Is Dry Cat Food Healthy? Part One

When I began raising Highland Lynx cats and bobtail kittens, several matters arose that I had no need to consider so diligently before. I have always fed my cats food that did not contain fillers, colors, preservatives, chemicals, sugar, etc. I even fed them organic cat food whenever I could get it at reasonable prices.

Now, as a Highland Lynx breeder I am responsible for my precious kittens health, both in the present and as they go on in life to be a companion to someone who will love them and want them to be around as long as possible. So I must know what kind of food is good for them. One of the dilemmas I face is whether dry food is nutritious for a cat.

Pet food advertising, veterinarians, kitten care manuals, etc. often lead us to believe that dry food should be the staple diet of a cat. But where would a cat find a diet of dry kibble in nature? A cat is a carnivore, just like a dog, meaning they are primarily meat eaters. Have you ever seen a cat kill a dry mouse? Or a crunchy rabbit? What bones they eat are padded in very moist flesh as well as soft in the middle (marrow).

Ok, maybe you don't like the thought of your Queen Fluffy killing anything. The point is to ask yourself how your cat was designed. Many cats do not drink enough water and have kidney problems. Is it possible they were meant to get much of their fluid through their food?

Let's say you still believe in dry cat food, how would you like to eat just corn flakes for the rest of your life. Even if they could pack everything you had to have in that corn flake box, I guarantee that not only would your health suffer, but you would grow to despise corn flakes, but eat them anyway to survive.

I think you are getting the idea of the thoughts coming to me. I will write more next time.