Nutrition

Feline Nutrition Guidance

At The Cat Hospital, we carry a variety of prescription diets formulated to manage specific medical conditions. We also frequently help cat owners navigate an equally important question: What should I feed my healthy cat?

Feline nutrition is widely discussed online, but the quality of information varies greatly. Attractive websites and persuasive marketing language do not always reflect scientific accuracy. Terms such as “natural,” “holistic,” “premium,” and “human grade” have no standardized nutritional definition and can be misleading when evaluating a food’s true quality.

Raw meat diets are another common topic. Currently, there are no peer-reviewed scientific studies demonstrating proven health benefits of raw diets for cats. However, these diets do carry a well-documented risk of bacterial contamination for both pets and the people handling the food.

Choosing a Scientifically Balanced Diet

Our doctors are always available to discuss your cat’s specific nutritional needs based on age, lifestyle, and health status.

In general, commercially prepared cat foods that have successfully completed AAFCO (Association of American Feed Control Officials) feeding trials are considered nutritionally balanced. These diets have undergone testing to confirm they adequately support feline health.

You may also see labels stating a diet is “formulated to meet AAFCO nutrient profiles.” While these diets meet established nutrient standards on paper, they have not undergone the same level of feeding trial validation.

Reliable Nutrition Resources

For those interested in learning more, we recommend science-based, veterinary-reviewed resources:

Tufts University School of Veterinary Medicine – Pet Nutrition FAQs
Pet Nutrition Alliance – A collaboration of major veterinary organizations providing evidence-based guidance
BalanceIT® – A resource for balanced, veterinarian-supported home-cooked diet recipes

It’s important to note that a University of California, Davis study evaluating 200 homemade pet food recipes found that 95% were deficient in one or more essential nutrients, highlighting the challenges of properly balancing home-prepared diets without professional guidance.

Pharmacy