Cats: the Meat eaters
Cats are carnivores, this means that meat and fish should be part of their daily diet, and vegetarianism isn't considered as an option. Their daily diet should contain a high level of good quality meat/fish and animal fat, a small amount of fish oil is great for cats as it's great for skin, and keeps their coat in great condition.
They need the correct balance of vitamins and amino acids. Cats are sensitive souls, and require a balance of around 13 different types of vitamins. Essential amino acid taurine is necessary for healthy heart and eyes. So the complete diet will have the right balance of vitamins and amino acids either from raw materials or from cat food supplements. A decent food manufacturer use protected vitamins to prevent any low quality degraded food processing. By using a high quality food from a well know supplier, there is no need to give your cat and extra vitamins, as too may vitamins can be harmful.
Cats don't drink very much, originating from the desert. Cats are used to living in hot and dry conditions, and due to their desert origins. Giving a cat a wet food they can get all the moisture they need. If their fed dry food, cats should be given water. Cats have a very picky nature and sometimes may not be too keen on tap water, so it might be an idea to collect some rain water, or maybe you could even try bottled water. Or if you were to use tap water make sure it's been left out a while to go 'stale'
Cats can be prone to cystitis. Due to their low intake of moisture, a cat's urine can be concentrated, and so they have a tendency to get cystitis. Pet food manufacturers should be aware of this and their food should be careful balanced to give a slightly acidic urine PH level.
Be careful when changing their diet. If your cat has never eaten dry cat food, then it's important to introduce it over a period of 7 days and mix it in with wet food, then gradually add more and more dry food. This is the case for whenever you plan on changing your cat's food type, but you should bare in mind that changing your food regularly may not be completely healthy for their digestive systems.
Feeding a cat doesn't have to be expensive, but they do have certain requirements to help her live a long and happy life.
