Jean Hofve DVM - What Cats Should Eat: A Holistic Veterinarians Guide to Your Cats Optimal Diet

There are some 38 species of cats on Planet Earth. There are the big cats we are most familiar with, like lions, tigers, leopards. Most other species are smallersome of them are smaller than the average housecat. Many are rare and seldom seen. Others, like the wildcat, range across half the world. Last, but not least, is the domestic cat: the pet cat, housecat, or moggie, among its many familiar names.

My mammalogy professor said that if you undress any cat, they are all the same underneath. Oh, sure, cheetahs are a have smaller heads, bigger noses, and non-retractable claws. But all cats have much more in common with other cats than these little changes.

All cats are members of Order Carnivorameat eaters. They have very specific nutritional requirements based on their whole-prey diet. They have surprisingly little nutritional flexibility.

Cats have prominent fangs, curved claws, and a pair of hefty cheek teeth for shearing meat off the bone. Cats only have 30 teeth, compared to dogs 42. They dont have any chewing teeth; no flat-topped molars like those found in dogs, bears, and humans.

Cats teeth and claws make them perfectly designed to catch, kill, and eat prey animals. The only significant variable is in size. Lions prey on zebras and wildebeest; cheetahs pursue antelope and wild pigs. Smaller cats go after rodents, rabbits, birds, reptiles, and insects.

So, what does this tell us about feeding our domestic felines? Few of the offerings from major pet food companies bear much resemblance to the cats native diet. To attain optimal health for our cats, we must build a better mouse with the ingredients we have available. While no formulated diet is perfect, there are ways to bring any diet more in line with the cat's natural needs. And even the smallest steps toward the ideal will make a big difference for your cat!

In this e-book, I will explain:

• The importance of good nutrition
• The realities of processed commercial cat foods
• What can happen when cats dont get what they need
• How to assess whether a food is appropriate for your cat
• How to improve your cats diet (and health)
• Why and when to change brands or types of foods
• The most helpful supplements
• Creating an all-homemade diet

Its fine to pick and choose from this book. Not all the chapters will be of interest to you, or apply to your cat. I get that not everyone can achieve the ideals I talk about. They are only ideals, not absolute rules. Do the best you can, and your cats health will be better for it!

I may say some things more than once. That means they are important! I know many people will only read certain chapters, so the info is included in various places. Keep reading!

If this subject is brand new for you, start with Chapter 1. See if you can find a type of food with a higher Paw System rating (Chapter 9) than what youve been feeding. Then use the tricks in Chapter 12 to convince your cat to try it.

Some of this information may seem overwhelming. It probably is. After all, Ive been researching and writing about pet food for more than 25 years. As much as Ive tried to simplify, there is just so much to tell you!