The Role of Food in Your Cat's Health: Lesson 4: Cat Foods for Special Needs

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The Role of Food in Your Cat's Health Lesson 4: Cat Foods for Special Needs From Franny Syufy, your Guide to Cats This week we'll take a look at a few different issues involving foods for special needs, and a couple of other things of passing interest. Since there's only one more lesson to complete after this one, we'll also take the opportunity to review a few points. I hope by now you're starting to understand the complexities of feline nutrition. I have only touched the surface of a subject that is a lifelong career for some feline nutritionists, and we all can learn something new every day. Keep Kitty at an Optimum Weight Safe Weight Control for Your Cat Subtle changes in weight can be indicative of serious underlying conditions, and for that reason, ideally, your cat should be weighed monthly after reaching the age of ten years. Many veterinarians will perform this service for free, or you could invest in a scale which give small enough increments for close monitoring. Younger cats are generally more active, but sometimes cats who "Hoover" like my Jaspurr can border on obesity. That's when a concerned human companion needs to step in. Top Picks: Premium "Lite" Cat Foods As cats become more sedentary (between 6 and 8 years), they tend to gain weight if continued on their normal diet. Excess weight can be contributary to a number of conditions, including arthritis, diabetes and heart disease. Here are my top choices for "lite" foods for cats based on quality of ingredients and guaranteed analysis. All nutrient percentages are listed by dry weight. (You can review the formulas for doing this yourself in Lesson #1) The Anorexic Cat All cats sometimes go "off their food" for a day or two. This may be part of a normal "fasting period," which some nutritionist say is good for cats. However problems in the form of Fatty Liver Disease can occur when a cat goes without food for an extended length of time, particularly an obese cat. Here's how to avoid Fatty Liver Disease, along with ways to encourage eating in an anorexic cat. The Thing About Kittens Kitten Food for Kittens Kittens are not just miniature cats. Kittens' growth and development need extra protein, fat, vitamins, and minerals to get the right start in life. The extra protein is needed for growth and development of strong muscles and supporting tissue; fat is essential for fatty acids, as a carrier for fat-soluble vitamins, and for the additional calories for energy. Minerals, of course, are needed for the development of strong teeth and bones. Kitty Glop - Kitten Supplement Formula Popularly known as "Kitty Glop" among breeders, it is packed with nutrition for orphaned kittens, nursing mother cats and their babies, cats recuperating from illness, and older cats who need nutritional supplementing or who have difficulty eating because of dental or gum problems. I found the latter case to be true with my Angel Kitty Shannon, when he had difficulty eating regular food. What About Other Specialty Foods? The Ubiquitous Hairball Specialty foods may not be the best answer to annoying and dangerous hairballs. Here's the nitty-gritty on that topic. Urinary Tract Care , Dental Health, Food for Seniors Some manufacturers offer "special" foods for "urinary tract health." If your veterinarian recommends one of these foods, you should follow his instructions. However, many experts now agree that the acidity of a cat's urine is the important key, and that it should lie in the range of pH 6.0 to 6.5. For more information, read this FAQ. By the same token, cats do not ordinarily need a special food for dental health. The best way to guard against dental and peridontal disease in your cat is to institute and follow a program of dental care. I have written a complete series on that subject, starting with "Open Wide, Kitty." The topic of special foods for senior cats opens up a whole array of subjects. Many senior cats have chronic conditions which will dictate their diets. Your best bet here is to work in partnership with your veterinarian, considering the "whole cat." If you have a senior cat, you might be interested in enrolling in my Email Class covering Senior Cat Care. It has an option for weekly or daily delivery. Assignment and Preview of Next Week's Lesson There is no official assignment this week. You might want to review previous lessons until you are sure you understand how to read food labels, and the tips for choosing foods. You should be at the stage where you are now ready to surf the Net for cat foods, or go to your local pet food store with a strong understanding of the essentials you need for making wise choices. Next week we'll delve into the area of home-prepared cat foods, including raw. Please stick around for it. Although you may not be ready to take this leap at the present, you never know when you'll need the information. This email is written by: Franny Syufy Cats Guide Email Me | My Blog | My Forum   Missing a lesson? Click here. About U. is our collection of free online courses designed to help you learn a new skill, solve a problem, get something done, or just learn more about your world. Sign up now, and we will email you lessons on a daily or weekly basis. You are receiving this email because you subscribed to the About.com 'The Role of Food in Your Cat's Health' email. If you wish to unsubscribe, please click here. About respects your privacy: Our Privacy Policy Contact Information: 249 West 17th Street New York, NY, 10011 © 2010 About.com   Advertisement