Essential Guide: Choosing Cat Food for New Cat Owners

Section 1: Puffed Cereal

Puffed cereal is one of the most common types of cat food available on the market. This type of food is made by subjecting raw materials to hightemperature puffing and dehydration. Let's delve into its pros and cons:

1. Advantages

⑴ During the puffing process, which involves high heat and pressure, mold, bacteria, and fungi present in the raw materials are killed. This not only enhances the hygiene quality of the feed but also effectively prevents the occurrence of diarrhea and enteritis in cats. Moreover, puffed food is also easier to store.

⑵ Puffed cereal has a good taste and high gelatinization, making it highly appealing to cats. The structure of nutrients like proteins and fats becomes more easily digestible after puffing, allowing cats to quickly absorb the nutrients from the food.

2. Disadvantages

During the extrusion process, the raw materials are subjected to repeated cooking, extreme temperatures, and pressures, which can lead to the destruction of nutrients. Many nutrients are sensitive to heat, and high temperatures can reduce the content of proteins, vitamins, and antioxidants, thereby lowering the overall nutritional value of the food. Additionally, starch is often added during the processing to ensure the material sticks together, but cats are not suited to consume foods high in starch.

Section 2: AirDried Food

Airdried food is produced through a natural drying process that evaporates moisture without the need for additional heat. Here are its pros and cons:

1. Advantages

⑴ The airdrying technique allows raw materials to be dried without heating, thereby minimizing the destruction of natural components, including proteins, vitamins, and sensitive nutrients and enzymes. This method also resists cracking that may occur in frozendried foods, preserving the nutritional content of the meat ingredients.

⑵ This drying technique does not require the use of starch to bind the raw materials, significantly reducing the amount of starch used. The texture is also more aligned with a cat's natural dietary preferences.

2. Disadvantages: Compared to puffed cereal, airdried food tends to be more expensive.

Section 3: Baked Food

Baked food on the market is typically made by slowly cooking and shaping the raw materials through lowtemperature cold pressing. Here are its pros and cons:

1. Advantages: Baked food feels light to the touch, and due to the absence of high heat, lowtemperature baking can also retain a greater amount of the original nutritional content of the raw materials.

2. Disadvantages: Due to the lack of mature production technology, there are not many baked food products on the market, and the prices are relatively high, making the audience relatively small.

When choosing any type of food as a cat's primary diet, the most important factor is whether the cat can adapt to the taste and nutrition of the food. Therefore, pet owners must consider all aspects of the cat food. If you have any other questions, don't hesitate to consult an online veterinary expert.