Need to jump-start your cat’s waning appetite? School your cat in a cool, new trick like jumping through a hoop? Need a reliable tool to build trust in a scaredy-cat? Or, are you simply looking for a win-win way to give your cat his needed medicine without a struggle?

Welcome to the lickable cat treat era. Seriously. You may be surprised by the avalanche of various commercial lickable cat treats now available at grocery stores, pet supply stores and online.

Lowdown on lickables for cats

By definition, lickables are treats that come in tubes, pouches and in a wide range of flavors. Some are pureed. Others are more stew in consistency. But for most cats, they deliver a capital Y for yum.

“I am open to the use of these treats, as they can be a good way to administer medications or a way to find a high-value treat in kitties where rewards are needed,” says Dr. Lindsey Bullen, who is board-certified in nutrition at Friendship Hospital for Animals in Washington, D.C., and a veterinarian correspondent for VetScoop (vetscoop.com). “Lickable treats are just that, treats. They do not contain all essential nutrients a cat needs.”

Frankly, some veterinarians wonder what took lickable treats so long to surface and now soar in popularity.

“With the long-term usage of squeezable drinks and foods for children, I’m surprised someone didn’t jump on the bandwagon for cat treats years ago,” says Dr. Hazel Carney, who practices feline medicine in Emmett, Idaho, and serves on the American Association of Feline Practitioners’ Guidelines Committee. “We clinicians have used baby food forever as a treat and medication washdown. I guess we just weren’t entrepreneurs, apparently.”

Trish Seifried, a nationally renowned animal trainer and founder of CatBoss TV, calls lickables a game changer in training and traveling with cats.

“We stumbled upon lickables in 2019 after using plain, microwaved chicken breasts as our go-to treat for our cats when training and performing,” Trish says. “Chicken breast requires refrigeration, and we found it to be very inconvenient on the road. Dry treats are often high in carbohydrates and make our cats sleepy. Our cats are performers and expend a lot of energy while working, so we were happy to discover lickables. They are highly palatable and easy to grab while on the go.”

Before you use lickable cat treats

When reaching for lickables, Dr. Carney offers some cautions.

“My biggest worry and counsel to owners is that they will feed them exclusively, and they are not balanced,” she says. “You don’t want your cat to get so hooked on the enhanced smell and then refuse regular foods. Long-term feeding of only lickables can affect mineral balances, vitamin levels and blood glucose. They are also too low in calories to sustain a cat.”

You need to factor in your pocketbook as well.

“Many of these individual serving treat options can cost $2 to $3,” Dr. Carney says. “And, contamination issue is a potential concern. Once opened, they need to be refrigerated.”

Did you know? Lickables can be used as an easy-to-give treat during or after a stressful event.

Tasty training tool

Trish credits the use of lickables to develop trust in a feral cat now named Malibu, whom she rescued from a dumpster behind a restaurant.

“Every cat deserves a chance at a great home,” Trish says. “He was first fed through a crate for everyone’s safety. Eventually, I started putting lickables on a spoon to offer through the crate.”

Trish slowly trained Malibu to “watch me” and that making eye contact gave him a tasty reward. Three months later, Malibu roams in her home, comes when called, sits up, gives a high five, spins and goes to a mark on cue.

“Tiki Stix played a huge role in Malibu’s rehabilitation journey to become the confident cat he is today,” she says.

Sam Jackson, medical director for the Bitty Kitty Brigade, a nonprofit kitten rescue group in Minneapolis, Minnesota, relies on a lickable brand called Churu as yummy distractions.

“We hold off on treats for kittens until they are at least 6 weeks old and have a good health standing,” Sam says. “Our bitty kitties love them! You can socialize kittens well with them. It’s easy to feed them to kittens while you are trying to do other things with them, like giving vaccines, drawing blood or other not-so-exciting activities for kittens. They are a great distraction!”

People can also use lickables as a welcome medicine delivery method to cats who need liquid or powdered medications, points out Dr. Bullen.

“They can also be used as a treat during or after a stressful event,” she adds. “For example, during nail trims or after oral medicine administration to reward and to get the bad medicine flavor out of the cat’s mouth. They can be used as a topper to encourage a cat to eat a complete and balanced diet if they aren’t feeling well.”

Lickable treats are also great tools to use at your vet’s office to provide a fear-free visit.

Trish says, “Even your vet tech or veterinarian can easily deliver this treat while still accomplishing their goals. Why not make the vet clinic a fun place, too, for your cat?

Tiki Cat Stix Wet Treats $4.99 (pack of six).

Nulo Freestyle Perfect Purees $9.99 (pack of 10).

Inaba Churu Lickable Cat Treats $36.90 (50 count canister).

Fussie Cat Lickable Cat Treats $3.49 (pack of four).

The post Best Lickable Treats For Cats: Why Do So Many Cats Love Lickable Treats? by Arden Moore appeared first on Catster. Copying over entire articles infringes on copyright laws. You may not be aware of it, but all of these articles were assigned, contracted and paid for, so they aren't considered public domain. However, we appreciate that you like the article and would love it if you continued sharing just the first paragraph of an article, then linking out to the rest of the piece on Catster.com.

Imagine tripling, even quadrupling, your body weight in less than six months. Yikes! But such rapid weight gain is a must for a kitten’s survival. Kittens weigh just a few ounces at birth and, by 6 months of age, should weigh between 5 to 6 pounds. By their first birthdays, they should tip the scales at around 8 pounds (depending on breed and frame). Hitting that mark in a healthy way depends on us.

Mother’s milk

“Science tells us that the body has different demands on it at different stages of life,” says Dr. Kathryn Primm, a veterinarian and owner of the Applebrook Animal Hospital in Ooltewah, Tennessee, and host of the Nine Lives with Dr. Kat podcast on Pet Life Radio. “When kittens are growing, they are building brains, bones, muscles — everything.”

For at least the first four weeks of life, kittens rely on their mother’s milk to provide all the nutrients they need to survive and thrive.

“The ideal newborn kitten is to be with their mother, also known as a queen,” says Jackie Noble, director of the kitten nursery and placement services at the San Diego Humane Society. “The queen will provide nutrient-rich mother’s milk on demand, all while providing grooming, stimulating kittens to pass urine/feces and providing warmth and comfort.”

But for orphaned newborns, it quickly becomes a life-or-death situation. SDHS opened its 24-hours-a-day kitten nursery in 2009 to save the lives of more orphaned kittens. The kitten nursery is now a model program for other shelters in the nation.

“We identified underage kittens as the most ‘at risk’ group of animals in our county,” Jackie says. “Kittens were being euthanized simply because they were too young to eat and survive on their own. There weren’t enough foster homes available to help them grow, so the Kitten Nursery was developed to be a safety net for those kittens.”

Different foods for different stages

There is both a science and an art to kitten nutrition. All felines of all ages require protein, specifically, 11 essential amino acids in order to thrive. Kittens need about 30% to 50% of their food source in the form of protein.

“Growing kittens require a lot of protein, fat and calcium along with a whole range of other nutrients like vitamins and minerals to help them grow and develop properly,” says Rosemarie Crawford, co-founder of the National Kitten Coalition, a nonprofit group dedicated to increasing survival rates of kittens.

For newborns, it often means getting their nutrients through bottle-feeding. The NKC offers helpful resources like a Feeding Guidelines Chart and Top Bottle-Feeding Hints on its website.

Still wondering what your kitten diet playbook should be? Here are some simple tips to get you in the game:

1. Timing is everything. Kittens begin to wean between 4 and 5 weeks of age and can be transitioned to commercial dry and wet food by 6 weeks. Timing of these meals is crucial, as kittens are better able to digest foods when fed three or four mini meals a day.
2. Probiotics can help. “Weaning can be a stressful time for a kitten and you will often see GI (gastrointestinal) upset,” Jackie says. “When weaning from formula or a mother’s milk to wet food, the transition will go smoother if you offer a supplement, such as a feline probiotic.”
3. Hydration is key. Definitely provide fresh drinking water every day for your growing kitten to help her stay hydrated.
4. Get expert help. Rosemarie says it is imperative to work closely with your veterinarian to determine what commercial kitten food your young feline needs as he grows and the ideal feeding schedule.
5. Feed a variety. You want to prevent your kitten from growing into a fussy adult cat. Work with your veterinarian to select foods in a variety of flavors and textures. Expanding your kitten’s food palate may aid when he needs to be boarded, stay overnight at a veterinary clinic or needs to switch to a therapeutic diet due to a newly diagnosed medical condition.

And it’s mealtime … again! Time to play a key role in helping your kitten grow in a steady, healthy way.

Formula facts

For orphaned or abandoned newborn kittens, the only way they can get the nutrition needed is through bottle-feeding.

“Kitten formulas are high in protein and contain specific ratios of fat, calcium and other important nutrients, like taurine and lysine, which play a critical role in feline heart, muscle and eye development,” says Jackie Noble, director of San Diego Humane Society’s kitten nursery and placement services.

Samantha Jackson, medical director for the Bitty Kitty Brigade, a nonprofit group based in Maple Grove, Minnesota, advises to work with veterinarians in your area to select quality kitten formulas. Her group uses Fox Valley Kitten formula.

“We hear of some crazy concoctions people find online for feeding neonatal kittens, and these tend to cause digestive upset and do not provide the nutrition that these kittens require,” Samantha says. “In a pinch, I would do goat’s milk if it was available and nothing else was.”

Bottle-feeding a kitten can often be a bit tricky. Rosemarie Crawford, co-founder of the National Kitten Coalition, offers this bottle-feeding tip if a kitten starts to suckle from a bottle, but then stops due to a vacuum occurring within the bottle. That prevents a kitten from sucking hard enough to get more milk out.

“A simple solution is to loosen the cap of the bottle ever so slightly, just enough to let a little bit of air to get around the threads of the screw-on-top bottle cap,” she says. “As the kitten removes milk while suckling, air is able to go into the bottle (preventing a vacuum effect) and the kitten can continue suckling his fill.”

She says to support a kitten’s head with a finger on each side of his cheek to keep him in the correct, upright position. Plus, the extra support on his cheeks often helps the kitten to latch on to the bottle better.

And, if the young kitten becomes too wiggly or excited, Jackie suggests you gently groom the body with a toothbrush, as it mimics the feel of a queen licking and helps the kitten calm down, latch on to the bottle and resume suckling.

FEEDING NO-NOS

Most kittens love to eat, but there are definitely foods that make the no-no list. Topping this list:

• Cow’s milk, as most felines are lactose intolerant
• Human baby food that contains garlic or onions, two dangerous ingredients to kittens
• Raw eggs due to the risk of them being contaminated with Salmonella bacteria
• Grapes or raisins, as they are high in sugar and can cause gastric upset
• Sushi, as raw fish contains an enzyme that can destroy thiamine, an essential B vitamin for cats

Start ‘Em Off Right

Here are just a few examples of diets that meet the specific needs of growing kittens.

Fox Valley Day One Kitten formula $14.10. store.foxvalleynutrition.com

Royal Canin Mother and Babycat $9.49 (3-ounces, pack of 6). Available on chewy.com

Purina ProPlan Focus Kitten Food $28.32 (3 ounces, case of 24). Available on chewy.com

The post Nutrition For Kittens: Complete Guide, Science, Health Tips & FAQ by Arden Moore appeared first on Catster. Copying over entire articles infringes on copyright laws. You may not be aware of it, but all of these articles were assigned, contracted and paid for, so they aren't considered public domain. However, we appreciate that you like the article and would love it if you continued sharing just the first paragraph of an article, then linking out to the rest of the piece on Catster.com.

Twice a day, I become a focused meal preparer for my five cats who range in age from 2 to 16. Based on their dietary needs and food pickiness, I must put the right food in each of their bowls or face a food boycott — or a food-stealing attempt. Each time I pick up their emptied bowls after mealtime, I feel accomplished and a little relieved.

But I’m definitely in awe of Jessica Bartlett and Samantha Martin, who make dishing out mealtime for far more cats seem quick, seamless and stress-free.

Jessica calmly aces feeding different diets to her seven cats near Bellevue, Washington. Samantha, on average, feeds 21 kittens and cats in her home outside of Atlanta, Georgia.

Both verify all is well in their homes of many felines — and are here to help you, too.

Feed like a pro

Jessica and her husband, John, share their home with Libby, Trillian, Ruthie, Penny, Nakia, Bea and Harley, who range in age from nearly 2 to 11.

“Our meals are very calm,” says Jessica, who owns Whiskers At Home cat sitting company (whiskersathome.com) and recently launched Cat Lovers Academy (catloversacademy.com) to assist people dealing with feline behavior issues. “Once we start getting the bowls ready, they get in ‘position’ and settle down and wait patiently for their food. They picked their spots in the kitchen.”

What’s her secret to stress-free, no food-fighting mealtimes for her feline brood? “First and foremost is being consistent with the timing and the routine,” she says. “John does the morning feeding, and I do the evening feeding. Because there is a routine, there is never a concern that there won’t be food coming to any of them. Second, I encourage the use of food puzzles to keep an impatient cat (Bea) busy hunting for food between meals or while food is being prepared.”

Jessica also works in training time at mealtime by using a clicker. “If you and your cat agree on a spot in the kitchen, you can train your cat with a clicker to go to that spot knowing that he or she will be paid in treats to sit here,” she explains.

Meanwhile, inside Meowy Manor in Georgia, renowned animal trainer Samantha Martin averages about 21 cats inside her multi-level home that features many rooms with doors and cat-safe enclosed porches and decks. Samantha and her felines also travel all over the country to perform for audiences as the celebrated Amazing Acro-Cats (rockcatsrescue.org).

Currently, her cats range in age from bottle-fed orphaned kittens to seniors. The eldest at age 16, Nue, is on a special diet to aid her with her kidney issues.

Samantha has trained her cats to know it is mealtime when she blows a whistle. She has trained them to head for their designated rooms and porches and is able to close doors and gates to prevent any feline foodie from “trespassing” into another room after wolfing down his or her meal.

Unlike Jessica, Samantha prefers feeding at various times rather than a set morning or evening time.

“I want my cats to be conditioned to hearing the whistle rather than a specific time,” Samantha says. “I find variable time feeding keeps my cats guessing and strengthens them to respond and come to the sound of the whistle. Feeding time is a good time to look for any health issues because cats tend to hide their illnesses. If I blow the whistle and a cat doesn’t show up or is slow to show up, it may indicate a health issue. I am always watching my troop’s eating habits and behaviors to catch any medical problem early.”

Samantha also gets all the bowls prepared in advance in a room off-limits to any of the cats. Some need medicine added to their food. Others need toppings of boiled chicken to jumpstart their taste buds. Her cats eat dry and canned food, and she also prepares formula for fast-growing orphaned kittens in incubators inside her bedroom.

“From start to finish, it takes about one hour to feed everyone, but I don’t mind,” Samantha says.

Her bigger challenge is when the feline troupe is on the bus heading to various shows. She travels with 15 cats, three rats and a trained chicken aptly named Cluck Norris. Some eat inside their carriers while others eat in small groups in sectioned-off areas.

“Feeding time is a good time to look for any health issues because cats tend to hide their illnesses.”

Avoid mealtime mayhem

Dr. Hazel Carney is a board-certified veterinary behaviorist who serves on the American Association of Feline Practitioners board. She offers these additional tips to help you ensure mealtime in your multi-pet home is free of mayhem:

« Assign one bowl per cat — no sharing. This way, you will know how much each of your cats is eating.

« Spread out the bowls. “Your cats may be friends, but they do not like having to eat from a bowl lined up in a row next to the bowls of two or more other cats,” says Dr. Carney, who practices at the WestVet Emergency and Specialty Center in Garden City, Idaho. “If you have three cats, feed them in three areas of a large room or in three different rooms and then pick up and clean the bowls after each meal.”

« Think vertically. Keep an overweight or obese cat from accessing the bowl of another cat by placing that bowl on the top of a sturdy surface, like a shelf that the chubby cat cannot access. Or, serve the bowl inside a cardboard box with a hole cut to fit the size of the slimmer cat.

“No matter how many cats you have, when you are able to offer each cat his or her own place to eat, there will be less digestive upset, less fighting and less stress,” Dr. Carney says.

The post Feeding Multiple Cats: Mealtime Strategies for Multiple Diets by Arden Moore appeared first on Catster. Copying over entire articles infringes on copyright laws. You may not be aware of it, but all of these articles were assigned, contracted and paid for, so they aren't considered public domain. However, we appreciate that you like the article and would love it if you continued sharing just the first paragraph of an article, then linking out to the rest of the piece on Catster.com.

What if your cat develops an allergy to a specific food or to something in his environment, such as pollen. Or, may start battling a disease, such as diabetes or kidney disease. Or, he may be stressed and his digestive system is being pummeled.

Unfortunately, your cat isn’t able to notify you about a specific ingredient causing him to have an upset stomach or take away his appetite or cause his skin to itch like crazy. He feels miserable. You feel miserable and a bit baffled and, certainly, frustrated.

How can you help a cat with food issues? One strategy growing in popularity answers to the initials L.I.D. That stands for limited ingredient diet.

Understanding LID

By definition, LID usually contains one single protein source that is usually novel, such as duck, rabbit or venison. And, it contains only one or two carbohydrates, such as sweet potatoes or peas, as well as limited fats.

That begs the question: When it comes to what you feed your cat, is less more? Or better? And, just how many ingredients and what ingredients does your cat need to receive a nutritious, balanced diet?

The answer: It’s complicated. We recognize that food is fuel and fortifies our cats and ourselves. Picking the right diet for your cat depends on these key factors: your cat’s age, breed, health condition and activity level.

“If a cat has a medical issue, such as diabetes, your veterinarian will recommend tailoring the diet to meet the needs of that cat, but if your cat does not have a medical issue, it can be beneficial to expose him to lots of different ingredients,” says Dr. Lowell Ackerman, a board-certified veterinary dermatologist and author from Westborough, Massachusetts.

Food allergies are tricky

LID often enters the scene when your cat’s eating habits and overall health take a downturn. Your cat shows such symptoms as:

In these situations, your veterinarians may recommend a limited-ingredient diet to possibly identify a food allergy as the culprit as a first line of action. It may or may not solve the issue.

“Allergies can develop over time to things your cat has been introduced to,” Dr. Ackerman says. “That is why a cat may develop an allergy to a cat food you have been feeding him for years. If you only ate cod, would that be a good idea? It is much better to balance a diet with more ingredients for you or for your cat.”

Elizabeth Colleran, DVM, past president of the American Academy of Feline Practitioners, who operates the cat-only Chico Hospital for Cats in Chico, California, weighs in.

“Cats are drawn to certain foods by three factors: mouth feel, odor and taste,” she says. “Variety can provide a way to change diets easily when it becomes necessary for health or other reasons. But cats who lose interest in food that they have previously preferred should always be investigated for an underlying medical reason or environmental stress.”

“Cats are drawn to certain foods by three factors: mouth feel, odor and taste,” says Dr. Elizabeth Colleran.

Quality protein is a must

Dr. Colleran adds that adult cats require diets that contain at least 40% protein for overall health, muscle tone and energy. Cats are obligate carnivores, a fancy term for proclaiming that their bodies depend on ample amounts of quality protein to thrive.

“Loss of muscle over the spine of the back, top of the head or rear limbs is the most important sign that the diet is inadequate,” she says. “Inadequate fat or protein will affect a cat’s skin and coat quality, and carbohydrate-heavy diets create a terrible obesity problem.”

For my cats, I pay close attention to their overall eating habits and health. I feed them canned food made by Weruva because of its limited ingredients and because the company has never incurred a food recall. As for treats, I now hand out limited-protein treats, such as those made by Whole Life Pet and Simply Treats for Cats, because I can then accurately inform my veterinarian exactly what ingredients my cats are consuming should a health problem arise.

Some quality LID products are grain-free and contain vital supplements, such as Omega-3 and Omega-6 to boost healthy skins and coats.

Parting advice: Always read the label’s lineup of ingredients. Select those that contain real meats and not chicken meal. Be on the lookout for any additives or food colorings, preservatives or artificial flavors, such as monosodium glutamate (MSG).

Food allergy and intolerance are much more complicated than they may seem. Work closely with your veterinarian and, with some patience and determination, the cause of what’s afflicting your cat’s health can be identified and properly treated.

A few limited-ingredient foods & treats for your cat:

• Simply Treats for Cats $5.99; simplefoodproject.com
• Weruva Meow Luau with Mackerel & Pumpkin in Gravy $37.99/3-oz. case of 24; chewy.com
• Whole Life Pet Just One Ingredient Whole Food Cat Treats $7.99/1-oz. bag; chewy.com

The post Limited Ingredient Cat Treats To Offer Your Pet by Arden Moore appeared first on Catster. Copying over entire articles infringes on copyright laws. You may not be aware of it, but all of these articles were assigned, contracted and paid for, so they aren't considered public domain. However, we appreciate that you like the article and would love it if you continued sharing just the first paragraph of an article, then linking out to the rest of the piece on Catster.com.

Welcome to the age of “fresh from the fridge” meals for your feline friend. You can find these “fridge foods” showcased in refrigerator cases inside pet supply stores and some supermarkets and even delivered to your door packed in dry ice. Most offer fresh ingredients that are free of any preservatives.

Where the trend began

Let’s go briefly back in time to the year 2006. That is the year that Freshpet, considered a pioneer in the fresh fridge-food era, launched its pet food lineup from its headquarters in Secaucus, New Jersey.

“Since 2006, Freshpet embarked on a mission to improve the lives of cats and dogs through the power of fresh, real food,” says Dr. Aziza Glass, the company’s veterinarian. “That means creating recipes with 100% natural farm-raised poultry, beef and fish, along with fiber-packed garden veggies and antioxidant-rich fruits.”

Prepared meals are quickly transported by temperature-regulated vehicles to specially designed Freshpet refrigerators in stores. Freshpet also works with retailer partners to deliver directly to pet parents. The company offers over 50 bagged meals and rolls that can last in the fridge without any fillers or preservatives until they’re ready to be served. Cat cuisine choices offer various proteins, including these popular picks: grain-free pate with salmon plus tender chicken and beef tender bites in 1-pound rolls stored in airtight containers in the refrigerator.

“Freshpet’s meals are gently cooked, making all 12 essential amino acids available for our pets — much more than what you find in the harsher, high-temperature cooking methods required to make kibble,” Dr. Glass adds.

Nom Nom Now, based in Oakland, California, is another major player in this “fresh-cooked foods” market. All recipes are grain- and gluten-free and are formulated by the company’s veterinary nutritionist, Dr. Justin Shmalberg. The Chicken Cuisine, a feline favorite, contains chicken thigh, breast and liver plus carrots and spinach and an array of essential vitamins. All ingredients are made in the United States from reputable food producers.

“As a veterinary nutritionist, I’ve long recommended and developed home-prepared diets for clients’ pets,” Dr. Shmalberg says. “The Nom Nom food is prepared to order and individually portioned in vacuum-sealed pouches that ensures that food is fresh on arrival. Additionally, the product is shipped with dry ice.”

Nature’s Logic began in 2006 in Lincoln, Nebraska, with a lineup of dry and canned quality foods for cats and dogs. The company now offers lightly cooked frozen recipes in beef liver, chicken and lamb flavors for cats.

Popularity of these fresh pet food options is steadily growing. Freshpet, for example, has maintained doubledigit net sales growth each year since 2014.

Before you buy and try

“There’s something naturally appealing about feeding your cat a ‘fresh meal,’” says Dr. Ernie Ward, founder of the Association for Pet Obesity Prevention and co-author of The Clean Pet Food Revolution.

He offers this checklist to help you make the right selection to meet your cat’s nutritional needs:

• Verify on the label that the food is AAFCO-approved and nutritionally complete and balanced.
• Click online and check for any food recalls and read online reviews about the company making these meals.
• See if the company backs its nutritional and health claims. Having a board-certified veterinarian nutritionist on staff is a plus.
• Ask your veterinarian about your cat’s specific health needs and dietary requirements before making the meal switch.

“If the fresh food checks all of those boxes and the pet parent doesn’t mind the added cost, then I say go for it,” Dr. Ward says.

Investing in good food

Dr. Jean Hofve, a holistic veterinarian in Colorado, says commercial, refrigerated cat foods do tend to cost more than bags of kibble or cans of food. “It boils down to pay now or pay later,” says Dr. Hofve, founder of the website littlebigcat.com. “If you want to save on veterinary bills in the future, you are going to invest in your cat’s nutrition now. Less processed ingredients are better digested and provide more nutritional value for your cat.”

Key word: digestibility. Cats are notoriously not big water drinkers. Dishing up quality foods with moisture offers two pluses: enhanced digestion of the ingredients and the production of healthy poop in the litter box.

“Often, the first moment pet owners might notice a gut health or nutritional concern is when cleaning up after their pet,” says Dr. Tabitha Hookey, a Royal Canin scientific support specialist. “Symptoms of poor gastrointestinal health include vomiting, diarrhea, change in appetite, weight loss or abnormal stool quality.”

She adds, “A high-quality diet should start with carefully selected ingredients, which are digestible and bioavailable (meaning that the nutrients will be well-absorbed and used by the body).”

Safety first

Dr. Hofve urges people to maintain good hygiene habits in the kitchen when opting to go with freshly made refrigerated and frozen foods. If the fridge food is left too long on a kitchen counter and not properly refrigerated, the pet can be at risk for salmonella and other health risks.

“If you are buying these foods, make it your last errand and get promptly home to refrigerate them,” she says. “Most of these meals are cooked to some degree, but not all of them. Don’t leave it on the kitchen counter and take a phone call from your uncle, because if you let it come to room temperature, the meat can quickly become contaminated with bacteria.”

And here’s her parting advice: Work with your veterinarian about adding prebiotics, probiotics and digestive enzymes to your cat’s diet to maintain a healthy gut.”

Keep refrigerated!

Here’s our sampler of some of the fresh, cooked and refrigerated foods out there. Get these at the grocery and pet store or on a subscription basis.

Freshpet Select Fresh Chicken & Beef Grain Free Gourmet Pate; $3.99/1-lb. roll; freshpet.com

Nom Nom Chicken Cuisine $50 two-week trial (with 20% off discount); nomnomnow.com

Nature’s Logic Lightly Cooked Frozen $12.99/1.5-lb. individual roll; natureslogic.com

The post Fresh From the Fridge Meals: Facts & FAQ by Arden Moore appeared first on Catster. Copying over entire articles infringes on copyright laws. You may not be aware of it, but all of these articles were assigned, contracted and paid for, so they aren't considered public domain. However, we appreciate that you like the article and would love it if you continued sharing just the first paragraph of an article, then linking out to the rest of the piece on Catster.com.

What do our cats really need to eat in order to meet their nutritional needs? Chef Bobby Flay believes he has the answer. But what does a gourmet chef know about cat food and feline nutrition? As it turns out, he knows quite a lot.

A lifelong cat lover and super cat dad, Bobby Flay knows what makes cats purr. An only child, Bobby grew up thinking of cats as his siblings. “From the time I was born, there were always cats in my house,” he says. “As an only child, they were as close to brothers as I had. I spent countless hours side by side with them, and we kept each other company.” But being a famous chef meant he had to put his love for cats on hold, since his busy life didn’t leave much time to properly care for a kitty.

After 30 years without a cat in his life, Bobby says, “I’m back in.” Bobby got his orange Maine Coon, Nacho, 6 years ago. It’s no coincidence that Nacho’s orange mane matches Bobby’s own. As a kid, Bobby had an orange cat named Pumpkin. “I wanted him because he matched my hair and, as a 5-yearold boy, nothing could be cooler in my mind.” Bobby has since added Stella to his cat family, a brown-and-white Maine Coon who is now 2 years old. “Stella worships Nacho and copies everything he does,” Bobby says.

Nacho and Stella routinely travel with Bobby. “I can’t do without them for that long, even a week is too long, and I feel bad leaving them. I know they miss me, too.”

Nacho’s Influence

As someone who works with food and knows what pleases the human palate, Bobby began thinking about feline nutrition and what cats really need in their diets. With his famous Nacho by his side (Nacho has almost as many Facebook followers as his dad!), Bobby began researching cat nutrition, working with his veterinarian to create Made By Nacho. Nacho is actually the company founder, as he inspired Bobby to create the line. “I’m very passionate about this project,” Bobby says. “I want [cats] to be our only thought at Made By Nacho. Cats are king of the road, they are carnivores, and we can’t feed them like humans.”

Although Bobby and Nacho have been working on creating his cat food for a few years, the pandemic allowed them to focus on bringing Made By Nacho to reality, launching the company and website (MadeByNacho.com), in April 2021.

Nacho did taste testing along with his little sister, Stella. “Cats have very specific palates and nutritional needs,” Bobby says. And he wanted to keep this in mind when developing the food. “The first pieces of wet cat food we made were beautiful, uniform in shape and nice, large pieces. But we’re not serving it in a restaurant, we’re serving cats. We can’t forget what we’re doing here. Cats want flavor and texture, and it needs to be easy to eat.” So they changed the pieces to be smaller, in order to appeal to the size and texture cats prefer.

Made by Nacho

Nacho and Stella’s own veterinarian, Dr. Katja Lang, worked closely with Nacho and Bobby to develop the Made by Nacho meals.

And just one of the magical ingredients? Bone broth: which is full of protein and flavor and provides hydration. Cats need as much hydration as they can get, and bone broth also adds the additional moisture cats need.

❉ Find Made By Nacho exclusively at PetSmart.

Up Next

When asked if Nacho will have his own cooking show, Bobby says, “He’s a little busy right now, but at some point that could definitely happen. People like to watch him.” Nacho is so popular that when Bobby does appearances without him, people always ask where he is.

The next frontier for Made By Nacho? Kitten food. They are currently working on a line of food specifically for kittens and their special nutritional needs as they grow. They are also working on a line of grain-free food for cats who cannot tolerate grains.

Nacho Keeps Giving

Nacho uses his voice to get more cats into loving homes and out of shelters. Bobby encourages people who have never had a cat to adopt one. In fact, Nacho and Bobby are sending a Made By Nacho box to a rescue that is near and dear to my heart, as this rescue has had quite a hard time lately.

We are so grateful, as is the rescue. We asked Nacho for the last word in our interview, but he politely declined as he was relaxing in the living room on a cozy rug, and Bobby did not want to disturb him. Now that’s a great cat dad!

Follow Nacho on Facebook @Nacho Flay and on Instagram @nachoflay.

Follow Bobby on Facebook @Bobby Flay and on Instagram @bobbyflay.

The post Nacho Creates His Own Food Company by Rita Reimers appeared first on Catster. Copying over entire articles infringes on copyright laws. You may not be aware of it, but all of these articles were assigned, contracted and paid for, so they aren't considered public domain. However, we appreciate that you like the article and would love it if you continued sharing just the first paragraph of an article, then linking out to the rest of the piece on Catster.com.

A medium-cooked burger plopped on a paper plate certainly won’t win any cuisine awards for taste or presentation. But, dress up that burger with melted gouda cheese, lettuce, slices of fresh avocado and tomato with a toasted, buttered bun, and your taste buds will thank you.

Well, your cat may feel the same way about his food. Eating the same dry kibble every day can give some felines the food blahs. Some may walk away from their bowls. Others may try to steal your gourmet burger.

Fortunately, pet parents have a tasty tactic to boost appetites, cover the taste of yucky medicine and add needed nutrients to their cats’ daily chow: meal toppers.

Variety is the Spice of Life

Meal toppers can be as simple as the drained water from canned tuna added to bowls of kibble. Or, like in my household, it can mean those coveted pieces of white roasted chicken meat that have been rinsed of all seasonings before adding to the top of my cats’ food bowls. It can also be the wet version of your cat food brand mixed into the dry food version.

“A little goes a long way in terms of being nutritious to your cat,” says Dr. Jean Hofve, a holistic veterinarian in Boulder, Colorado. “For example, you can chop up one sardine and top three meals. Or, add a dollop of ground turkey.”

Too tired to make something? Commercially prepared meal toppers are popping up on store shelves and online. The versions vary, offering broths, gravies, shredded or flaked fish or freeze-dried chicken crumbles.

Blue Wilderness, for example, offers foil single-serving pouches of Wild Cuts, morsels in gravy. Vital Essentials created a line of freeze-dried meal toppers in sprinkle form that include chicken, rabbit, salmon, duck and more proteins. Caru Daily Dish delivers human-grade broth in squeezable bottles as food toppers.

Whether homemade or commercially prepared, all meal toppers serve to supplement the main cat food. The overall goal of meal toppers is to entice cats to stay healthy by eating healthy.

If you’re looking for a way to jazz up your cat’s food, first team up with your veterinarian to identify your cat’s nutritional needs and overall health condition.

“Before focusing on changing a cat’s diet, ‘picky’ cats should be evaluated by their veterinarians to ensure that there is not an underlying health issue that might be impacting their food intake,” says Dr. Tabitha Hookey, a veterinarian and scientific support specialist for Royal Canin.

Also pay attention to the location of your cat’s water and food bowls as well as their litter boxes.

“It’s ideal for a cat to have separation between his food and water and litter boxes, and it is also important that your cat feels a sense of safety in the area that he is eating and drinking,” Dr. Hookey adds.

Too Much of a Good Thing

Be mindful of the amount of meal toppers you give. Any calories coming from treats or meal toppers should not exceed 10% of your cat’s total daily calorie intake. Excess calories can pack on the pounds in your cat, putting him at risk for obesity and other health issues.

Meal toppers may be just the right tasty prescription for a cat who needs to take medicine for a condition.

“Some prescription medicines don’t taste good but are very much needed for the health of the cat,” says Rachel Geller, EdD, a certified cat behaviorist based in Newton, Massachusetts. “Always consult your veterinarian before adding something new to your cat’s diet, but I definitely think meal toppers can be helpful with a variety of issues your cat may be having, including the need to take medicine.”

Dr. Hofve says a meal topper may be a go-to choice for cats who need to change the type of food they eat.

“A little topper on the kibble for the cat to eat can be an effective bridge to switching the cat from a dry food diet to a wet food diet,” says Dr. Hofve, adding that meal toppers may motivate senior cats at risk for dehydration to accept wet food.

When introducing a meal topper, do so gradually so as not to cause any gastric distress. And, be ready to take action if your cat decides he loves the meal topper only and doesn’t eat the main meal in his bowl, advises Dr. Hofve.

“In some cases, you may need to mix the meal topper in with the kibble to entice the cat to eat the whole meal,” she adds. “It is important for your cat to get a complete and balanced diet every day.”

Tricks for These Treats

Meal toppers can also put the capital M in motivation when it comes to training your cat a new trick. My young orange tabby, Rusty, earned the nickname Rusty the Purrformer because he loves learning new tricks. And, he is highly food motivated.

During our mini-training sessions, I reach for small, freeze-dried chicken pieces from a meal topper pouch. He comes running when he hears the pouch and probably smells the contents. So far, he has mastered coming to a whistle, sitting up pretty, walking in a harness on a leash, riding in a pet stroller and jumping up on a table on cue. He may think he is scoring an added meal, but I am keeping him at a healthy weight by doling out these low-calorie treats.

“Cats typically aren’t social feeders like dogs, so having them ‘hunt’ for their food or treats by using a food puzzle or hiding parts of their meal can be useful for enrichment and support their mental and overall wellbeing,” Dr. Hookey says.

Looking for a Prepared Meal Topper? Here Are Just a Few.

Tiki Cat Complements $11.92/8 pack; tikipets.com

Wellness CORE Simply Shreds $15.84 (case of 12); wellnesspetfood.com

Vital Essentials Freeze-Dried Toppers $12.99; vitalessentialsraw.com

Feature Image Credit: TarasBeletskiy, Shutterstock

The post Cat Meal Toppers to Meow About by Arden Moore appeared first on Catster. Copying over entire articles infringes on copyright laws. You may not be aware of it, but all of these articles were assigned, contracted and paid for, so they aren't considered public domain. However, we appreciate that you like the article and would love it if you continued sharing just the first paragraph of an article, then linking out to the rest of the piece on Catster.com.

Choosing a healthy cat food can feel overwhelming, especially when you look at the sea of brands, formulations, and flavors. Before choosing a food, first identify your cat’s life stage.

“Cats have different nutritional needs depending on where they are in their stage of growth and life cycle,” says Johnna Devereaux, clinical pet nutritionist and owner of Fetch RI in Richmond, Rhode Island. “Feeding a cat to support those needs is important to their vitality and will help them achieve good health.”

Kittens less than 1 year old should eat kitten food (called growth) or a food labeled for “all life stages.” Adult cats older than 1 should eat adult food (called maintenance) or a diet labeled for all life stages. Cats 11 to 14 are considered senior, and cats 15 and older are classified as geriatric. Though senior and geriatric cats can eat maintenance or all life stages foods, they might benefit from a diet formulated for older cats.

Whatever your cat’s age, she’ll benefit from these important feeding do’s and don’ts.

The Do’s and Don’ts of Choosing Cat Food

1. DO Choose a Complete and Balanced Cat Food

The most important thing you can do when choosing a cat food is to look for a statement on the label that says the food meets the standards established by the Association of American Feed Control Officials (AAFCO) demonstrating that the food is complete and balanced for the cat’s life stage: growth (kittens and pregnant or lactating queens), maintenance (adult cats) or all life stages (any cat from kitten to geriatric).

2. DO Choose a Food for Your Cat’s Life Stage

“An animal’s nutritional requirements vary depending on their life stage,” says Dr. Jennifer A. Larsen, professor of clinical nutrition at UC Davis’ School of Veterinary Medicine. “Very young kittens typically need a more energy-dense diet so that they need to eat less volume, while older cats are predisposed to obesity and usually do better on diets with lower calories.”

3. DON’T Feed Your Kitten an Adult Cat Food

Kittens should not eat food intended for adult cats. “Adult cats can eat kit-ten food as long as they tolerate the higher calorie density and do not gain unwanted weight, but kittens should not eat food that is only for adults, as this will not meet their needs,” Dr. Larsen says. It’s generally safe to feed your adult cat kitten food if necessary, but kitten food is higher in calories, so it could cause unwanted weight gain.

4. DO Offer Kittens Various Foods and Textures

Kittens develop strong food preferences early in life. “Cats that have been fed a variety of foods are more likely to try something new when offered,” Johnna says. “It’s a good idea to make sure your cat accepts a variety of kibble flavors and shapes, as well as different canned foods, including loaf or pate type, chunks in gravy, etc.”

5. DO Count Calories

When cats eat too many calories, they risk becoming overweight or even obese. Talk to your vet about how many calories your cat needs.

“The number of calories a cat needs per day depends on a variety of factors, including age, activity level, whether they are fixed or intact, and their body condition,” Johnna says. “Calorie calculators are available online to use as a starting point, but emphasis should also be placed on how your cat’s body responds to the calories being consumed.”

6. DO Choose the Right Diet for Your Senior Cat

Your senior or geriatric cat might benefit from a special diet, so talk to your veterinarian about your cat’s individual needs. “Consideration of the individual is warranted during aging, as some cats are overweight while others are too thin, and there may be underlying conditions that we can address (such as arthritis),” Dr. Larsen says.

No AAFCO nutrient profile exists for senior cats, so diets labeled for senior cats may not offer similar nutrition.

“The category of senior diets is broad and does not share any particular characteristics,” says Dr. Larsen, who is one of the authors of a recently published study looking at senior diets.

According to Dr. Larsen, it’s long been known that cats with kidney disease require reductions in phosphorus intake, but healthy cats young and old can also develop kidney damage if they eat a diet too high in phosphorus. “For seniors, and for all cats really, there is emerging evidence that intake of diets high in phosphorus can harm the kidneys,” she says.

• See also: How to Feed Multiple Cats: 5 Tips That Work

Featured Image Credit: Fayzulin Serg, Shutterstock

The post Choosing Cat Food: The Do’s & Don’ts of Feeding Your Kitty by Jackie Brown appeared first on Catster. Copying over entire articles infringes on copyright laws. You may not be aware of it, but all of these articles were assigned, contracted and paid for, so they aren't considered public domain. However, we appreciate that you like the article and would love it if you continued sharing just the first paragraph of an article, then linking out to the rest of the piece on Catster.com.

W hat you feed your cat goes a long way to how easy — or challenging — the food is to break down in the digestive tract and then the quality and quantity of the excess waste exiting out of your cat’s body.

Food is not only fuel to fortify the body, but the right foods may help stave off diseases, especially a host of urinary issues.

How to Select the Right Cat Food for Urinary Issues

1. Make a diet plan for cats with urinary issues

It’s easy to be confused when it comes to selecting food for your cat in the store or online. You may secretly wish you were a veterinary nutritionist. But don’t fret. Help is here. Catster reached out to two of the nation’s leading authorities on cats and feline nutrition to help you come up with a food game plan to keep your feline friend healthy.

First up: Joseph Bartges, DVM, PhD, professor of veterinary medicine and nutrition at the University of Georgia in Athens.

“I believe cats should be fed a higher protein, lower carbohydrate diet, which is more natural to prey that they would eat if they were feral,” he says. “A higher moisture content might be better from a urinary health perspective. We can use diet to modify the urine to help prevent stones from forming and to help cats who have idiopathic cystitis (a general term to describe urinary conditions with no identifiable cause).”

Next up: Hazel Carney, DVM, DABVP, American Association of Feline Practitioners (AAFP) Guidelines Committee member and on staff at WestVet Emergency and Specialty Center in Garden City, Idaho.

“I strongly urge cat owners to feed their cats canned food predominately,” she says. “Everything I have seen and know scientifically about cats supports the usage of canned diets. We have to get more moisture into cats because cats are notorious for not drinking water, and their bodies are designed to suck water out of everything. Quality diets give the water cats need in the canned foods.”

2. Beyond diet

From the day she rescued and adopted her three now-senior cats named Wyatt Earp, Calamity Jane and Hi Ho Silver, Dr. Carney has helped prevent any of them from developing urinary stones or crystals as well as urinary blockages. She feeds them quality canned food with kibble in food puzzles. Where she places their bowls also plays a big role in their overall health.

“Cats do not naturally eat and drink in the same place in the wild if given the opportunity, because they do not want to contaminate their food with water,” she explains. “During mealtime, cats do not want to have visual eye contact with each other, because it can cause stress and that can lead to lots of health issues. So, I make sure all my cats are fed separately without being able to see one another.”

Offer your cat tasty fluids like water-based tuna juice, clam juice or salt-free chicken or beef broth. Besides keeping your cat hydrated, supplements can also help in the war against urinary diseases. Dr. Bartges touts the healthy benefits of antioxidants and omega-3 fatty acids in commercial cat food as well as probiotics designed to help good gut bacteria thrive.

Dr. Carney sees the value of talking to your veterinarian about adding these two key supplements to your cat’s diet:

• Zylkene: a milk protein supplement made with casein. The calming properties reduce stress.
• Cosequin: a natural supplement that works on bladder and joint issues. It comes in a capsule (open and sprinkle into your cat’s food) or as a chewable treat.

3. Cat food for urinary issues

While male cats are at more risk, any cat at any age can develop urinary stone or crystals, urinary infections, blockages and a host of other issues. Some pop up quickly, while others develop over time.

Booking semi- or annual physical exams for your cat may help your veterinarian catch a condition early where treatment may be more effective.

If your cat is diagnosed with a urinary issue that requires a diet prescribed by your veterinarian, the good news is that there are more therapeutic diets in canned and dry food now available than even a decade ago.

Dr. Bartges says, “No one diet and no one pet food company makes the best food for a specific patient under a specific circumstance. However, the good news is that there are options.”

He points out the value of urinary care diets made by Royal Canin, Hills, Purina and Blue Buffalo as well as considering tailor-made, homemade diets formulated by a board-certified veterinary nutritionist. Learn more by visiting acvn.org.

Dr. Carney says, “These therapeutic diets have been tested and shown to benefit cats with interstitial cystitis or urinary issues. The three major companies — Hills, Royal Canin and Purina — have controlled feeding trials that look at the entire health of the cat, and I have been invited to visit their testing facilities.”

She adds that therapeutic diets are medically beneficial to cats with urinary issues.

“Cats can die from blockages and toxins, so it is a huge deal when it comes to deciding what to feed your cat,” Dr. Carney says. “I recommend canned food, plenty of water bowls in the house and using dry food in food puzzles to work their minds and their bodies.”

Featured Image: adamdowdee282 | Getty Images

Read Next: Is Your Cat Not Drinking Water? 10 Ways to Get Your Cat to Drink More Water

The post How to Select the Right Cat Food for Urinary Issues by Arden Moore appeared first on Catster. Copying over entire articles infringes on copyright laws. You may not be aware of it, but all of these articles were assigned, contracted and paid for, so they aren't considered public domain. However, we appreciate that you like the article and would love it if you continued sharing just the first paragraph of an article, then linking out to the rest of the piece on Catster.com.

Have you ever purchased cat grass? It’s an inexpensive treat that cats tend to enjoy, but why? Most of us don’t think of cats as being animals who want to eat vegetables,

“Although cats are obligate carnivores (which means they need to get the majority of their nutrition from meat and fish-based sources), they do occasionally enjoy nibbling on some green stuff,” says Dr. Jamie Richardson, Medical Chief of Staff at Small Door Veterinary.

Here’s what you need to know.

Is cat grass good for cats? 

In addition to being a tasty treat for cats, cat grass can be healthy and beneficial. Dr.

“Eating certain types of grass or plants can aid cats with their digestion,” says Richardson, adding that regularly nibbling on cat grass can help relieve constipation, and assist in the removal of non-digestible materials (like furballs). It can also provide them with some nutrients, such as folic acid.

Meaning eating it can improve your cat’s overall health. It can also be a lot of fun for cats. Enrichment is extremely important to your cat’s physical and emotional health and cat grass gives cats something to explore and nibble at.

Where to buy?

From pet stores to farmer’s markets cat grass available widely available but what is it?

“Cat grass is not a specific type of plant, but typically a grass mixture,”  says Dr. Richardson.

It generally involves wheat, rye, barley, and oats. In addition to being able to purchase fully grown cat grass, you can also often find seeds which you can then plant in a container of your choice and grow at home.

Not all grasses are safe for cats

As not all grasses are safe for cats it’s always a good idea to review the ASPCA’s list of toxic plants before bringing any plant into your home regardless of if you intend for your cat to eat them. This will help you ensure that any plants in your house are safe if your cat chooses to nibble on them.

Why does my cat throw up after eating cat grass?

A common concern many cat guardians bring up with cat grass is that they find their cat vomits after eating it.  But as alarming as that can be Dr. Richardson confirms that it’s a common and normal occurrence.

“This is usually because they ingested the grass to help them vomit up a furball or another non-digestible item,” says Dr. Richardson.

It’s important to pay attention to how much your cat vomits after eating it.

“ If they only vomit once and there are no other concerning signs (such as lethargy, unwillingness to eat, etc.), there is not usually any reason to be concerned,” says Dr. Richardson.

But if your cat vomits repeatedly, or vomits every time they eat it you should get them checked out by a veterinarian to rule out any medical issues.

The post Is Cat Grass Good for Cats? by Sassafras Lowrey appeared first on Catster. Copying over entire articles infringes on copyright laws. You may not be aware of it, but all of these articles were assigned, contracted and paid for, so they aren't considered public domain. However, we appreciate that you like the article and would love it if you continued sharing just the first paragraph of an article, then linking out to the rest of the piece on Catster.com.