Grain-free diet is among the many options that cat owners have when it comes to selecting their pets’ meals. In recent times, the benefits of grain-free pet food has become prominent. What are the benefits of providing a grain-free diet to your pet?
To start off, cats are obligate carnivores. Thus, they must have meat in their diet as they need proteins.
One of the main health benefits of a grain-free diet is the reliance on protein. Cats benefit from a diet that is high in protein and low in carbohydrates. In fact, high consumption of carbohydrates can be harmful to your feline’s health.
It can be tricky when buying healthy grain-free pet food. Not all grain-free pet food meets the needs of our cat. A good grain-free food must check these factors. It should provide all the nutrition your feline needs such as:
- High Protein Levels
- Vitamins and Minerals
- Absolutely no carb replacement added
Advantages of a Grain-Free Diet
Grain-free Diet is Closer to What They Eat in the Wild
In grain-free food for cats, the amount of protein is similar to foods like fish and meat. Some manufacturers substitute it with carbohydrates like potato and tapioca. This maintains the carbohydrate level in the food but removes harmful effects caused by grains. Generally, the formula is healthier for your feline.
Limit Allergies
Some cats can develop an allergy to grains. Thus, having a grain-free diet can eliminate sensitivity to those ingredients.
Below symptoms in your feline may indicate an allergic reaction.
- Diarrhoea
- Constipation
- Excessive gas
- Skin rash
- Frequent infections
- Vomiting
Shiny and Lustrous Looking Coat
A grain-free diet can help your cat produce better oils on their skin. In grain-free foods, they are higher in fatty acids such as Omega-3. These fatty acids are crucial in producing oils to make their fur shiny and lustrous.
Settled and Easier Digestion
Cats are obligate carnivores which means that they are unable to digest vegetation. Their digestive enzymes are designed to break down meat. Thus, a grain-free diet will be easier for them to digest.
When a Grain-free Diet is Not for Your Cat
When Your Cat is Overweight
Some grain-free foods are higher in fat and/or calories. Thus, they may not be suitable for a cat that is overweight. If you do want to have your cat on a grain-free diet, you have to make sure to feed them the appropriate portion size, and choose the indoor/healthy weight version if possible.
Grain-free Foods are More Expensive
As grain-free foods contain more protein, they are likely more expensive. However, you will likely be feeding your feline a smaller portion because of the high protein, so this might make up for the price difference.
Do you want to learn more about grain-free pet food? Watch this informative video by Rodney Habib to learn more!
Genie is an animal lover, who enjoys writing on pets and animals stories. She is passionate about learning something new everyday. She enjoys communicating with people and expressing ideas. She have a huge passion in languages and plans to learn more albeit she is already trilingual in English, Mandarin and Japanese.