Best Cat Food Advice: Domesticated Cats

If we want our cats to live the longest and healthiest lives possible, we must start with food. Food can either heal or harm the body… there’s no middle ground. Just like humans, a healthy diet that fits nutritional requirements for the species is one of the best ways to insure a longer and happier life for our cats. In this guide we will share the best cat food advice we have, from decades of experience in pet nutrition.

Why Cats Need A Better Diet Than Kibble

Cats are obligate carnivores, which means they need a diet rich in animal-based protein, fats, and nutrients to thrive. While many cats are fed a dry kibble diet, it’s not the best choice for their health. Cats are desert animals and have a low thirst drive by nature. This means that they are unable to make up the amount of moisture their bodies need at the water bowl. Instead, they were designed to obtain the majority of the hydration their bodies need from their food. 

In addition to the lack of moisture, dry food is full of carbohydrates & starches – which leads to inflammation in the body and a highly concentrated urine. According to leading integrative veterinarians, kibble is the top contributor to many feline diseases. This includes urinary blockages, diabetes, dental disease, chronic kidney disease and hyperthyroidism – all of which are epidemics in domesticated cats.

Transitioning your cat to a species-appropriate diet can help them avoid health issues and thrive. Because we consider them our family members, it’s the right decision to feed our cats a diet that will help them live the long & healthy lives they deserve.

What Types Of Food To Choose

Research shows that feeding a variety of proteins and ingredients can strengthen our cats’ microbiome – allowing them a longer & healthier life. There are several different types of food to choose from, but we recommend offering a variety from the top tier. Here’s our top 10 list of cat foods – from most feline appropriate to least (best to worst):

1. Balanced, homemade fresh food diet (raw or cooked – balanced is the key)
2. Premade balanced raw diet (commercially prepared)
3. Freeze dried raw (rehydrated before feeding)
4. Premade balanced gently cooked diet
5. Human grade wet food
6. Premium grade wet food
7. Non-premium wet food
8. Human grade dry food
9. Premium grade dry food
10. Non-premium dry food

You’ll notice that we consider non-premium wet food to be superior to human grade dry food. This is not because of the ingredients. This is because of the moisture. While we cannot recommend the ingredients in non-premium wet food, we believe that the moisture content is very important. Even the best dry food can be detrimental to our cats in the long term. 

Important Diet Consideration Points

1. Make sure that the diet is balanced: If you are making your cat’s food at home, you’ll want to follow a balanced recipe or food balancing calculator. If purchasing a pre-made diet, be sure that it is marked as “complete and balanced” and isn’t meant to be supplemental. An unbalanced diet over an extended period of time can cause series health issues. 
2. Feed the right amount of food: The amount of food that each cat needs is dependent upon their activity levels, age and ideal weight. Consult with a vet to determine your kitty’s ideal weight and click here to calculate the caloric intake. In our experience, if your cat isn’t overweight, the amount of calories you feed doesn’t have to be exact. Just get close. 
3. Schedule the meals: Studies show that cats who are fed on a routine schedule are less stressed and have less illness. Pick mealtimes that fit around your schedule and stick with it every day. Smaller meals 3-5 times per day is best, but if you can only feed twice per day that’s fine too. Just stick to the same times each day.
4. The dish matters: Some say that how you feed your cat is as important as what you feed your cat. A cat’s whiskers are attached to sensory organs and help detect their surroundings. Whisker fatigue can cause your cat to be stressed during mealtime. Food is supposed to be an uplifting and exciting time for cats, but if their whiskers are touching the sides of the bowl they won’t enjoy eating. Feed your cats from a wide shallow dish or a platter. 
5. Add in supplements: The definition of supplement is: something that completes or enhances something else. If the meals are already balanced, you won’t need supplements to complete the diet. However, even the best of diets are often lacking in certain nutrients that can enhance your cats overall health. Digestive enzymes, omega 3 fatty acids and probiotics added to the food can add an extra boost to your cats health and help you both avoid unwanted vet visits.