Blog ~ A Few Words from Dr. Goodpet - better pet health

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Switch From Dry Food to Meat - This is perhaps the QUICKEST way to improve your cat’s health almost over-night. It’s imperative to understand that felines are obligate carnivores, meaning they require meat in their diet in order to sustain life. While dogs have evolved to be able to process and utilize plant material for energy, cats do not share this trait. At the very least, you should make a concerted effort to remove all grain from the diet and make animal protein the focus.

Go Raw When You Can - If switching from dry kibble to meat is the first step, making strides toward feeding exclusively with raw meat is the ultimate goal in order to achieve optimal health. Cats are unique from dogs in the sense that their bodies are incapable of converting amino acids, meaning they must get these proteins straight from the meat source. By feeding raw, you provide your cat with everything he/she needs to thrive, without degrading any of the naturally occurring enzymes contained in the food.

Don’t Forget the Healthy Fats - Unlike dogs, cats are unable to convert dietary fats into EPA and DHA, two critical omega 3 fatty acids that are vital to good health. Due to their inability to convert fats, it is essential that the feline diet either include regular servings of high Omega 3 foods such as wild salmon & tuna, or be supplemented daily with fish oil. Restoring the proper balance of healthy fats can make all the difference in the world.

The More Good Quality Protein, the Better - In fact, cats utilize more dietary protein for growth metabolism than dogs do, roughly 10% more. Cats also use about 3 times more protein than dogs for overall maintenance, simply to function properly. This makes it more difficult to meet your cat’s needs with protein deficient dry food.

Cut Out the Dairy - Whether it's cheese infused treats or milk from the fridge, consuming dairy can be problematic for most cats. Some kitties are lactose intolerant, making milk a bad choice since it will lead to serious stomach and digestive issues. Even for cats that can tolerate lactose, the protein contained in dairy is not well absorbed or utilized by their bodies. Because of this, the excess fat calories will store, seriously increasing the likelihood of obesity.