Best Nutritious Foods for Kittens: Healthy Choices!

What kind of food should cats eat for nutritional benefits?

Cats are quite particular about their food choices, primarily influenced by their sense of smell, appearance, feeding habits, and physiological needs. Their dietary demands are quite high, and if they're offered food they don't like, they'd rather go hungry than eat cat food.

1. Observational research has shown that cats favor a variety of foods that are high in protein, fat, fishy aroma, sweetness, and semimoist textures. Cats have a penchant for meat, and if they're served meat with every meal, they'll be quite satisfied. Owners can cater to their preferences by offering meat. However, consuming too much meat can lead to an excess of protein intake.

Some of the protein cats absorb undergoes a deamination reaction in their liver, which is then excreted as urea. The rest is converted into heat or fat, which can cause cats to gain weight. This process can place a significant burden on the cat's liver, kidneys, and other organs. Therefore, it's important not to overfeed cats with meat; no more than 50 grams per day is recommended.

2. Cats also have a fondness for fats. If the food doesn't appeal to them, adding some fat can make them happy to eat it all. Even if a cat's appetite is poor, a couple of pieces of fatty meat can stimulate its appetite. Cats can consume a lot of fat, with up to 64% of their feed being dry matter, without any adverse effects.

3. Cats also enjoy fresh fish with a strong smell. Some households like to feed their cats leftover fish bones and spikes, which can lead to excessive intake of magnesium and phosphorus, causing an overabundance of phosphate magnesium crystals, urinary tract accumulation, and difficulty in urination.

To maintain a balanced ratio of calcium, magnesium, and phosphorus in a cat's body, it's recommended to add processed bone powder to their food daily, no more than 5 to 10 grams at a time. Feeding cats fish bones and spikes should be done in moderation, without overindulgence. Also, be cautious when feeding fish to avoid the cat being choked.

4. Cats also have a taste for sweets. If a cat is losing its appetite, a little sweet treat can help stimulate its appetite. If owners notice that their cat is interested in sweets, they might add some sucrose to the cat's food to encourage eating. However, this can be detrimental to the cat, as they have a weak ability to absorb lactose and sucrose. Cats often crave sweets not because they need sugar for metabolism but because they enjoy the taste. The carbohydrates in their regular diet are sufficient to provide the necessary sugar. Excessive sucrose and lactose can lead to mild diarrhea in cats.

Tip: Click on "Essential Knowledge for New Cat Owners" to learn more about raising cats.