There's a lot of hype surrounding grain free cat food these days. Things like all-natural cat food and organic cat food have been growing in popularity, even when pet parents aren't exactly sure what they mean. Grain-free food has been popular among humans for some time now.
Animals are different
Consuming grain free or gluten free food is considered healthier by many people and they apply the same reasoning to their pets' diets. But what humans often forget is what is good for them may not always be right for animals.
When you start to feed your kitten adult cat food, you could be wondering if you should feed them regular food or grain free cat food. The diet of a cat should be based on their nutritional requirements. Cats need a diet that is high in protein and low in carbohydrates.
Unlike humans who need carbohydrates for energy, cats should be given a diet that's not too high in carbs. Therefore when pet parents feed their kittens grain-free cat food they assume that they are giving them a diet low in carbohydrates.
However, grain-free cat food isn't necessarily low in carbs. That's because grain free food usually contain potatoes, apples, and peas, ingredients that have carbohydrate levels similar to grain.
If your intention is to feed your kitten a diet that is low in unhealthy carbohydrates, you shouldn't be looking only at grain-free food, but food that does not contain low quality ingredients.
Not the source of the allergies
In very rare cases cats could be allergic to the gluten that's found in some types of grains. But this is usually very uncommon. When a cat is allergic to certain ingredients, the culprit is rarely grain or gluten.
Source of allergies
Most allergies are a result of ingredients like beef, fish, and dairy. Milk and milk products are known to cause more allergies in cats compared to grains or gluten.
When a food is grain-free, it doesn't necessarily mean healthy cat food.
There would be other low quality ingredients present in the food. Therefore, unless your cat is allergic to the protein found in some grains, gluten free cat food isn't a necessity. In fact, some types of gluten also fulfil the protein requirement of felines.
When starting your kitten on adult cat food, look for premium brands that steer clear of all low-grade ingredients. Healthy cat food goes a long way in prolonging the lifespan of your kitty and prevents diseases.
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