Info about Cat Food
Cat Food
Cat food is specialized food that is intended for consumption by cats. Because of widespread belief that cats could fend for themselves, the idea of making a special food for cats came about much later that the idea for dog food. As early as the 1800’s, people tended to think that just because cats chased mice and other rodents, they had no need for any other food. It became commonly accepted that even though this might be true of cats, they still do not get enough nutrients. Furthermore, it became evident that cats which were not fed their own meals regularly (at least twice daily) actually were poorer mice and rodent catchers that the cats which ate regularly. It was determined that cats really only catch mice and rodents for sport and to play with, not so much to eat. But well-fed cats tend to catch more mice and therefore do a great service to the household.
There are two kinds of commercial cat food .There is dry cat food which is also known as kibble in the U.S., and there is a wet canned food. Dry cat food, which has only 8-10% moisture, is generally processed by cooking it at high pressure and heat, which actually destroys some of the nutrients. After processing, the dry cat food then may have some of the missing nutrients added to it. The manufacturer may also add some fat to make it tastier to the cat. Wet, or canned, cat food has about 75-78% moisture content. The can sizes for wet food are usually 3oz., 5.5 oz., and 13 oz.
There is really no notable difference in wet or dry food where their dental health is concerned. Unlike humans, who have enzymes present in their saliva to break down food for digestion, cats have no such enzymes present. They generally only chew their food once or twice before swallowing. Vitamin deficiencies in cats are known to cause a wide range of clinical abnormalities, depending on the vitamin they lack.
Twelve minerals are known to be essential nutrients for cats. Two of the essential twelve are calcium and phosphorus, which are necessary for the development of strong bones and teeth. Cats also need other sodium, magnesium, and potassium for functions such as muscle contraction and nerve impulses. Other minerals such as selenium and copper are found in minute amounts in cats, also.
Feeding cats a vegetarian or vegan diet is still controversial, even among most advocacy groups. The National Research Council says that cats need certain nutrients, to just certain food. Apparently they stress the importance of the nutritional content of what cats eat, not only what kind of food they eat. The Vegan Society and PETA are two groups that support vegan or vegetarian diets. Neither the American Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals(ASPCA) nor the Animal Protection Institute recommends a vegetarian diet for cats. Malnutrition can be a problem for cats that are fed a non-traditional diet. Good nutrition for cats requires their food to have a healthy balance of the necessary vitamins and minerals.