There are countless cat food brands on the market. The days when you could choose between only a couple of brands are long gone. There is now so much variety that, sometimes, especially for first-time ARISTOPARENTS, it is difficult to choose one.
Today, we want to share some basic guidelines with you to make decision-making easier. To do so, the first thing we need to do is analyze how we are currently choosing food for our ARISTOCAT.
Here are seven questions you should ask yourself to evaluate your decision-making. Take a few seconds to answer each one mentally:
1. Which of these three aspects influences your choice of food for your cat?
1. Price
2. Brand
3. Quality
2. Taking your cat's characteristics into account, which factor takes priority when choosing a particular food?
1. Their breed
2. Their weight
3. Their age
4. Their lifestyle
3. What influences you most when choosing food for your cat?
1. Comments on the Internet
2. References from other ARISTOPARENTS
3. Recommendations from the veterinarian
4. Are you loyal to one brand or product, or do you alternate them to see how each food suits your cat?
5. Do you read the nutritional information on product labels?
6. Is your ARISTOCAT happy and healthy, or do you think they could feel better?
The answers you have given can provide many clues as to whether you are doing the right thing or could improve. Obviously, none of us has the answer to what the perfect food is. Because there are as many perfect foods as there are cats. Each one has its own. But what is vital is to choose our kitty's food by focusing the choice on them. Since they cannot choose, we must do it for them, empathizing with them and respecting their nature.
In this regard, our cat's weight, lifestyle, and age are fundamental. Nutritional needs vary dramatically depending on the cat's stage of life and physique. Thus, a kitten that has just arrived home does not need the same things as a senior cat. The former needs proteins and nutrients to grow healthy and strong. The latter needs food that is easy to digest and helps it age well. Similarly, a cat that has been spayed or neutered also has specific nutritional needs, as in these cases they tend to become overweight. That is why it is extremely important to adjust our pet's daily food portions to its weight and age. Although it may seem that a few grams more or less is insignificant, they can make a major difference to the health of our best friend.
Brands that offer ranges for different stages of cats' lives. So choosing based on these criteria is easy. However, it is equally important to read the nutritional information on the label carefully and, in general, it is recommended to avoid the lowest-tier ranges. That does not mean opting for the most expensive ones on the market. We need to find the balance between quality food and a reasonable price that does not drive up the daily feeding cost.
Finally, although it may seem very obvious, we must pay close attention to our cat's reaction when it is faced with its food bowl. Cats are expert food tasters. If something does not appeal to them -especially in terms of smell- they reject it, so simply watching them will be enough to understand whether they find their food delicious, acceptable, or inedible. We should never force them to eat something they do not want to eat.
We hope these tips will be helpful. We remind you that at ARISTOSHOP you will find the best food products for your ARISTOCAT. From dry food to wet food, as well as snacks and other specific foods to meet the needs of cats with particular requirements.