What Can Cats Eat, Other Than Fish?

“Cat’s Love Fish” is a very common view. Though this statement has its truths and merits, it is not true however that cats can or should only eat fish! What you may not realize is that like us humans, every type of food consumed by your feline companion will have an effect on their physiological health and quality of life, affecting even their lifespan.

Just as eating only meat and no vegetables is unhealthy for you, your cat will not be healthy living solely on a single diet. 

With that initial key piece of information out of the way, let’s look at some of the common misconceptions about your cat’s diet and how you can better prepare a diet that is balanced, healthy and tasty for your cat!

Meat cats enjoy eating

These felines enjoy protein-rich food. In order to maintain a strong heart, good vision and a healthy reproductive system, you have to fill your cat up on protein.

You may feed your cats the following:

• Salmon
• Chicken
• Turkey
• Mackerel
• Herring
• Beef

These obligate carnivores are also uniquely attached to specific textures of their food so the way you prepare them is important.

This does not mean that cats cannot eat other grains, vegetables and fruit. It is just that some types of food are easier digested as compared to others.

To put in plainly, cats are meat eaters. You must be wondering what the best meat is for cats as there are many types of meat.

The best meat for cats

Healthy meat provides nutrients needed for cats to thrive. When shopping, you may notice that there is a wide variety of cat food available. 

In order to feed your cat the best meat, look to a cat’s natural diet in the wild. The best meat for your cat as it also meat your cat can actually find in the wild.

Meat such as chicken, turkey, rabbit, duck and quail are great options!

Of course, you have to take into account the right proportions to feed your cat. Consult your veterinarian before starting on any diet.

As a treat, you can feed your cats tinned sardines. However, you should not feed your cats too much of it as it is not a complete diet.

What NOT to feed my cat?

Some common foods your cat shouldn’t eat are onion, garlic and chives.

Feeding your cat onions can break down your cat’s red blood cells, leading to anemia.

Not only that, consuming garlic and chives can cause severe life-threatening problems for your cat.

One should not feed their cats milk and other dairy products as well. We all grew up with images of kittens drinking saucers of milk in cartoons. In reality, cats and dairy products don't sync.

Most cats are naturally lactose intolerant and that means their digestive system cannot process dairy products which can result in diarrhoea. 

Recommended Cat Food

Picking cat food can be a challenge, especially if you have never purchased food for cats before.

Heading to the pet store or grocery store can be really overwhelming. It may also take up a lot of your time to prepare everything from scratch.

Therefore, taking all this into account, we recommend that you try Petcube’s Gently Cooked Cat Food. Each packet is made from wholesome meat and natural ingredients. It also ensures that your cat has all the nutrients it needs.

There are multiple types of meat for your cat to try at Petcubes so your cat will not get bored.

Cats and wet food

Cats do not necessarily need wet food but feeding a combination of wet and dry food keeps your cat hydrated.

It is difficult, as an owner, to make your cats drink water on its own. However, the amount of water intake is important for cats with constipation or kidney disease. Therefore feeding wet food helps cats to combat these conditions.

Simple homemade recipes for my cat

Of course, making your own cat food is entirely possible although it will take time, commitment and consistency. It also helps you, as an owner, to take control of your cat’s diet.

As a simple recipe, you can start out with 1 cup canned mackerel, 1 tablespoon sunflower oil, 1 tablespoon organic cooked brown rice and 1-2 tablespoons of chicken/beef broth or water.

All you have to do is combine all these ingredients in a food processor, pulse until blended and it’s ready to serve! You can refrigerate the leftovers for up to 3 days.

You can also make home cooked food using sardine for your cats. All you need is 1 can sardines in oil, 2 tablespoons of cooked carrots and ⅓ cooked oatmeal. Combine all these ingredients and mash before serving.

All these ingredients can be found in your kitchen and it takes only half an hour to 45 minutes to prepare this meal for your cats!

If you find that your cats are slightly fussy, you might want to use Petcube’s Gently Cooked Cat Food for added flavour. It’s perfectly safe for cats to consume and ensures your cats get all the nutrition they need.

A gentle reminder to all the cat lovers out there - If your home cooked food has been refrigerated for more than 3 days, please discard it. Bacteria might grow in it which may cause your cat to fall ill.

Also, consult with your cat’s veterinarian before starting on any diet in order to ensure your cat is getting all the nutrients it needs. Remember that no cats are the same.

Can my cat eat rice?

Rice is not a common food to feed your cats. Although it is not a necessary part of their diet, a bit of white rice will not harm cats. Just make sure that you do not give it to your cat as part of its regular diet. 

In fact, this might be helpful if your cat is having digestive problems. A small amount of cooked rice mixed with your cat’s diet can improve digestion as it will make its stools harder and stop any diarrhea. 

To prepare it, soft and moist cooked rice is best as it is easy for digestion. 

Conclusion

Every cat has a different immune system and there is no one-size-fits-all-food profile for your pets. Always make sure to do your own research and choose the right food for your feline to avoid health problems.

Of course by doing so, you are playing a vital role in keeping your cats happy and healthy, always!

References

What should I feed my cat? [online] Available at: https://www.rspcapetinsurance.org.au/pet-care/cat-care/what-should-feed-cat [Accessed 06 August 2020]

What do cats eat? [online] Available at: https://www.purina.com/articles/cat/feeding/what-do-cats-eat [Accessed 06 August 2020]

Feline’s Nutrition Easy Homemade Cat Food Recipe [online] Available at: https://feline-nutrition.org/nutrition/making-raw-cat-food-for-do-it-yourselfers [Accessed 06 August 2020]

What should I feed my cat? [online] Available at: https://www.rspcapetinsurance.org.au/pet-care/cat-care/what-should-feed-cat [Accessed 06 August 2020]

8 Irresistible Homemade Cat Food Recipes [online] Available at: https://cats.lovetoknow.com/Homemade_Cat_Food_Recipe [Accessed 06 August 2020]

Do Cats Need Wet Food? Benefits of Including it in Their Diet? [online] Available at: https://www.purina.com/articles/cat/feeding/do-cats-need-wet-food#:~:text=So%2C%20do%20cats%20need%20wet,help%20keep%20her%20teeth%20clean. [Accessed 06 August 2020]