Natural vs. Prepared Food: What's Best to Feed Your Cat?

Cat nutrition is always a topic of debate: some owners believe their pets should be fed natural food and are convinced of the harm of commercial food, while others advocate commercial diets. Even veterinarians can't decide who's right, but there are a number of helpful recommendations to help you determine what's best for your cat.

Natural nutrition

The main part of a cat's diet is protein. It's important to include the following foods in your pet's menu:

lean raw meat (chicken fillet, turkey, veal, rabbit);
boiled sea fish 1-2 times a week;
vegetables (it is recommended to give zucchini, cabbage, carrots);
rice or buckwheat;
fermented milk products: low-fat yogurt without additives, fermented baked milk, low-fat sour cream, kefir, cottage cheese;
boiled egg - you can give chicken or quail eggs.

Animals' bodies are not like humans'. Foods that are healthy for humans can be harmful to your pet's health. Even with a good natural diet, cats don't get enough essential micronutrients. A natural diet can be even more problematic if it's monotonous (for example, if you constantly feed your cat porridge made with broth). Even if you try to vary your cat's diet, be sure to discuss the need for vitamin supplements with your veterinarian.

Feeding with prepared food

Feeding cheap, processed food is harmful. It contains preservatives, artificial flavors, and 70% unhealthy grains. Such products don't provide the nutrients your pet needs. However, premium prepared food is made from meat and by-products with the addition of healthy grains. High-quality food has a balanced composition. With it, your cat doesn't need additional vitamins. Another advantage is that prepared food can help prevent and even treat certain illnesses, such as kidney stones.

Dry and wet food can be combined, but it is desirable that they be products from the same manufacturer.

What food should I choose for my cat?

The advantages and disadvantages of both types of feed are given in the table.

	Pros	Cons
Natural nutrition	No dyes or preservatives. Sufficient moisture content in food. Attracts pets with its taste qualities.	Time spent on food preparation. The need to add food supplements and vitamins to the diet. Digestive disorders due to improper food selection or individual animal sensitivity. Natural nutrition is expensive. Cats need taurine, which is found in raw veal, turkey, rabbit, and tuna. It is necessary to calculate calorie content and select the composition of food depending on physiological needs. Eating raw food carries a risk of becoming infected with helminths, and heat treatment destroys the beneficial properties of the product.
Dry food	Balanced composition of nutrients and microelements. A wide selection of foods and the ability to choose the right one based on your pet's physiology and breed characteristics. There are foods for mature cats, neutered cats, and those prone to allergies. No need to waste time preparing food. Dry food does not dry out or lose its taste, and is easy to store.	A gradual transition to a new feeding method is necessary. Sudden dietary changes can cause gastrointestinal upset and allergic reactions. Dry food does not contain moisture. To prevent urolithiasis, ensure your pet drinks plenty of fluids.

The choice of diet depends on your pet's dietary preferences, health, and breed characteristics. Prepared food will provide complete nutrition with the essential micronutrients and amino acids your cat needs.

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