle the formation of crystals in the bladder, which could cause pain and unease.

With constant usage, the urine your cat produces is now increased and gives them a chance to ward off the infection.

[su_row][su_column size=”1/2″][su_box title=’Pros’ box_color=’#009906′ radius=’0′][su_list icon=”icon: check” icon_color=’#009906′]

Tackles the production of struvite stones
Helps with urinary ease
Eradicates the production of crystals in the bladder
Requires Vet authorization

[/su_list][/su_box][/su_column]

[su_column size=”1/2″][su_box title=’Cons’ box_color=’#bf000a’ radius=’0′][su_list icon=”icon: ban” icon_color=’#bf000a’]

Unwelcoming odor

[/su_list][/su_box][/su_column]
[/su_row]

[su_button url=”https://amzn.to/2UhWjf3″ style=”3d” background=”#ff9900″ color=”#ffffff” size=”5″ icon=”icon: shopping-cart” icon_color=”#ffffff”]Buy on Amazon[/su_button]

[su_button url=”https://prf.hn/l/OJmaM9A” style=”3d” background=”#0000FF” color=”#ffffff” size=”5″ icon=”icon: shopping-cart” icon_color=”#ffffff”]Buy on Chewy[/su_button]

Wysong Uretic

The Wysong Uretic is a dry cat food meant for tackling urinary health issues in your cats. This product is an excellent pick for palatability and formulation, as the ingredients used are well balanced.

The protein and fat in this meal keep the cat wanting more while still tackling urinary health issues.

[su_row][su_column size=”1/2″][su_box title=’Pros’ box_color=’#009906′ radius=’0′][su_list icon=”icon: check” icon_color=’#009906′]

Quality ingredients
Urinary health inclined
Chicken Meat

[/su_list][/su_box][/su_column]

[su_column size=”1/2″][su_box title=’Cons’ box_color=’#bf000a’ radius=’0′][su_list icon=”icon: ban” icon_color=’#bf000a’]

Some cats don’t like the taste of this meal

[/su_list][/su_box][/su_column]
[/su_row]

[su_button url=”https://amzn.to/2UhWjf3″ style=”3d” background=”#ff9900″ color=”#ffffff” size=”5″ icon=”icon: shopping-cart” icon_color=”#ffffff”]Buy on Amazon[/su_button]

[su_button url=”https://prf.hn/l/gAXR0ee” style=”3d” background=”#0000FF” color=”#ffffff” size=”5″ icon=”icon: shopping-cart” icon_color=”#ffffff”]Buy on Chewy[/su_button]

Conclusion- Best Cat Food for UTI Health

Choosing the best cat food for UTI is essential as it helps your felines live a more convenient and balanced lifestyle. The composition help tackle the symptoms and gives them a great chance of battling the infection.

UTI infections in cats is quite common and easy to diagnose. However, if you find that your cat doesn’t display the symptoms of a UTI infection, it is possible they may have an illness called feline interstitial cystitis.

A Final Word

Cat Food Advisor is privately owned. We do not accept money, samples, gifts, or other incentives in exchange for special consideration in preparing our reviews.

For more information, please visit our Disclaimer and Disclosure page.

What functions do amino acids serve?

Types of amino acids

Can cats synthesize taurine from other amino acids?

Causes of taurine deficiency in cats

Effects of taurine deficiency in cats

1. Blindness

2. Dilated Cardiomyopathy

3. Reproductive failure

4. Tooth decay

5. Gastrointestinal issues

6. Immune system disorders

7. Diabetes

Diagnosis of taurine deficiency in cats

Treatment of taurine deficiency in cats

Why Do Cats Need Taurine? Final Comments

Understanding the Reasons Why Your Cat Won’t Use Litter Box

A Key Reason

6 More Reasons Your Cat Won’t Use Litter Box

Tips to Introducing a Litter Box to Your Cat or Kitten for the First Time

Cleaning Up After Accidents

Cat Urine Odor, Removal Tips

Best Cat Litter to Buy

Final Thoughts

Symptoms of Feline Interstitial Cystitis

Causes of Feline Interstitial Cystitis

Treatment

Not Using Litter Box

‘Cat Spraying No More’ Product Review

Benefits

1.Saving money and time.

2.Tricks to get your cat to “love” its litter box again.

3.No more stress and smell.

4.Helpful tips to effectively clean up the misfires.

5.Affordable and easy to follow system.

6.Money back guarantee.

Cons

Bonuses Offered

Final Comments- Why is my cat peeing all over the house?

A critical time for kittens

When should you feed 4 week old kittens?

What do 4-week-old kittens eat?

Getting Started

Our recommended foods for 4-week-old kittens

What do 4 week old kittens eat? Final Thoughts.

A Final Word

16 Point Check List of What to Look for in Cat Food

Dry vs Wet

What is Considered a Quality Cat Food?

Checklist of What to Look for in Cat Food

Share this Image On Your Site

What to Look for in Cat Food- 6 Must Haves!

Meat Protein/Amino acids

Omega Fatty Acids

Real Meat

Minimal Processing and Cooking

Balanced nutrition

Conforms with AAFCO Profiles

10 Things to Avoid in Cat Food!

Grains

PH Out of Balance

Unnamed Meat By-products/Meat Meal

Food Coloring

Preservatives

Flavor Enhancers

GMO

Legumes

Excessive Oily Fish and Fish Oil

Starchy Tuberous Vegetables

Final Thoughts

Dry vs Wet Cat Food Options

8 Best Wet Cat Foods (Fully Reviewed HERE)

Cat Nutrition 101

The #1 Ingredient Must be Meat

6 Best Dry Cat Foods for Outdoor Cats (Fully Reviewed HERE)

What About Meat By-product?

Is Meat By-product Good for Cats?

Can Cats Eat Grain?- What do the Veterinarians Recommend?

3 Best Grain-Free Cat Foods- Quick Review (full review later)

What Do Veterinarians Recommend Continued…

The Effects of Grains on Cats