How a Simplified Diet Can Help Your Cat Live Their Best Life

Angela Vuckovic
by Angela Vuckovic
Updated:  September 29th, 2022

While life has changed so much for cats over the centuries, their dietary needs haven’t. Cats are considered obligate carnivores. It’s simple, really: cats need a protein-rich, animal-based diet and don’t do well digesting most plant-based proteins. Unfortunately, when you feed your pet commercial food, things can get a bit more complicated and potentially stray further from a cat’s optimal dietary requirements.

The first thing to notice is that poor-quality kibble can be full of artificial ingredients, such as artificial preservatives or dies, but that’s not all that’s problematic with many commercial food options -- many products won’t even include real meat in the top ingredients, let alone quality, single-protein meat source – it’s often byproducts, or a mixture of different plant-proteins to ramp up the crude protein content without actually using quality proteins in the formula. Lastly, many brands formulate with a plethora of unnecessary ingredients that serve as cheap fillers but serve no nutritional purpose to cats, such as corn, soy, or wheat.

Image by Glenkar/Shutterstock.com


In other words, there's a chance that the food you’ve been giving to your cat isn’t nutritionally adequate for their needs and doesn’t nourish their body as efficiently as it could. So what is the alternative, if you’re not looking to prepare your pet’s food from scratch daily or feed them raw meat that needs thawing before every meal? The “secret” to making sure that the kibble and wet food that you pick for your feline friend is good for them is to seek out formulas with more animal-based proteins and fewer other ingredients– so-called limited ingredient recipes.


Why a Limited Ingredient Diet Is Ideal for Cats

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A simplified diet is precisely what cats need – their diet in the wild isn’t all too complicated. Ancestors of your domestic cat would hunt for prey, such as mice and rabbits, and eat their prey raw, which provided them with all the protein and essential nutrients they required, but also with moisture – wild (and domestic) cats rarely drink water directly as they stay hydrated by the moisture in their food.

 

Their simple, minimalistic ancestral diet is what makes limited ingredient kibble so well suited for cats. A quality limited ingredient formula will be rich in protein coming from real meat and free of any unnecessary fillers that could affect your cat’s digestion or potentially even trigger food sensitivities or allergies. 

Nulo MedalSeries Whole-Prey Inspired Limited Ingredient Diet is a great place to start if you’re thinking about switching to a simplified diet for your cat. It is made from a single source of protein and over 80% of that protein is real meat – salmon, turkey, duck, chicken, trout, or cod, your choice. These recipes provide all the essential amino acids for your cat, as well as enough quality protein, vitamins, and minerals they need to thrive. In addition to kibble, which remains the most popular choice for many pet owners, Nulo MedalSeries for cats also offers a range of wet foods and toppers for the pickiest of felines and these products can be a great way to add dietary moisture to your cat’s diet.


It’s important to remember that it may take a while for your cat to make the switch to their new food. Cats can be notoriously picky and stuck in their preferred routines, so transition them to a new diet gradually by replacing a smaller portion of their meal with the new kibble until you progress to a bowl full of the new kibble. Then, sit back and watch your cat thrive for years to come on a food that nourishes their body and fuels them for all the adventures ahead. 


Feature Image by Africa Studio/Shutterstock.com

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Angela Vuckovic
Angela Vuckovic

A proud mama to seven dogs and ten cats, Angela spends her days writing for her fellow pet parents and pampering her furballs, all of whom are rescues. When she's not gushing over her adorable cats or playing with her dogs, she can be found curled up with a good fantasy book.

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Hydration is very important for all animals, especially horses. Large and powerful animals, equines can require plenty of water on a daily level. Hydration is thus a vital aspect of maintaining a horse's health and performance. Like humans, horses rely on water to regulate their body temperature, support digestion, and facilitate the smooth functioning of their organs. Understanding how much water a horse needs daily can help prevent dehydration and related health issues, ensuring the animal's overall well-being. So here is what you need to know.How Much Water Should My Horse Drink Daily?On average, an adult horse should consume between 5 to 10 gallons of water per day (18 to 37 liters). This amount can vary based on several factors, including the horse’s size, activity level, diet, and the climate in which it lives. Larger horses, especially those engaged in strenuous activity, will typically require more water. For instance, a racehorse or a horse working in a hot environment may need closer to 15 gallons a day to stay properly hydrated.Of course, foals and younger horses may drink less water than adults, but it is still essential to provide them with easy access to fresh, clean water to promote healthy growth and development. Still, there are several factors that affect water consumption, and the foremost of these is a horse’s activity level. The more a horse exercises, the more water it will need. Horses sweat during physical exertion, losing both water and electrolytes. Replenishing this lost fluid is crucial to prevent dehydration, muscle cramps, and heat exhaustion.Diet is also crucial - horses that consume large amounts of hay, which is dry and low in moisture content, will drink more water than those on fresh pasture grass, which contains higher levels of moisture. Additionally, horses fed grains or high-protein feeds may also require more water to aid digestion.Owners also have to take into account the weather conditions. Horses living in hot or humid climates will naturally need more water to stay cool. Similarly, horses in colder environments may drink less water, but it's still important to monitor their intake to avoid dehydration, which can be a concern even in winter. Providing slightly warmed water during cold months can encourage a horse to drink more.

Dog Poop Incident Grounds a United Airlines Flight

Have you ever been on a flight where your travel experience didn’t go to plan? If so, you’re not alone! From unruly passengers to flight delays and rough weather conditions, so many factors are out of your control.But what about a mid-air doggy disaster?Travelers on an April 5th United Airlines flight from Houston to Seattle learned the hard way just how quickly a traveling pooch, an unfortunate aisle, and the need to “do some business” can create a very unpleasant situation.According to Reddit user James Hobbs, a passenger’s dog had a “messy accident” in the aisle in first class after taking off. He went on to describe the chaotic situation that followed. Since his post, others have shared their experiences on the flight. Additionally, a representative from United Airlines confirmed the event occurred to reporters and larger publications.Unfortunately, this pup didn’t just have a stinky bowel movement. Other travelers described it as being in “very liquid form” with a scent so strong that passengers were given alcohol wipes to sniff to drown out the strong odor.After being diverted to Dallas, ground crews set to work cleaning up the putrid mess for a solid two hours. However, even that wasn’t enough…“The mess was so bad in the first-class bathroom that even after cleaning, they still closed it for the rest of the flight,” described Hobbs. He went on to say, “The cabin crew deserve accolades. They responded well despite having to hop over the mess.”For pet parents, this incident raises concerns that other travelers may question the policies for pets traveling in the cabin. United Airlines allows pet parents to travel with up to two pets. Each pet must fit into a carrier small enough to fit under the seat in front of you. Passengers with two pets must purchase two tickets, side by side, to accommodate the spots needed for each pet. As of April 26th, a $150 fee each way is added to your ticket cost for including a pet.During the flight, pets are required to stay in their carrier. The recent incident has confused many frequent travelers.How could the dog have created such a mess while still safely contained within their carrier? If the dog was removed from the carrier, why did this happen? What could have been done to prevent the mess and inconvenience to all other travelers on the flight?While we will likely never have an answer, here are a few tips for smooth airline travel with your pet:Visit the Vet Before Flying: Book a check-up with your vet before taking your dog on a flight. This will ensure your pup is in good health and help reduce the chance of “accidents” due to sickness or other complications during travel.Stop Feeding 4-6 Hours Before the Flight: Make sure your dog has had a solid meal, then cut off any food approximately 4 to 6 hours before boarding the flight. This gives them time to digest and “pass” their meal before the flight.Take a Final Bathroom Break: Make sure you stop at the airport’s pet relief areas just before boarding. Just as we need a final bathroom break before traveling, so do our pets.Join the PetGuide community. Get the latest pet news and product recommendations by subscribing to our newsletter here.

This Unusual Aussie Love Story Has a Happy Ending

Staffordshire Terrier and Australian Magpie turn fans into fanatics when separation looms.

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