Cat Food Sources And Fresh Meat

You can supplement your cat’s canned or dry commercial food for the sake of variety. It is obviously more time consuming to prepare special meals, but leftovers and scraps can introduce different tastes and textures with minimal effort and preparation.

It is essential, however, to have an idea of the benefits and drawbacks of certain foods, and the danger of an unbalanced diet, such as too much liver and vitamin A.

If you want to feed your pet exclusively on home prepared foods, it is advisable to discuss this with your vet, particularly with regard to types, variety and amounts.

Fresh Meat – A house cat may traditionally have lived off table scraps and odd bits of meat and fish thrown out for it, which probably provided perfectly good nutritional levels.

The feral cat will eat a small rodent in its entirely, including bones, innards and muscle and will benefit from all the nutrients these contain.

If you want to feed your cat on raw meat, this must be supplemented with other foods, such as pasta and vegetables for carbohydrates, minerals and fiber, which will provide the equivalent nutritional content of the bones and intestines of the naturally caught rodent.

The best meat, irrespective of type, has a valuable protein content of about 20 percent. It is best served raw or lightly cooked as many of the vitamins can be destroyed, and the proteins denatured in the cooking process.

Protein decreases and fat content increases as the cuts of meat become cheaper. Fat is not a problem, as the cat is well able to digest it and convert it into energy.

Poultry can be served, giblets and all, but make sure the bones are removed, as they become brittle with cooking and could be dangerous.

Large pork or lamb bones, however, can provide a cat or kittens with hours of gnawing pleasure and also help to develop jaw strength, keep the teeth clean, and reduce the risk of dental problems in old age.

Generally, avoid meats with additives and high salt content such as ham, bacon and sausages. Offal, such as liver and heart, is rich in minerals such as iron, but is also rich in vitamin A, too much which can cause serious arthritis.