Safe Cat Food

There is a lot of disagreement among cat owners over what constitutes safe cat food, but there are some interesting findings that you should be aware of.





A natural cat diet includes raw foods such as meats. These are prey, which a cat would have caught under normal circumstances. Mice, birds, small mammals, fish, snakes or other reptiles, are what a cat would have caught for itself.



Proponents of a natural cat diet therefore stress that cats should be given such natural cat food, which is best suited to their digestive systems. This school of thought further argues that giving a pet cat cooked food all the time, will lead to nutrition deficiencies, diseases or genetic abnormalities in the long run. In later generations, pregnancies would become difficult, and if kittens were born they would not survive long.



If they did, they would have skeletal deformities because of weak bones and ligaments. They could also have organ malfunction. Genetic changes such as males becoming docile, while females more aggressive could also result.  

According to another school of thought, giving cats raw, uncooked meat is not very safe and could cause poisoning and diseases by organisms such E coli, salmonella, listeria and other bacteria. This school is also squeamish about giving raw and natural cat food all the time.

You can strike a balance:

While both diets can be defended with valid arguments, you can strike a balance between the two. You can give your pet cat commercial cat food brought from the stores, along with natural cat food which you make at home.

• What to look for in commercially safe cat food? Read the labels carefully. The first 5 to 10 ingredients which are listed are important indicators of the nutritional value.
• Select a food which has a high protein base, such as lamb, chicken, fish or egg.
• Omega-3 and Omega-6 fatty acids are important for a cat to maintain healthy skin and a glossy coat. They also help in reducing inflammation and helping blood clotting. Ensure that there are plenty of these in the food that you pick.
• Ensure that there are not too much carbohydrates or grains such as wheat, corn or soy, since these can lead to kidney damage in cats.
• There should be some fiber to provide bulk to stools and prevent cat constipation
• Ensure that there are no salt or unsafe preservatives like Ethoxyquin or Copper Sulfate, as they are harmful for cats.

How to make safe cat food at home:

You can make your own natural cat food at home and store it in the freezer. All you would need is a grinder. Cut up the meat of your choice and grind to a fine pulp. You can then mix it with some beaten eggs. Divide this pulpy mush into separate bags or bowls and freeze.