Devoted cat owners would worry about the content of commercial cat food. Often times, new cat parents are guided by buying cat food straight off the grocery store shelf without really knowing if it’s good for their pet. There are many reports of popular cat food brands being recalled due to some adverse effects of their products. This adds to the dilemma of cat owners when it comes to feeding their pets the right food that is actually healthy and useful for them.
According to some reports, the best cat food to feed your cat should resemble the type of food they eat in the wild. You must remember, cats are born hunters and carnivores. From time to time they eat grass, leaves and some vegetation when they feel an intestinal problem. Sometimes cats do it just for the heck of it. By nature, the cat does not really need to drink a lot of water because the liquids it needs are obtained from the meat of its prey.
Which leads me to the conclusion that the best alternative to cat food that you can give your pet is real, natural food. These foods are found in the form of meats, grains and vegetables. To be exact, the proportions of the best natural diet for cats should be 60% protein, 20% grains and 20% vegetables.
Hence the 60-20-20 rule in a cat’s natural diet. It is much healthier, free of chemicals and totally safe for your pet.
60% of the protein in the natural diet for cats comes from raw or cooked meat, such as ground beef, turkey, chicken, rabbit, fish and organ meats. You can cook them by lightly steaming or boiling them. You can also feed your cat some eggs, but limit the feeding to just once a week. Organ meats should be given as a treat and in minimal amounts, such as 2 teaspoons, once or twice a week.
20% of their plant-based diet comes from a wide variety of vegetables. You can feed cats broccoli, zucchini, carrots, cauliflower, squash, corn, potatoes, and steamed chayote. Some cats have a preference for leafy greens like water spinach or Chinese lettuce. You can also give cats chopped fruits like melon, mango, and apples. To make it easier for them to eat and digest vegetables and fruits, be sure to wash and boil or lightly cook them. It would be helpful if you cut them into small cubes or grind them up and mix them with dry cat food or boiled grains like rice.
20% of the cat’s diet should also contain cereals. Surprisingly, although most people know that cats are carnivores, they do need some grains in their diet. It’s actually good for your digestive system. Brown rice is the preferred type of grain to feed your cats. It can be served steamed or boiled, then finely pureed mixed with a little chicken broth along with some meats and vegetables. You can also use cereals such as oatmeal, amaranth, couscous, millet, barley.