Last Updated on March 24, 2022 Ashley Camelia
Just as with our dog, I made the decision that I was going to make a change to my cat’s diet. Instead of continuing to feed him dry food I was going to make a change. This is when I began learning more about the kinds of natural cat foods I could include in his diet.
It came as quite a surprise to me as I’m sure it will be to you just what I could include in my feline friend’s diet. Just as with my dog’s diet there are plenty of foods that I eat I could also give my cat.
(Picture Credit: FatCamera/Getty Images)
Why Feed Felines Natural Cat Foods?
As you know there is a wide selection of ready foods, you can feed your cat these days both dry and wet. With so many to choose from you may have trouble deciding just which ones to feed your furry friend? But be aware that not all cat foods are, as they seem.
The problem with quite a lot of cat foods is they tend to be made using poor quality ingredients. These are ingredients that your cat will find hard to digest and so not provide them with all the vital nutrients that they need.
Also, the amount of protein to be found in such foods tends to be quite low and not provide enough for your cat especially as they get older. This in turn can lead to issues such as loss of muscle mass.
The other issue when it comes to feeding your cat commercially made food is that it contains high levels of carbohydrates. Your cat has developed in such a way that it doesn’t have the ability to digest large amounts of starch.
They also don’t have enough enzymes in their saliva along with the glands in their pancreas that help in the digestion of complex sugars. As a result, most cats tend to actually eat more than they need to when it comes to commercial food. This in turn can then lead to them eating more than they need and becoming overweight, which can lead to other health issues.
Also, if you feed them a diet made up more of dry rather than wet food you need to ensure that they get plenty of freshwaters. If you don’t, what they are eating can place stress on their digestive system, which can especially cause problems for their kidneys and liver.
The 10 Best Natural Cat Foods
Natural foods will be ideal and almost can guarantee that it’s better than ready-made cat foods. Read on to find out just what kinds of foods you could begin including in your cat’s food from now on.
1. Fish
It may surprise you to learn that your cat is only able to produce a small amount of the Omega-3 fatty acids that it needs. But including fish such as tuna, salmon, crab, or herring in their diet can prove extremely beneficial to them. Not only will these help to maintain healthy eyesight and joints but also prove beneficial to your cat’s brain.
As well as being an excellent source of Omega-3 fatty acids, fish is also a superb source of protein. But it is important that any fish you feed your cat needs to be cooked before giving it to them.
2. Bananas
You may think me suggesting that you give your cat bananas is a little odd. But I’ve been doing this for some time now. As well as containing a lot of potassium they also provide your feline buddy with a wonderful source of soluble fiber. But don’t give them too much ideally bananas should only make up around 10% of your cat’s daily calorie intake.
The principal reason for limiting this food in their diet is its high sugar content. I tend to give my cat bananas as a treat rather than as part of their regular diet.
3. Oatmeal
Another food that I really didn’t think I could give to my cat. Yet after reading the ingredients label on a packet of dry cat food I was surprised to see oatmeal is used in it. As well as providing your cat with an excellent source of fiber, which provides them with energy. It also provides them with a wonderful source of Vitamin B. This food also provides your cat with iron and other vitamins that are important to their overall health.
But you need to be aware that although oatmeal is safe for cats to eat, not all cats like it. So if you are going to include this natural food into your cat’s diet then do so slowly. This way you can make sure that they like what they are eating and can then become a regular part of their diet.
4. Pumpkin
Again you may be wondering why I’ve included pumpkin in my list of 10 natural cat foods. The first reason is that it is low in calories. If you have a cat that doesn’t venture outdoors you need to keep their calorie intake low, otherwise, they could soon become overweight.
But just like oatmeal, another reason for including this food in your cat’s diet is because it is a superb source of fiber. Also, it is good for any cat that has issues relating to its digestive system. You can buy pumpkin in puree form specifically to feed your cat, or you could instead make your own. As I make all of my dog’s own food, I also make up food for my cat as well.
5. Cheese
Want your cat to have healthy bones and keep in shape then including some cheese in their diet is a good idea. As well as providing them with protein, it will also provide them with calcium, an essential mineral to help keep bones healthy and strong.
If you find your cat does seem to enjoy eating cheese, then stick with the hard varieties such as Gouda, Swiss, or Cheddar. You could of course just feed them small bits of cheese or incorporate them into other food. Why not make them some delicious baked treats in which you mixed some cheese?
6. Blueberries
Again, if you were to read the list of ingredients used for making cat food, you may be surprised to see that this particular fruit is included in some. Like, many fruits, these ones will provide your cat with an excellent source of Vitamins A and C. But you may also find that your cat is more than happy to eat them as they are or even frozen ones.
If you do intend to include these in your cat’s diet, then you need to limit how many they should have. Ideally, feed them no more than say 5 blueberries a day.
7. Eggs
Eggs are something that I hadn’t really considered would be good for my cat. But they are in fact good for them as long as they are cooked thoroughly. I tend to feed my cat a few pieces of scrambled eggs that I enjoy for breakfast.
Just like meat, fish, and cheese, you’ll find that this food is a good source of protein for your feline friend. Also, they can provide your cat with other essential minerals as well as iron.
As already mentioned above I like to feed some scrambled eggs to my boy Moz, but never feed him them raw. The reason for this being is that they are at risk of contracting E.coli or salmonella like us.
8. Carrots
The inclusion of vegetables in your cat’s diet isn’t a must but can prove a very healthy and safe treatment for them to enjoy. It is best if you only feed them cooked rather than raw ones as the risk of them choking on a piece of carrot is increased. Again what I love to do so my cat doesn’t really what I’m feeding him is to puree them and incorporate them into other foods I feed him.
Usually, I limit him to say 3 or 4 teaspoons of carrot puree in his meals each week. The best way of telling if your cat is in need of more fiber, which carrots can provide is if they have started chewing on plants in your home or garden.
9. Avocados
Like, all the other foods I’ve mentioned in this article you may be wondering why I’ve included this particular one in my list. The simple reason is that it is avocados are an excellent source of Vitamins A, C, E, and B6. All of these are essential to your cat, as they will help it to maintain good skin and coat.
10. Meat
It isn’t just poultry but all kinds of meats can prove very beneficial to your cat’s health. As cats are obligate carnivores, their diet should include a good quantity of meat in it.
The primary reason for including so much meat in their diet is that they find it difficult to digest fibrous foods. But when it comes to meat, the more the better. Along with chicken and turkey, it is okay to include some other meat in their diet as well.
As with the eggs you need to make sure that you cook the meat thoroughly and is best if you don’t feed any of the skin from the turkey or poultry.
All of these meats will provide your feline friend with a good source of protein, along with other minerals and vitamins. I suggest you don’t feed your cat just one type of meat, but actually vary it. In fact, you can feed them at least 3 different types of meat each week.
Suggestion: Improving the Cat Diets
Hopefully, the list above has provided you with some food for thought about how you can improve your cat’s health and wellbeing.
However, when it comes to you wanting to include any new foods into your cat’s diet, be aware that they may suffer from digestive problems initially. This is because if they haven’t eaten it before they may find it difficult to digest, or it could be that they are a little picky about what you feed them.
It is worth trying out a number of different foods when you are looking to improve or change your cat’s diet. This way you are able to see what of these wonderful natural foods they like and which ones they don’t. Also, as with everything you feed them, moderation is key. So only give them small amounts of food that you enjoy.
This video shows the how-to transition your cats to a different diet?
As I mentioned previously, I chose to change my cat’s diet after deciding to make changes to my dogs. The primary reason for making such changes in the case of my dog was to reduce the risk of them developing health issues that were specifically related to their kidneys. I didn’t realize just how much effect feeding my animals a regular dry food diet could have on their health.
So once I learned about how beneficial it could be to my dog’s health I immediately began to make changes to my cat’s diet as well. I’ve actually noticed since I made the changes even though he is now nearly 11 years old he still has a great deal of energy and his coat remains in excellent condition.
Of course, if you intend to actually start feeding your feline friend more natural cat foods, it is important to discuss the matter with a vet first. Especially a vet who is familiar with this kind of diet for cats. They can then help you to come up with a diet that is specifically suitable for your own pet.
This way you know that you are feeding them food that won’t only be good for their health but also their well-being. So helping to ensure that your cat enjoys a healthy and happy life for many years to come.
Conclusion
With the 10 natural cat foods, it’s good if you can start to change the cat to a better diet. The 10 foods listed here can easily get on local stores and it’s up to you to make the change – transition your cat from dry to wet or raw food to more natural or homemade foods.
I’d love to know what you think about my reasons for choosing to include natural foods in my cat’s diet. Also if you like what I’ve had to say about the best natural cat foods, you can give your feline friend, please share it.