Natural Pet Nutrition for Your CatNatural pet nutrition for your cat-what does that mean exactly and how does a cat-mom or dad make good choices? Considering the recent concerns over retail pet foods, without question, pet parents are looking for higher quality products to feed their fur-kids. One strategy is to look for foods with identifiable ingredients, preferably human grade. Another important factor to keep in mind is variety. Variety in your cat's diet ensures that she's getting the nutrients she needs and the range of tastes that will keep even the finicky kitty interested.
Making a Plan for Natural Cat NutritionThe first thing to keep in mind when making changes to your cat's diet is to do it s-l-o-w-l-y. Your cat's digestive system contains a delicate balance of bacteria that aid in the digestion of food and processing of nutrition for your cat. When a new diet is introduced without a gradual introduction, this bacteria freaks out because its environment has been disturbed. The result-unpleasantness from both ends of your cat and you dealing with the consequences, carpet cleaner and sponge in hand. Remember-slow goes it when making dietary changes. As far as what is optimal natural pet nutrition, we come to the issue of raw versus high-quality prepared pet food-which is better for your cat? Decisions, DecisionsThose who advocate a raw food diet for your cat are basing their preference on how cats eat in the wild. cats are predators and naturally gravitate to meat as the staple of their diet and in the wild, this meat would be raw. Advocates of raw food are aware that the cooking process that takes place with both canned and dry foods destroys key natural nutrients essential to a cat's optimal health. Raw foodies also advocate that raw meaty bones not only provide the best nutrition for cats, but dental care as well due to the cleaning action of the bone against teeth. Dental care is so important to your cats's health and this is "bone-us" for the raw food diet. Now anyone who watches the news (and maybe too much at that...) knows that raw meat presents a number of health concerns, both for us and our dogs and cats. The folks who advocate a raw food diet tell us that dogs and cats naturally have a resistance to salmonella and e-coli; pet foods are processed for the human handler's safety, not our pet's. If you've seen some of the "things" your cat will eat in the yard or in a field, you can understand this resistance-no matter what your cat eats, as much as it makes you nauseous to think about it,she doesn't seem any worse for the experience. This being said, there are those who disagree with the raw food diet and with good reason. Those who advocate a high-quality pet food based diet for cats do so for a number of good reasons. First, these advocates contend and many experts agree that raw food is not necessarily safe for your cat. Cats and dogs can become sick from salmonella or e-coli poisoning. Secondly, a raw food diet, when not prepared by someone who knows what she's doing, nutritionally speaking, can be deficient in a number of nutrients that cats require for good health. High quality pet foods are carefully balanced to the stage of life of your cat to ensure that your cat is getting all he needs. Third, raw meaty bones can break your cat's teeth or worse yet, splinter and cause tears or blockages in your cat's digestive system. Though this is rare, it is a valid concern; while raw bones are good for your cat and they do enjoy them, this treat must be given under careful supervision. And The Winner Is...Aside from opinions, are there any scientific comparisons of the two approaches to feeding? One of the best comparisons was studied by the Journal of the American Veterinary Association (JAVMA) in March of 2001. The study concluded that raw food diets, while having some benefits, are not superior to feeding a natural pet nutrition diet based on high-quality pet food. In fact, high-quality pet foods are often superior to a raw food diet because they take the guess-work out of making certain your cat is getting an adequate supply of the nutrients he needs. Remember too, that nutrients that were once thought to be destroyed by the cooking process are now supplemented in premium, high-quality foods, thereby leveling this playing field between raw food and high-quality pet foods.If the raw food diet intrigues you and you're thinking about supplementing your cat's natural pet nutrition plan with raw foods, an authoritative book on the natural pet care, Dr. Pitcairn's New Complete Guide to Natural Health for Dogs and Cats 
offers many nutritionally sound recipes to follow. For example,you can easily up the nutrition level of your cat’s food while in transition to a more natural pet nutrition plan by adding a small amount of cod liver oil to her food (good for dogs, too.) You can also mix in raw ground free-range, organically-raised turkey, chicken, beef or lamb with your cat’s favorite high-quality cat chow, a simple way to introduce safe, raw food into her diet.
The fact is, by choosing natural pet nutrition for your cat and making even small changes to her diet, you can make positive changes in her well-being. If you'd like to start with natural cat treats,
follow the recipe here.
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A cat's dietary needs are different from yours and those of dogs. Cats thrive on high-fat, raw diets. Cats require nutritional elements that are destroyed by cooking (another reason why even “wet” food is not the greatest choice for your pet.) Taurine, an amino acid essential for good cat nutrition, is found only in animal tissue. This amino acid is completely destroyed by the cooking process by which most commercial pet foods are made, leaving your cat's nutrition lacking. Thankfully, many manufacturers of premium brand cat foods realize this and have supplemented taurine in their products. However, the question remains as to which is better-raw or high-quality pet food?
