When it comes to cat food there are several valid options: home made food, kibble food or canned food. You may opt for any of these foods, but you need to pay attention to the nutritional information for the food, so that your cat gets the essential nutrients. The canned cat food nutritional information depends greatly on the ingredients used. The amount of proteins, fats, fibers and calories can be different, depending on the type of meat and the other ingredients used.
The Advantages of Canned Food
Canned food has several advantages over kibble food; canned food preserves the nutritional values of the ingredients used; in dry food, the processing and the storage may eliminate certain nutrients; so even if these nutrients were used in the making of kibble food and are featured on the label, they may not actually be in the finite product.
Canned food is also richer in fibers, so this will facilitate digestion and prevent problems like diarrhea or constipation.
Canned Cat Food Nutritional Information
The canned cat food contains a high percentage of proteins; cats, more than other animals need a high amount of proteins. On average, canned food contains between 20 and 45% of proteins.
The fat content in the canned food is also high; depending on the brand, it may be between 30 and 60%.
The amount of carbohydrates that you will find in canned food may be as low as 5% and may also be as high as 19%. Cats don’t require a high percentage of carbohydrates, so the lower the percentage of carbs the better.
You should also pay attention to the amount of fibers in the canned food; typically, you may find between 0.2 g and 1.2 g. Fibers are helpful for the digestive system, so the amount of fibers should be as high as possible.
The amount of phosphorus that is found in canned food is typically between 180 mg and 300 mg.
These are the essential ingredients; in addition, the food may also contain other vitamins and minerals.
Canned food is made with preservatives, which are necessary to preserve the food. The preservatives may be synthetic or natural. Even if there aren’t enough studies to demonstrate this, the synthetic preservatives may cause cancer. Look for natural preservatives in the canned food: antioxidants such as vitamin E or rosemary plant extracts.
You should also consider the number of calories you feed your cat. An excess of calories can lead to obesity. On average, a 6 oz can of cat food contains between 150 and 350 calories. Talk to your vet to establish an optimal amount of calories for your cat. If your cat should lose some weight, the vet will recommend a diet that is low in calories. Senior cats also need lower amounts of food, as they are less active and to avoid obesity.
Consult your vet and determine what amounts of protein, fat and fibers are recommended for your cat. The nutritional requirements may vary in cats, depending on their age, health condition and metabolism.