Page 214 - The Complete Cat Breed Book (DK)

212 C ARE AND BEHA VIOR

FOOD AND FEEDING

A well-fed and well-nourished cat is a happy cat. Although the
occasional mouse caught outside may supplement your cat’s diet,
he will rely on you almost exclusively for his food. And that reliance
places great responsibility on you. Providing your cat with a healthy,
balanced diet will help him to grow and develop as he should, and
Eating healthily
give him the best chance of living a long life free of illness. for a long life

Essential nutrition Vitamins and micronutrients
Cats are carnivores—they eat meat because they cannot The vitamins needed for essential cat nutrition include D, K, E,
convert the fats and proteins found in vegetable matter into B, and A (cats cannot manufacture vitamin A). They also need
the amino acids and fatty acids necessary for their bodies vitamin C, but intake of this vitamin should be monitored since
to function properly and stay healthy. Meat protein contains cats can develop bladder stones if they have too much. Cats
everything they need plus an important amino acid that they also require certain micronutrients—for example, phosphorus,
cannot make—taurine. Insufficient taurine in a cat’s diet can selenium, and sodium. Although these are only needed in tiny
lead to blindness and heart disease. Taurine is added to all quantities, a lack of them can lead to serious health problems.
processed cat foods. Cooking reduces its effectiveness, A source of calcium is vital too because calcium only occurs in
so if you cook your cat’s food yourself, you will also need small quantities in meat. Most commercial cat food contains
to provide him with a regular taurine supplement. all of these essential vitamins and micronutrients.

Wet or dry?
Most prepared cat food is described
as “wet” or “dry.” Wet food comes in
airtight cans or pouches, so it doesn’t
need preservatives to keep it fresh.
It is tasty but soft in texture, so it
provides little resistance to keep teeth
and gums healthy. If wet food is not
eaten immediately, it will soon become
unappealing to your cat.
Dry food has been pressure-cooked
and then dried. It is sprayed with fat to
make it palatable, but this requires
preservatives to be added. Dry foods
usually includes antioxidants such as
vitamin C and E, which are natural and
beneficial to your cat. Although you
shouldn’t give your cat dry food all the
FIBER FROM PREY
Cats require a source of fiber to maintain
healthy digestive function. In the wild,
they obtain the fiber they need from
the fur, skin, and feathers of their prey.