Learn From an Expert: Feeding Cats a Species-Appropriate Diet

Dr. Becker is a proactive and integrative wellness veterinarian. Her goal is to partner with pet parents seeking to improve their pet's overall health and vitality through wise lifestyle choices "My goal is to not just to identify the root causes of disease and degeneration in pets, but to prevent the body from breaking by taking a proactive stance towards intentionally creating vibrant, thriving animals." Read Dr. Becker's bio and read about her educational credentials and association affiliations here.

1. For dogs and cats (both carnivores) a species appropriate diet contains high protein as well as high moisture. Moisture content is very important. Denying moisture leads to a whole host of biological problems, particularly with cats.
2. When we feed dogs and cats an entirely dry food diet (about 12% moisture), dogs and cats live in a state of chronic, mild dehydration that can ultimately cause organ stress.
3. A species appropriate diet for dogs and cats is also low starch - (grains or carbohydrates). Carbohydrates like corn, wheat, rice and soy are not biologically necessary for dogs and cats.
4. Every bite of food your pet swallows is ultimately a step towards healing or harming; all foods impact the body in some way. The more fresh, living, whole foods your pet consumes is a step towards health, and one I encourage you to make for the animals in your care.

What are the best foods to feed your cat(s) and what are the worst? 

1. a balanced, raw, homemade diet
2. a commercially available raw food diet
3. a cooked, balanced raw food diet
4. a human grade canned food
5. a human grade dry food (not as species appropriate as a moisture dense diet)
6. super premium canned foods
7. super premium dry foods
8. veterinary recommended canned foods (What a surprise that these 'prescription' foods fall so far down the list.)
9. veterinary recommended dry foods (ditto above)
10. grocery store brand canned foods
11. grocery store dry foods
12. semi-moist, pouched foods (usually contains propylene glycol - a liquid alcohol)
13. an unbalanced, raw or cooked, homemade diet

Dr. Becker has to be the most hard-working person in her profession. In addition to her regular vet services, she also provides us pet-caregivers with a long list of videos to educate us about our critters.