Proper Nutrition is Essential in a Cat's Golden Years
Did you know senior cats are not only prone to obesity, but they also run the risk of being underweight as well? Cats are considered to be seniors at 7 years and older. Proper nutrition is key in maintaining your senior pet’s health and may even help her live longer. Help keep your senior pet healthy and happy well into & Read more »
Keep Your Adult Cat Healthy with Proper Nutrition
Cats require high amounts of protein in their diet which is why nutrition is so important to help keep your cat healthy and happy. Cats are considered adults between 1 and 7 years of age. Choose the right diet for your adult cat with these tips from PetSmart experts: Special dietary requirements of cats In general, dry cat food should contain at & Read more »
Nutrition is Key to Giving Your Kitten a Healthy Head Start
If you’ve ever seen a kitten at play, it’s easy to understand why they require more energy than adult cats. Cats are considered kittens up to 1 year of age. To keep those little furry bouncing balls of energy healthy in adulthood, kittens need a proper diet rich in energy, protein and calcium. Help keep your kitten healthy and happy & Read more »
Tips to Treat Your Frisky Feline
How many treats can I give my cat each day? The most important thing you need to know is that treats should be no more than 10% of your pet's total calorie intake. Can I feed my cat the same treats at every life stage? Age matters! Cats have different nutritional needs at each life stage and there are treats available that can & Read more »
Making Your New Cat Feel at Home
Your new cat is counting on you to provide the right nutrition, socialization, healthcare and grooming. Help her with the transition to her new home with these tips from PetSmart experts: How to introduce her to the family The first day you bring home your new pet is special, so make sure you set some time aside to create a calm, happy & Read more »
Whet Your Cat’s Appetite With Wet Food
The term “canned cat food” is all wet: thanks to new flavors, additions and recipes, many manufacturers now prefer the phrase “wet cat food.” Which of the new products are best for your pet? Canned or bagged, wet or dry: These are basic choices you must face when perusing the pet food aisle of your favorite store. “Wet” products have undergone & Read more »
Choosing Light and Reduced-Calorie Cat Foods
If you're looking to feed your cat a lower-calorie diet, three types of cat foods fall in this category: light or lite foods, less reduced calorie foods and less or reduced fat foods. Reduced calorie and reduced fat foods are recommended for weight loss while light and lean foods are usually recommended more for weight management or if your pet has & Read more »
Feeding your kitten
When it comes to nutrition, kittens are a lot like children -- they need a balanced diet to grow. Find out what brand of food your kitten was eating before you adopted it, and continue feeding it this food if possible. If you want to switch brands, do so gradually. Begin by mixing a little bit of the new food & Read more »
FAQs About Cat Nutrition
Why does my cat need to have a nutritionally balanced diet? Cats require a minimum of 41 nutrients (the same 39 dogs need, plus two extra: taurine and arachidonic acid (dogs need these as well, but can make them from other nutrients) all in the correct proportion to maintain her health. These nutrients include amino acids, & Read more »
Frequently Asked Questions About Premium Cat Food
What are the benefits of Advanced Nutrition Foods? Advanced Nutrition Foods are more digestive because they use higher quality proteins -- that means your pet gets more nutrients in every ounce of food. It also means you feed less, so there is around 20% less stool. Because you feed less, it only costs about 10-15 cents more per day to & Read more »
The Right Food For Your Cat's Life Stage and Specific Health Needs
Life stages refer to the various developmental stages of a pet's life. For cats, we classify the stages into kitten, adult and senior. During these stages, some cats may require a lower calorie diet for inactive or overweight cats, a hairball diet for longhaired cats or a diet designed to affect the cat's urinary tract. It's extremely important to ensure & Read more »
Wet and Dry Cat Food
Many Pet Parents wonder if it's better to provide their cat a diet from a can or from a bag -- that is, feed their cat moist or dry food. Truth be told, most cats can thrive on any cat specific diet -- be it dry or canned--as long as it's complete and balanced for the special feline needs. The following & Read more »
Toxic Plants to Cats
Holiday and Seasonal Decorative Plants Amaryllis spp. Chrysanthemum spp. American Mistletoe Phoradendron spp. Autumn Crocus Colchicum autumnale Bittersweet Celastrus spp. Japanese Euonymus Euonymus japonicus & Read more »
Preventing Cat-astrophic Weight Gain
Obesity in cats is becoming an ever-increasing problem as cats become more popular pets. Better quality diets such as premium advanced nutrition foods, while good for the overall health of your cat, can lead to obesity if the cat is an overeater. And while living indoors keeps your cat safe from loss, injury and disease, they may not be getting & Read more »
Supplements for Cats and Their Benefits
There are times when your cat's diet may need an extra boost from vitamins and supplements. Supplements are available to address a number of health needs including: Skin & Coat -- if you've ruled out fleas as a cause of your cat's excessive itching, the most likely culprit is dry skin. A supplement rich in essential fatty acids will help & Read more »
Feeding Your Pet a Balanced Diet: The Basics
Along with regular exercise and veterinary care, a healthy diet is perhaps the best way you can contribute to your Pet's prolonged good health. But what makes a healthy diet and how can you tell if what you are feeding your Pet is indeed healthy? Knowing the basic nutrients your Pet needs is a good start. Your Pet's basic nutrient needs Water & Read more »
Why It's OK to Let Your Cat Eat Grass
Many cat owners are discovering that providing their cat with live greenery to nibble on is a safe and healthy way to bring a taste of the outdoors to their indoor cat. Cat owners may be surprised when they see their carnivorous feline indulging in greenery. PetSmart’s feline expert and veterinarian Dr. Robyn Jaynes, says that Pet Parents frequently ask why & Read more »
Did you know ... cats eat in cycles?
Many cats eat in cycles, a trait passed down from wild ancestors that hunted for food. Don't mistake these peaks and valleys as signs that your cat dislikes its food. Switching pet food brands frequently in response to your cat's whims can reinforce bad eating habits and create finicky eaters. For more information about Banfield, The Pet Hospital®, visit their webiste & Read more »
Benefits to Feeding Specialty Cat Foods
Specialty cat foods are formulated to meet the nutrient needs of your cat by having higher-quality protein sources, no artificial dyes and added antioxidants and vitamins. Ingredients include more real meat, natural additives (natural preservatives like vitamins C and E) and rich carbohydrate sources like rice (one of the most digestible grains). Because higher-quality ingredients are used, specialty cat foods are & Read more »
Kitty Cuisine: Feeding Facts
Just like people, cats and kittens need a balanced diet to stay healthy. First, find out what brand of food your new friend was eating before you got her, and continue to feed the same brand. If you need to switch brands, do so gradually by mixing a bit of the new food with the old food and increasing the & Read more »
What Makes a Healthy Diet For Your Cat?
You know it's important to feed your cat a healthy diet, but what exactly does that mean? A healthy diet is one that offers your cat balanced levels of all essential nutrients including: You know it's important to feed your cat a healthy diet, but what exactly does that mean? A healthy diet is one that offers your cat balanced levels & Read more »
Proper Feeding For Your Cat From Kitten to Adulthood
Kitten The kitten life stage is marked by an abundance of energy and growth. To support your cat during this stage and ensure she grows up healthy, strong and happy, she requires foods with higher levels of protein, fats, vitamins and minerals to meet her growth and high energy requirements. Feeding food specifically created for kittens is vital since kittens & Read more »
Treat Your Cat
Everyone loves treats! They're fun to give and fun to get. But, with so many treats to choose from, how do you know which ones are right for your cat? FAQs about cat treats How many treats can I give my cat each day? The most important thing you need to know is that treats should be no more than 10% of your & Read more »
Is Your Cat Eating Weird Things? It Could Be Pica
Pica is a term used to describe the consumption of non-food items. In cats, it is a rare but potentially serious compulsive condition that can have detrimental effects on a cat’s health. Common targets of cat consumption include wool, fabric, plastic, tinsel, string, phone or electrical cords, although any inedible object can be a likely target. A cat with a & Read more »
