Your cat’s health is directly linked to what goes into his/her body (i.e. the type and kind of food you feed). Good nutrition is one of the most important (and the easiest) thing to do at home to keep your cat healthy. There are a variety of high quality foods to fit your cat’s specific health and lifestyle. There is no "one-size fits all" food that is right for every cat. Which is why its important to discuss with your technician and veterinarian, so recommendations can be made based on your cat's individual needs and lifestyle..

As with anything, there can be too much of a good thing. Spayed and neutered cats, as well as indoor-only cats, have decreased energy requirements and are very prone to gaining excess weight. Overweight cats are at a significantly increased risk for diabetes, heart disease, cancer, arthritis, and skin problems (just to mention a few). In order to keep your cat trim and healthy, ask your veterinary technician to calculate a diet worksheet for your cat. We will take your cat’s current weight, ideal weight, and the amount of kilocalories in the specific type of food you are feeding, and design a personalized feeding guide for your cat – so there’s no confusion on how much is too much food!

Also, studies are showing that the amount of carbohydrates in cat foods can negatively impact them later on in life. We see more intestinal disease, such as pancreatitis, inflammatory bowel disease, and intestinal lymphoma, than we ever did even 5 years ago. Experts are starting to link this finding with carbohydrates. Cat are natural carnivores (unlike people and dogs), so their intake of carbs on a daily basis should be very low. Carbohydrates cause changes in the microflora of the GI tract, and can lead to changes in the form of intestinal disease later in life. Ask your technician for more details, and for lists of low-carbohydrates foods.