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Home / Blog / Health, Cat/Kitty Tips, cat food, ochoa / The Best Cat Food for a Balanced Diet & Life

March 19, 2020 |6 min read |Veterinarian Reviewed

The Best Cat Food for a Balanced Diet & Life

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Cat enjoying cat food

Pet parents ask us this question all the time: what is the best cat food to feed my fur baby?

And we get it. You do so much to care for your little one and balanced cat diets are one of the biggest factors of all that affects your cat's health.

Every commercial cat food variety varies in ingredients and in the way it's made, so it's difficult to say which brands are the best to give your cat. Rather, the best way to know that you're giving your kitty the highest quality nourishment is to know what his little body needs and find a cat food with the highest-quality and nutritional ingredients.

To help you find the best cat food for your precious ball of fur, we're diving into cat nutrition and breaking down the best ingredients based on your cat's special macro and micro-nutrient needs.


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Protein

cat eating fish at table

The absolute most important macronutrient for your cat to eat is protein. Cats may have evolved to be cute, cuddly domestic friends, but their digestive systems are still very similar to that of their ancestors and their big wild cat cousins.
Your cat needs protein to maintain his muscle and hold a steady, healthy body weight. One of the cleanest and highest quality sources of protein is...

Chicken

chicken

Who doesn't love chicken? While you and your cat are bonding over your mutual adoration for chicken wings (leave the buffalo sauce off of Fluffy's serving), you can feel confident that when you give your cat a food that has chicken listed as one of the first few ingredients, you're doing well as a pet parent.

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Fat

The second most important macronutrient for your cat is fat. Now, we're not suggesting you add a dollop of sour cream to your furry friend's food, but your cat does need fat in his diet.

Cats are natural carnivores, which means they get the majority of their nutrients from animal sources. Fat is your cat's preferred source of energy, which should always come from natural sources.

The best cat food keeps your cat's natural instincts and needs in mind by providing healthy, natural sources of fat that your cat would get if he were out in the wild catching his own dinner.

Flax

flax

Because cats need such a high-protein, moderate-fat diet, they also need a healthy balance of Omega-3 and Omega-6 fatty acids. Omega-3s are commonly found in modern processed meats, such as chicken and beef. However, Omega-6s are a bit harder to come by.

Flax is a great source of heart-friendly Omega-6 fatty acids like those that your cat would get from eating fish in the wild. Flax keeps your cat's internal system well-balanced while also leaving his skin healthy and his coat shiny.

Carbs

Carbs are the lowest on the totem pole when it comes to what your cat needs in his diet. Some carbs are beneficial, of course, but a cat's diet should never be made primarily of carbs. The best cat food includes only natural sources of carbs and leaves out the grains, wheat, and corn.

Peas

peas

Not only are peas a healthy source of carbs for your feisty feline, but also they're packed with key micronutrients like potassium and vitamin C. Peas also have a healthy dose of fiber to help keep Kitty's blood sugar and energy levels stable.


Chickpeas

chickpeas

These fun little white legumes – also known as garbanzo beans – have a low glycemic index, which means they won't spike your cat's blood sugar, which can lead to health problems over time. Chickpeas are also a great way to support a healthy gut microbiome, which keeps your cat's digestive tract happy and working properly.

The Best Cat Food Includes Macros – and Micros

The macronutrients in your cat's diet – protein, fat, and carbs – are crucial to maintaining healthy muscle and providing stable energy for your little fur ball. However, a commonly overlooked element of nutrition is the amount of micronutrients in your cat's food such as vitamins and minerals.

Micronutrients are vitamins, minerals, electrolytes, and essential amino acids that your cat needs to function. In fact, micronutrients are responsible for everything from proper digestion to healthy organs to proper nerve function.


Kelp

kelp

Yes, kelp! It's one of the healthiest food sources on the planet because it's
packed with micronutrients. It's also a safe, natural source of iodine, which is important for healthy thyroid function in cats.

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Cranberries

cranberries

These tart little berries are natural little gems of nutrition. They're full of antioxidants, which makes them ideal for battling
urinary health problems in cats and supporting a healthy immune system.

Feline nutrition isn't as simple as it seems. Luckily, there are experts who have carefully formulated cat food for you so you don't have to do all the macro- and micronutrient calculations to make sure your cat is getting everything he needs.

In fact, the cat experts at PrettyLitter have just developed their own nutritional and 
health-conscious cat food - PrettyPlease - that gives your fur baby everything he needs and nothing he doesn't.

Have more questions about your cat's ideal diet or what to feed your cat? Let us know in the comments below!

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Christina Scamporrino is a lifelong animal lover and began working in the petcare space in 2019. Christina’s passion for the community of feline owners and enthusiasts have led her to designing premium packaging for PrettyLitter cat litter, PrettyPlease dry food, wet food, and treats, and a litter box designed to solve common litter box issues.

Outside of her professional work in the petcare space, Christina is a longtime kitten foster and has worked with several cat rescues throughout Southern California. When given the option, she favors orange cats, but loves all cats equally.

Links

https://www.linkedin.com/in/christina-tasci-68ab815b

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Sara Ochoa

Sara Ochoa, DVM graduated from St. George's University Veterinary School in 2015. Since then, she has been at a small and exotic animal practice in Texas. In her free time, she loves making quilts and spending time with her husband Greg and their 4 fur kids. Two dogs, Ruby a schnoodle, and Bug a Japanese Chin, one cat named OJ and a leopard tortoise named Monkey.

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