Ensuring a Healthy Diet for Your Cat

Patricia Lynn Hough is a former psychiatrist who stays active in a supervisory capacity at St. Francis Animal Rescue (SFAR), a Venice, Florida, no-kill shelter. With a longstanding passion for animal health and welfare, Patricia Lynn Hough ensures that the cats at the cage-free facility have the proper medications and are prepared for adoption by loving owners.

Adopting a cat is a long-term commitment that begins with keeping the pet happy and healthy. A cat's stomach is not designed for the same foods eaten by humans, so learning to feed the cat the right kind of food is important. 

Generally lactose intolerant, a cat may get an upset stomach or worse if it is fed dairy products such as cheese and milk. Even commercial cat treats may present an issue if they are given too often, which can result in obesity and corresponding health issues. 

The way to avoid these problems is to feed the cat a nutritionally complete cat food made by a respected company. Most cats, given a choice, prefer a combination of canned and dry food. To avoid overfeeding, carefully read the cat food labels and set out an amount of food that is appropriate for the age and weight of the cat.