As natural carnivores, cats crave meat, including beef. They love the taste, and it can supply many of their nutritional needs. The type of beef cat food, though, makes all the difference in both their enjoyment of it and the health benefits they’ll derive.
Love, Nala offers high-quality grain-free cat food made from beef and other meats. We minimize both the number of ingredients and the processing, so that our beef cat food is as close to natural as possible. Read on for more information about beef for cats.
Understanding Cats' Nutritional Needs
Depending on their age and life stage, the nutritional needs of cats may vary. A kitten requires different things from an adult or senior cat. Their food must also address things like diabetes, urinary issues, or food allergies.
Overall, a cat requires a diet that is high in protein, with limited carbohydrates, and a moderate level of fat. Food for adult cats should be about 26% protein (at minimum). Fat provides them with important fatty acids, as well as helping them absorb fat-soluble vitamins. Because they’re carnivores, cats are not meant to consume a lot of carbohydrates.
A high-quality cat food will contain a range of vitamins and minerals, but it should also include the amino acid Taurine, vital for their vision and heart function. Arginine is another amino acid cats need for optimal metabolic function. Fatty acids are something cats must get from their food, since they can’t synthesize them naturally.
Is Beef a Good Protein Source for Cats?
So, is beef good for cats? The answer is “yes.” It’s a complete protein, with all of the eleven amino acids that cats require. It’s a great source of iron, zinc, selenium, phosphorus, and important B vitamins.
Beef is a food that Kitty would naturally eat in the wild. Love, Nala’s grain-free cat food provides the taste and texture closest to nature, with nutrients and moisture locked in from our air-drying process.
Potential Issues with Beef Cat Food
While it’s not very common, some food allergies in cats may cause them to have issues with beef. This may cause itchy skin or digestive problems like vomiting or diarrhea.
Beef for cats should never be served raw, as it may contain harmful bacteria like Salmonella or E. coli. Raw or undercooked beef also doesn’t include several important nutrients that cats need and get from a quality commercial cat food.
As with any food, overfeeding beef cat food can lead to weight gain.
Choosing High-Quality Beef Cat Food
When you want the best protein for cats, you can’t go wrong with beef. However, picking the right cat food means looking for quality cat food ingredients. You want a brand with the right balance of high protein, low carbs, and moderate fats. Look for one with the essential blends of vitamins, minerals, and the amino/fatty acids a cat’s system needs but can’t produce on its own (like Taurine).
The way that it’s manufactured should also be considered; the simpler and “cleaner” the process, the better. Love, Nala uses the air-drying process, which naturally preserves more nutrients and moisture than most commercially available foods. It’s high-quality cat nutrition.
Homemade vs Store-Bought Beef Cat Food
Sure, you could make your own homemade beef cat food – because nothing is too good for your beloved kitty, and you don’t want all the additives typically found in store-bought food. But there are some drawbacks. Let’s talk about the time commitment – the planning, the shopping, the cooking. And while it may be tasty, there’s no way to ensure that your cat is getting all the nutrition she needs on a regular basis, especially if she has certain conditions like a urinary problem. There’s also the risk of contamination or bacteria if the food isn’t prepared completely.
Store-bought food is convenient, but even more importantly, it contains a balanced blend of nutrients. Commercial brands must achieve particular standards, ensuring consistency.
There IS a compromise: Love, Nala offers high-quality food that with the health benefits of raw food in a convenient form. Our air-drying method naturally preserves more nutrients and moisture, as well as the texture and taste that Kitty loves.
Conclusion
Beef cat food is a favorite among felines. It gives them the protein and taste they’d typically find as carnivores in the wild, but with some important nutritional additions to address the needs of domestic cats.
While some loving cat owners consider making their own, it can be tricky, not to mention time-consuming. Cats, especially at different life stages and with particular issues, benefit from certain vitamins, minerals, fatty acids, and amino acids that aren’t naturally occurring in do-it-yourself cat food. A high-quality cat food provides all this with the convenience for busy pet parents.
Love, Nala began as a way to provide the ultimate nutrition for cats in a form that is better than a raw diet. Our beef cat food is created in such a way that it naturally preserves the taste, texture, and appeal of beef for cats. We use minimal ingredients – only those that naturally support your cat’s optimal health. Our customers repeatedly tell us that our high-quality cat food has made a big difference in the life and health of their cats.
Our air-dried, grain-free beef cat food is a great way to feed Kitty what she’s craving – and feel good about it.
