Good cat food nutrition is essential for the health of your cat. It is not important what type of food you give your cat - tinned (wet) food, dry food or cook it yourself, however it is important to make sure the food is nutritious, healthy and suitable for the age of your cat.

Good cat food nutrition is essential for the health of your cat. It is not important what type of food you give your cat - tinned (wet) food, dry food or cook it yourself, however it is important to make sure the food is nutritious, healthy and suitable for the age of your cat.

Kitten cat food is different to adult cat food, just like with humans. They need to have a diet that will promote healthy growth.

Protein, in the form of meat, poultry, fish or eggs, is a very important component of food that will keep your cat healthy.

Many, though probably not all, tinned foods that are labelled as containing chicken, meat or fish need to be carefully checked as to the percentage of that ingredient, and what it is made up of. Some pet food manufacturers have been found to include crushed bone, beaks (of chickens) and offal (the parts such as intestines, lungs, brain, etc) and include that as part of the overall percentage of a particular ingredient.

With tinned cat food you are also paying for the water (which makes up a surprising amount of the total) and cereals to bulk the actual food out. Usually, the cheaper the food the less quality you actually get. If you are not cooking your own cat food, it really is worth it to pay a little extra to know your cat is getting the proper nutrients. It evens itself out as your cat will need to eat less of the more expensive cat foods to remain healthy. There are many single serve packets on the market now and I've found these better than the tinned variety. They are cheaper and one packet will feed my two cats each evening. They also contain a little more food per packet and are definitely friendlier when it comes to disposal and landfill.

Cats need variety in their food, the same as humans. Can you imagine being fed chops, mash and peas seven days a week, fifty two weeks a year? You'd get sick of it after the first week. Your cat is the same. Change it around, give dry food (biscuits etc) two or three times a week and a variety of tinned or packet foods the rest of the week. Unless your cat is on a strict diet, dry food (and plenty of fresh water) should be available at all times so your cat can graze. Unlike dogs, a cat will only eat as much as is needed at that time. Many dry cat foods are also fairly carbohydrate rich and cats don't need too many carbohydrates. Why not occasionally buy some frozen pet food and cook it up. Of course if your cat has special needs such as diabetes, speak to your vet about specialized diet cat food.

Remember, your cat needs a healthy and nutritious diet just as much as you do. By feeding it protein rich food, you are not only saving yourself money on vet bills, you will prolong the life of your cat. Good cat food nutrition is good sense.

Kathy is the author of numerous articles on cat problems and the care of cats. Visit her website at Cat Problems Resolved today to find answers to problems you might be having with your cat or kitten.