Whether you just got your very first cat or are looking to improve your old cat’s health you need to understand how cat food can help or hurt your pet. Not all cat foods are created equal. In fact, there are hundreds of foods out there to choose from. How to pick one? Here are a few things you must know to help whittle down the choices. First, how old is your cat? Kitten food is vastly different from senior foods. Second, does your cat have any special health issues? You might need to visit the vet for a prescription to purchase certain foods. Third, what kind of food does your cat enjoy? If canned food is the only thing that seems to do the trick then you are looking at a whole other ballpark.
If the older kitty gets into the kitten food a few times then it's not a big deal (unless that cat has a medical restriction.) However, if your older cat is eating kitten food every day he or she may be headed for the vet soon. Kitten food has double or triple the calories an adult cat needs. It's also packed with high levels of amino acids and vitamins that could be harmful to adults over time.
Unless you can't get your cat to eat any of the other hundreds of healthy options, then go for the gourmet. A cat that won't eat can go into liver failure quickly. However, there is no need to go the fancy food route for most cats. Foods that have the seal of approval from the American Association of Feed Control Officials (AAFCO) will provide your cat the nutritional requirements to be healthy. If your cat won't eat what you bring home then try another brand or flavor. If the issue continues see your vet right away.
The short answer is yes. However, you will spending a lot of time, money and energy doing something that has been perfected by pet food companies. If you choose to go this route you'll need to keep a lot of raw meat on hand. You'll need to make sure to keep the food refrigerated at all times and never leave it out for more than an hour. Otherwise, you risk giving your cat salmonella and other food poisons. There are many sites that explain how to get the right mixture of vitamins and minerals along with the raw protein. It's best to speak to a vet to find out if this type of diet is good for your particular cat.
As long as you are purchasing a quality food, either is nutritionally balanced. Dry food has the advantage of staying fresh longer and helps to clean your cat's teeth. Canned food is good for cats with chronic urinary tract infections. It also builds muscle faster. Ideally, you should try to balance your cat's diet with both. Leave out dry food for grazing and give a nightly portion of canned food to boot.
Your best bet is to ask your vet for recommendations. If that's not an option then look for foods marked specifically for kittens. If the food says it's for kittens and adults, don't buy it. A duel purpose food is not possible. Also, look for this statement somewhere on the packaging, “Meets the nutritional requirements of kittens established by the American Association of Feed Control Officials (AAFCO).”
Cats are not like dogs. They need to graze rather than gorge themselves in one go. Try leaving out food all day. If the bowl is empty by the time you get home, you'll need to adjust the amount you're leaving out. Eventually, the bowl should be filled each morning and still have some left by the evening.
If your cat is under the age of 1 then you should be providing kitten food. Adult cat food does not have high enough levels of almost every dietary requirement for a kitten. Feeding them adult food may cause health issues imediatly or long term.