My Cat's Overweight, What Should I Feed Her?

By [http://ezinearticles.com/?expert=Kef_Hollenbach]Kef Hollenbach

 So, you faced your concern "my cat's overweight". You are wondering what you need to do so your cat will a long, healthy life and not have a fat cat problem, or some other issue like diabetes. One way to keep your cat in shape and avoid health problems is through proper nutrition.

Nutrition Needs for Cats: To facilitate overall good health and fat cat weight loss, make sure your pet's food has the following nutrients:

Between 28 and 40 percent protein (should be meat-based, not plant based)
About 14-21 percent fat.
Six percent minerals and two percent vitamins
A fiber level of three percent
Carbohydrate level of below 18 percent if possible.
Taurine - an essential nutrient that must be present, as without it a cat can go blind or develop heart problems.

Make sure the food you choose is approved by the American Feed Control Officials (AAFCU). You will see this on the label.

Cats are Carnivores: Unlike dogs, cats are strict carnivores. Dogs have a special enzyme in their stomachs that can digest carbohydrates; cats don't. That's why choosing a cat food that has a plant-based protein isn't the best choice and may even be part of what is causing the fat cat problem. You should buy a high quality cat food that has meat instead of a grain as the first ingredient and especially not the cheapest one on the shelf.

Cats Need Small Amounts of Fats: Cats need some fat in their diets, which is used to break down vitamins and minerals in the food and to help their organs gain a small layer of fat to insulate and cushion them. Too much fat and you are back to having a possible fat cat problem.

Water Needs: Most cats need about one quarter to half a cup a day minimum of clean, fresh water to stay healthy. Some cats will drink out of a plain bowl, but some will drink more water if you provide one of the special cat drinking fountains you can find online in places like Amazon.com or in the pet supply stores.

Dry Versus Wet Food: Some veterinarians recommend wet food over dry, somewhat due to the fact that a majority of commercial dry food is mostly plant based instead of meat based. Plus, wet food has the water content a cat needs if you can't get her to drink plain water. Make sure any canned food also has the right levels of nutrients. One thing to consider is to feed a high quality wet food along with a high quality dry food to balance out nutritional and dental needs.

Raw Diets: There are also some who say a raw diet is best for cats, but a potential problem is that it can expose your pet to salmonella and E. coli, the bacteria from waste products.

Other considerations: If your cat has special needs like diabetes, or some other medical condition, you may need a special prescription food. Plus, cats of different ages need different formulas.

Conclusions: All in all, there are many things to consider when figuring out your cat's nutritional needs and keeping her from having a fat cat problem. If you have any questions, consult with your veterinarian or conduct some online research for your pet's specific needs.

Being raised with 6 cats gave me an intense education on "what can go wrong" when living with such a mix of felines! 

With a current pet cat that is a true "fluff ball" I was on first name basis with our vet.

I needed to find out more about WHY and HOW my overweight cat had gotten this way. Intense research led me to post my problems, concerns and solutions at [http://www.mycatsoverweight.com]My Cats Overweight

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