Keep Your Cat Healthy by Avoiding These Mistakes

With all the different brands and formulations available, buying cat food and cat treats can seem like an overwhelming task at times. Here are a few things you DO NOT want to do if you want to keep your cat healthy and well fed.

Don’t Skip the Vet Visit
A cat's nutrition and health are intrinsically connected. So what better person to give you a recommendation on cat food and treats before you make a purchase than your veterinarian? He or she can assess your cat’s body condition and make a scientific recommendation based on the results. A veterinarian can also point out any possible negative reactions your cat may have due to her current state of health. For instance, did you know if your cat is currently on a therapeutic cat food, certain canned cat foods can actually negate the benefits the therapeutic cat food is providing?

Don’t Ignore the Calories
In addition to providing recommendations on a well-balanced cat food, your veterinarian can ensure your cat is on a "calorie conscious" cat food. Most cat food manufacturers will provide the number of calories (often listed as kilocalories or kcal per cup) on their websites as well as a chart of recommended feeding guidelines on the back of the bag of cat food or treats. But this guideline may not accurately account for your cat's unique calorie needs. Your veterinarian is best at making a calorie recommendation to keep Kitty at a healthy weight, especially if you want to mix dry and canned cat food as well as treats in their daily nutrition.

For the complete slideshow on 3 Cat Food Mistakes to AVOID, petMD.