WHY CAT FOOD SHOULD ALWAYS BE GRAIN-FREE
Most cat parents want to feed their cats the best brands of food they can. The issue is that many of these cat parents are not fully educated on what to look for in a healthy cat food. Though there are numerous benefits to a raw food diet, many cats are quite finicky and may not adjust to raw food.
What some cat parents don’t know is that cats unlike dogs, horses and humans, lack a digestive enzyme called AMYLASE. This enzyme is responsible for the breakdown and digestion of grains. Since cats do not produce this enzyme, their metabolisms are unable to break down grains.
WHAT HAPPENS TO CATS WHEN THEY DON’T DIGEST GRAINS?
Grains in cat food are mostly made from human grade cereal and starchy substances such as rice, potatoes, oats and barley. Generally speaking if cats are fed these grains on a daily basis, they can cause harm. Since the grains in lower grade cat foods are high in sugar, the cat (just like human) will experience insulin spikes due to blood sugar irregularities. And, just like humans, cats will contract Diabetes if the blood sugar continues to be erratic for a prolonged period of time. This is why we see so many diabetic cats.
For optimal wellness, your cat should be eating a predominantly wet food-based diet with about 1/8-1/4 C of grain free kibble. Kibble alone does NOT provide your feline friend with nearly enough internal moisture and can result in flaky skin, dry eyes and excessive thirst. This, as you may imagine, can eventually lead to severe dehydration and kidney failure.
If you are a brave soul who chooses to venture into the homemade cat food world, please be aware that you will need to thoroughly research the precise levels of vitamins and minerals that cats need on a daily basis to stay healthy and active. Many people believe that feeding chicken or fish alone is enough to stabilize a cat. This is not correct. Please do your research!
For more information, contact your holistic veterinarian.
BEWARE AND TAKE CARE!!
SOULSTICE SPIRIT 