Being a dog in the pet blogging world, I have learned that almost every pet owner has an opinion about what is best for their cats to eat (and dog’s too). The latest buzz is that we need to eat what we would eat in the wild. That is what our bodies were designed to digest. Ok, great idea in theory. However, let me give you a reality check from a pet’s point of view. First, we don’t want to be out in the wild! I don’t want to have to go hunting for my food; I just want to lay on the couch. Plus, who would groom my hair and keep me looking good? There aren’t groomers out in the wild! Finally, at least here in Kentucky, it gets pretty cold in the winter and hot in the summer. I really like, like, like the central heating and air in my house!
Cats are the same. Honestly, when was the last time my brother and sister cat Mr. Pibb and Dr. Pepper actually hunted for their dinner?!? Never! Plus, the nutrition they would need in the wild is different than what is needed for being a typical pet. In the wild, they need lots and lots of energy to chase and hunt. They also need a certain combination of nutrition to reproduce as fast as possible. Now the lazy house cat (I submit Mr. Pibb as a prime example), doesn’t need the same combination of nutrition as a feral cat that lives in a cat colony. Also, Pibb isn’t interested in making babies either. So if we feed him the same as a feral cat, it will lead to health conditions such as being overweight! At the same time, say for example that Mr. Pibb was an outdoors cat. If we fed him the same as if he laid on the couch every day, he would soon have a nutrient deficiency that also leads to serious health issues.
So I asked my pals at Hill about what is the ideal nutrition for a house cat? They told me that a diet with a balance of proteins, carbohydrates, and vitamins and minerals from a variety of sources is ideal. Then I asked but what about natural cat foods that focus on the ingredients not the balance? In response, they sent me this great video from Hill’s Pet Nutritionist Kathy Gross who showed me that natural foods can have a balance too!
To learn more information or find the right Ideal Balance for your cat, go to the Ideal Balance website at: Ideal Balance Cat Food
Author has been compensated for completion of this article. Hill’s Pet Nutrition, Inc. is not responsible for the content of this article.
