12 cat feeding

mistakes
Just like with people, your cats dietary needs depend on many factors:
Age, level of activity, breed, weight, health conditions and much more.

At Basepaws we are developing personalized food recommendations based

on YOUR cats genetics. While we are fine-tuning this feature, we have put
together a list of some of the most common feeding mistakes we see for ALL
cats. Do give this a read it will save you and your cats an extra trip to the vet,
and give your kitty a healthy (and delicious) lifestyle.
Too many carbohydrates
Although cats (like dogs) can digest some carbohydrates, cats need a MUCH higher level
of protein and fat to remain healthy. In the wild, your cat would be eating a high protein,
high-moisture, meat/organ-based diet, with a moderate level of fat. Only 1-2 percent of her
calories would be from carbohydrates.

Your cats digestion could be suffering from a diet high in carbohydrates. Signs that your
cat is consuming too many carbohydrates could include excessive gas, bloating and/or
diarrhea. Feline obesity can also become an issue if too many carbohydrates are con-
sumed.

Unless you COOK your cats food, you dont have much control over the ingredients in her
dish. However, you can judge cat foods by their protein/fat/carb ratio. Make sure to scan
the ingredients on your cats food label to check the amount of carbohydrates it contains.
Potato/corn/grains should be at the very bottom of the list (or, better, not on the list at all!)

Going vegan or vegetarian

Being true carnivores, cats get certain key nutrients only from meatincluding taurine,
arachidonic acid, vitamin A and vitamin B12. Plant-based foods cannot supply all the nutri-
ents your cat needs to grow and stay healthy. When your cat eats plants, its generally as a
digestive aid and provides LIMITED if any nutritional value.

The biggest problem with forcing

your cat to be vegetarian or vegan
is that in order to consume enough
protein, vegetarian cat diets are full
of ingredients that felines have not
evolved to digest. As to those
powder-based supplements intend-
ed to bridge the nutritional gap,
some veterinarians say that they
may not be as easily absorbed by
cats bodies as the real thing.

Without a steady supply of nutrients

from meat, cats can suffer from liver
and heart problems, not to mention
skin irritation and hearing loss.
Saving money on cat food
Cats have specific dietary needs.

Many discount cat foods are just meat-flavored cereals. If possible, choose your cats food
by the nutritional facts as much as by the price. Remember, carbohydrates are the cheap-
est way for cat food manufacturers to add calories to your kittys food.

The truth is that cheap cat food is 1000% awful, resulting not only in short-term gastrointes-
tinal issues like bloating, gas or diarrhea, but also in a lowered life expectanc

Feeding cats dog food

Cats and dogs share carnivorous appetites, but
their specific dietary needs are completely differ-
ent. Cats are obligate carnivores, which means
they NEED to eat meat in order to survive. On the
other hand, dogs can eat a variety of foods and
cooked vegetables and stay healthy.

While living under the same roof, its okay if your

cat and dog nibble from each others plate from
time to time. However, in the long run keep in mind
that indeed they need different foods.

Giving too much food

Historically cats are predators and thus eat small occasional meals. Veterinarians recom-
mend feeding cats at specific meal-times (usually in the morning and at dusk), and to put
food AWAY at all other times. Otherwise, some cats will overeat when fed free-range,
which can result in obesity.

How much food should you be feeding kitty? Calculate your cats daily calorie limit by
multiplying your cats weight (in pounds) by 30. For example, the average cat weighs
around 8 pounds and should only consume 240 calories per day. If in doubt, ask your
veterinarian to help calculate your cats caloric needs.

Want to learn more about feline obesity? CHECK OUR BLOG POST HERE
Providing too little water
Dry food contains 10 percent water, while canned is approximately 80 percent water. If
your cat eats only dry food, she will need to drink a lot more water than a cat who eats wet
food. Hot weather may also influence your cat to drink more water.

Even if your cat prefers wet food over dry, he stills needs free access to water. Normally, a
cat will require 2-4 ounces of fresh water in addition to his food.

WARNING! Diabetes and kidney disease are examples of medical conditions that can
cause increased drinking in cats. So if your cat starts drinking more, you should men-
tion this to your vet. Also, do not substitute water for milk for the reasons listed below

Giving milk
One of the most common misconceptions is that milk is good for cats. However, after the
weaning stage, milk is not a natural part of a cat's diet..

Adult cats do not possess significant amounts of lactase, the enzyme that breaks down
lactose in milk. Undigested lactose causes diarrhea, bloating and flatulence.

If you insist on feeding your cat milk, veterinarians recommend that a maximum of 20 to 30
calories per day can come from unbalanced food sources. Food for thought: Skim milk has
around 80 calories/cup, while whole milk contains 149 calories/cup.

Replacing proper cat food

with treats or human food
Its fun giving kitty a treat. Not only that, but they sell treats for digestion, dental hygiene,
joint health you name it! However, between treats and whatever he steals off your plate,
make sure these extras dont account for more than 5-10% of your cats daily diet.

Why are we warning you against giving your cat too many treats?

Cat treats (as well as human treats) are rich in calories. Thats what makes them so tasty.
This means that your cat consumes more calories than he normally would if you allow him
to get full on treats. Eventually this may lead to feline obesity. Also, many commercially
available cat treats contain low-quality fillers, carbohydrates and fat (as flavoring). This can
put a lot of pressure on the feline digestive system, which is genetically programmed to
digest more protein.
Buying kitten food for
an adult cat
Each life stage has its own nutritional needs based on your cats specific developmental
period. Make sure the food you are giving is labeled according to your cats life stage.

Over-supplementing your cat

Commercial cat foods are chemically enriched with all the vitamins and nutrients your cat
needs (like cereal). This means you should be cautious about feeding your cat any extra
nutrients or vitamins, unless directed by your veterinarian. Some nutrients, like calcium,
vitamins C and D can be toxic to your cat at high levels. They can cause overly acidic urine,
which leads to crystal formation and a life-threatening blockage.

However, if your cat is on a homemade and/or raw food diet, make sure you are following
veterinarian-approved recipes that contain appropriate supplements if needed.

Falling for market

trends
All we want is to provide our little furry friends with the best
care possible. But with endless health advice and when
every label claims to be organic, natural, or grain-free,
how can we choose the best diets for our cats?

The answer is simple, pay

attention to:

Composition (the percentage of protein, fat

and carbohydrate in the food)

Balanced nutrients, not just ingredients

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Easier said than done, right? A few other tips:

1) Pet food labels list ingredients in order of weight, starting with the heaviest. So look
out for the moisture figure. 10% of protein in wet cat food is not the same as in dry food.

2) Stay away from food with gravy and sauces because they often use high-carbohy
drate thickeners.

3) Naming conventions: Cat Food with Chicken will generally have less chicken in it
than Chicken Cat Food. In order to use the word with in their products name,
manufacturers must include at least 3% of that ingredient in the food. If the product
contains between 25% and 95% meat or fish, the product name must include a
qualifier such as dinner, entre, formula, platter, and so on. If the product
name contains two ingredients (for example Chicken and Fish Cat Food), the food
has to contain more of whichever is named first, and together they must add up to
95%. And lastly, if the product name reads Tuna Cat Food or Chicken Cat Food,
then it must contain at least 95% of the named ingredient, not including moisture
content.

4) Meat meal is not the same as meat. Think of meat as the fillet and meat meal as
the stew, which includes all the bones and other animal parts. Ancestral and wild cats
would have consumed all the pieces, so meal can sometimes be healthier for your
cat than just meat. However, avoid low-quality meals that dont specify the animal
they come from, or which include the term by-product.

Playing switcheroo with your

cats diet
Healthy bacteria in the intestine help your pet digest food. A sudden change in food can
result in changes to the number and types of gut bacteria. These changes can lead to intesti-
nal upset and affect your cats ability to digest food. Therefore, your pet must be switched to a
new food slowly.

Vets recommend switching food gradually over the course of 7-10 days. For example, make a
mixture that contains 25% of the new food and 75% of the old food and feed that for three
days. Then make it 50-50 for three more days, then 75% new food and 25% old food for three
more days. If your pet seems comfortable with this progression, you can start feeding her
100% new food.

If you are interested in learning more about cat health, and how genetics can improve your
cats life, check our blog here.
Your cats health is shaped by 3 main factors: Nutrition, Environment, and Genetics. By under-
standing all three, you can provide your pet with the ultimate cat care. Basepaws is the first cat
care company built around Genetics. While we are working hard to deliver personalised
nutrition advice for your cat, you can order your Cat DNA Testing Kit NOW with special
discount code EBOOK.

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