The Holistic Carnivorous Cat’s Meow

When it comes to cats, a meat-based, high-protein diet is the key.

The following is a guest article by Dr. Donna Spector, DVM, of Halo Pets.

If you are like most Americans today, healthy eating is part of your daily focus, and if you’re a cat owner, you can adapt your cat’s diet to match yours. Many pet food manufacturers are developing natural cat food designed specifically for the dietary needs of cats.

If the lion is the king of the jungle, its domestic cousin—the regal housecat—cannot be far behind! Cats seem to be descended from royalty and, like lions, they are true carnivores. They require twice as much protein as dogs, since they rely on protein (not carbohydrates) to produce glucose for energy. Since cats fuel their bodies with energy from protein, meat-based diets work best.

High-carbohydrate cat food can result in digestive problems such as diarrhea, gas and bloating. A diet high in carbohydrates may even lead to obesity and feline diabetes. Commercial cat food is often moderate to high in carbohydrates.

Research shows for best health, cats should consume a diet composed of at least 35% protein, 10% fat, and 20% carbohydrates. AAFCO, (the Association of American Feed Control Officials) the agency that establishes pet food guidelines requires cat food contain only 26% protein and 9% fat. “While these amounts provide the minimum daily requirement to survive, I believe they are only half the ideal amount to allow your cat to thrive with healthy digestion, strong bones, and a beautiful, full coat”, board certified veterinary internist Dr. Donna Spector explains.

In addition, AAFCO makes no recommendations regarding carbohydrate levels in cat foods. As a result, many pet food companies use grains as the base of their cat food products. While grains are an inexpensive way to meet AAFCO standards for protein and fat, they contribute a large amount of carbohydrate to the food. This often creates cat food with twice or three times the ideal amount of carbohydrates for cats. Feeding excess carbohydrates to cats leads to malnutrition and contributes to other conditions such as pet obesity , feline diabetes, intestinal disease and skin disorders.

Allow your cat to reach his or her maximum potential by serving holistic cat food meat-based recipes that provide ideal amounts of all the necessary nutrients to your cat to facilitate excellent digestion and optimum health.

About Halo, Purely for Pets

Halo, Purely for Pets is a holistic pet care company. Halo Pets offers cat owners new options: low-carbohydrate, meat-based cat foods that support a cat’s unique biology. Halo uses premium quality ingredients to develop wholesome, natural products for pets. Halo’s natural cat food, dog food, nutritional supplements, herbal grooming supplies and nutritious treats help pets to live longer, happier, healthier lives. Visit www.halopets.com for more information.
 

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