Is This What You Should Be Giving To Your Kitties?
Healthy eating is a hot topic now, and it only makes the eating habits of your pets would also eventually enter the picture. This has been in the form of grain-free products, food that the inclusion of grain varieties such as wheat, corn and rice. Pet food manufacturers like taste of the wild wet food generally add a percentage of grain because it brings down prices, all the while letting them meet the required carbohydrate levels for their treats.
That being said, the question of whether your cats truly benefit from a diet enriched by these grains is up to debate. Scientists nowadays have argued that this might not actually be the case, in fact: cats, unlike most other animal species, do not primarily rely on a carbohydrate diet to meet their metabolic needs. Instead, they primarily rely on proteins, and if you take into account feral species of cats, it is only obvious that this protein intake is largely derived from other animals (i.e. meat). If you consider this argument alone, grain free kitten food does seem like a reasonable choice for your cats.
The other main reason to opt for strictly grain free cat food is allergies. As you would know, it is not unheard of for cats to suffer from grain allergies, and this can manifest itself in many ways, some examples being an increased loss of hair (sometimes to the point of bald patches), sores, itchiness and hot spots. In these cases, grain-free diets are actually something you should actively seek for your pet, as they would otherwise be in obvious discomfort. Keep in mind, however, that grain-related allergies only make up for a small portion of the allergies that commonly affect cats: specific meat-related allergies, such as beef or fish, are actually more common. In these instances, if you opt for grain-free diets, you should make sure to not feed your cat with these specific meats (so take a good look at the ingredients!).Naturally, grain-free foods will have a higher price tag than your average cat food, but it is also true that quantity-wise, you would not need as much grain-free food as the other. In other words, the total daily dietary requirements for your cat can be met with a smaller portion if you opt for grain-free food. This is something to keep in mind, because you otherwise risk feeding your cat too much, and that can lead to obesity-related problems (which are not easy to deal with for many reasons). Finally, before you make a switch to grain-free food, know that is advised to first talk to your veterinarian – after all, they have the best idea of what is good for your pet.