Ask Dr Nerenberg | Health and Fitness

cat help please read details i need as much answers answer me with details or brief just help !!!!

i will have a new cat and i wanted to see its food so i went to the store and saw its food then i found in the nutritions the food some contained “tuna and white fish” some contains “fish” some contains “meat” or “chicken” are these food good and tell me the best one contains what-chicken or meat or tuna or shrimps or………etc.- and which one should i dont get and i have another question if my cat does not eat or drink what are the ways to let it eat and drink (different than letting it go to the vet) i read about every thing about cats except this so please help-best answer takes 10 points- HELP ME !!!!!

This will tell you what to look for in food

Nutrition since there are so many bad things out there is very important to your cat’s health
Contrary to what you may have heard; dry foods are not a great thing to feed a cat.
Please read the label on what you are feeding? What are the ingredients? Do you know what they mean? Is the first ingrdiant a muscle meat like chicken or meal or other things?

http://www.catinfo.org/#Learn_How_To_Read_a_Pet_Food_Ingredient_Label

http://iml.jou.ufl.edu/projects/Spring04/Perhach/PetFood/InterpretingLabels.htm

Dry foods are the number 1 cause of diabetes in cats as well as being a huge contributing factor to kidney disease, obesity, crystals, u.t.i’s and a host of other problems. Food allergies are very common when feeding dry foods. Rashes, scabs behind the tail and on the chin are all symptoms
The problems associated with Dry food is that they are loaded with grains and carbohydrates which many cats (carnivores) cannot process. Also, Most of the moisture a cat needs is suppose to be in the food but in
Dry, 95% of it is zapped out of dry foods in the processing. Another thing, most use horrible ingredients and don’t use a muscle meat as the primary ingredient and use vegetable based protein versus animal. Not good for an animal that has to eat meat to survive.

http://www.catinfo.org/#My_Cat_is_Doing_Just_Fine_on_Dry_Food

You want to pick a canned food w/o gravy (gravy=carbs) that uses a muscle meat as the first ingredient and doesn’t have corn at least in the first 3 ingredients if at all. The best food for cats does not contain any grains at all.
Fancy feast is a middle grade food with 9lives, friskies whiskas lower grade canned and wellness and merrick upper grade human quality foods. I would rather feed a middle grade canned food then the top of the line dry food.
Also, dry food is not proven to be better for teeth. Does a hard pretzel clean your teeth or do pieces of it get stuck? http://www.felinefuture.com/nutrition/bpo_ch4a.php

Please read about cat nutrition.

http://www.newdestiny.us/nutritionbasics.html

http://www.catinfo.org/feline_obesity.htm

http://maxshouse.com/feline_nutrition.htm#Dry_Food_vs_Canned_Food.__Which_is_reall

Vetinarian diets The reason your vet thinks so highly of the pet food they sell probably has more to do with money than nutrition. In vet school, the only classes offered on nutrition usually last a few weeks, and are taught by representatives from the pet food companies. Vet students may also receive free food for their own dogs and cats at home. They could get an Iams notebook, a Purina purse and some free pizza. http://iml.jou.ufl.edu/projects/Spring04/Perhach/PetFood/Vets.htm

Make & Serve Homemade Cat Food : Add Parsley to Tuna Cat Treats

Friskies Party Mix, Beachside Crunch Cat Treats, Shrimp, Crab & Tuna Flavors, 6-Ounce Pouches (Pack of 7) $20.76 …

Whiskas Temptations Tempting Tuna Flavour Treats for Cats, 3-Ounce Pouches (Pack of 12) $20.52 Pack of 12 in a 3 ounce pouch. It is 100% nutritionally complete and balanced for all lifestages. Contains no artificial flavors. Each treat is under 2 calories. Tartar control crunchy outside helps keep teeth and gums healthy. Resealable bag keeps treats fresh and tasty…

Henry & Lisa’s Natural Seafood Solid White Albacore Tuna, 5-Ounce Cans (Pack of 3) $20.22 Our mission is to be your family’s trusted source for the world’s healthiest, safest and highest quality seafood…naturally. We guarantee you have never tasted canned seafood like ours. We use only the best part of the fillet, it is hand packed and cooked once in it’s own natural omega-3 rich oils. It’s wildly delicious, eat it straight from the can!…

The New Legal Sea Foods Cookbook $5.99 This is a cookbook of recipes from the famous Legal Sea Foods Restaurant in Cambridge Mass….