For the cat lover, the cat is more than a pet; it is a valued member of the family. It is essential for cat health care to feed a high-quality natural cat food.
A lot of cat food and treats claim to have the highest quality ingredients, but not all of them make the grade. This post will discuss the essential ingredients to look for in choosing a quality cat food as well as the three ingredients to avoid. You will know what food contents to choose to assure your pet gets the finest cat nutrition with organic or natural cat food.

When choosing a cat food or treat, make sure the first label listing is protein. Many cat foods use a filler ingredient such as wheat or corn instead of protein as the main ingredient.

Cats are obligate carnivores, which mean that they must eat meat; no matter how wonderful vegetables may be for the health of a human being, they are not essential or even needed to maintain the health and happiness of our feline friends.

Feeding a cat food that has wheat or corn as its primary ingredient can lead to health problems in the long run, including joint, skin, coat, and eye conditions. It is also important to remember the wheat gluten contamination that led to the recall of so many cat foods as well as multiple deaths in 2007.

Another problem with cat foods that contain corn or wheat gluten is that cats can develop allergies. If you notice that your cat is scratching more, or develops scabs around the head and neck, you will want to discuss with your veterinarian switching your cat to a different cat food containing higher quality ingredients than those found in your cat’s current diet.

Some people think premium cat foods are expensive, but in fact, because they have less filler, the cat is able to gain a full day’s nutrition eating as little as half the amount as of a lower quality food. As a result, often the cost per day is the same.

The difference is, with a wellness cat food, your cat is not immersed in a diet of artificial preservatives such as BHT, BHA or Ethoxyquin, animal by products, or unnecessary fillers. Removing these unfavorable ingredients makes a significant difference in the overall cat health and well being of your pet, improving the quality of life, as well as reducing the likelihood of developing health issues and frequent trips to the vet.

Humans may eat junk food once in awhile but we surely couldn’t survive or thrive with such a daily diet. Imagine now that we give our felines a daily feeding of junk food (which unfortunately some cat food brands are). That certainly would not be healthy for them.

 Sometimes we will see this manifest into a dull coat or bowel/urinary issues. Or we may not notice anything wrong. However, as most people know, quality nutrition and proper absorption of nutrients is beneficial to overall health and the same is true for our cats.

Whether we have two legs or four, what we eat makes a difference. Avoid animal bi-products, fillers such as corn or wheat gluten, and keep your pet on a cat food that promotes cat health.

People, who keep their dogs outside, think nothing of having a simple dog house for their pet to call his own. You may wonder why they don’t think to do the same for their indoor pet.  

It doesn’t have to be large…but just big and comfortable enough to be their own cozy den. If they can stand up, turn around, have some peace and quiet when they feel the need for it, they will be happy and feel safe and secure.  This spot can be arranged in a corner of the family room, a bedroom, or even a laundry room or basement.

Give him a nice bed in his own private space. It can be something as simple as a crate or a carton with a dog mat or some soft blanket that he can nest in. It will help him conserve his body heat in winter, and should be soft and comfortable for his bony parts, easy to clean, and in an area that stays dry and isn’t drafty.
 
If you have a little more money to spend, there are heated dog beds or crate beds that have plush or fur cushions in them and hoods that can be raised to give them dark privacy. Some are made similar to beanbags, which allow him to shape the bed to fit him perfectly. Other beds are filled with cedar chips to neutralize odors and control moisture.
 
 If your dog is satisfied with his spot, chances are good that he will not choose your bed or the living room furniture to lounge on, especially when rewarded with gourmet dog treats and healthy dog food is laid at its door..