How do you know your cat is receiving the nutrition they require? You're bombarded with cat food commercials, each saying that their product is more effective than the others. Barkley's Pet Market in Hardy, VA can help reduce the confusion. We offer a number of cat foods and can help you in finding the one that is perfect for your precious pet.
Your cat is a hunter, descended from a long line of hunters. Wild felines naturally ate a wide variety of nutritious food, based upon what they could snag. But your domestic cat depends on you to feed them. Barkley's Pet Market has all the foods that will keep them happy and healthy.
What Nutrients Does Your Cat Need?
For starters, your cat is a carnivore. They need meat in some form. This may be chicken, beef, lamb, fish, or eggs. They need fats to supply energy and help absorb vitamins like A, D, B1, B2, B3, and B6. Also, some cat foods consist of carbohydrates, which are digestible and offer energy.
Reading a Cat Food Label
Cat food companies are required to put certain information on their labels, such as ingredients in descending order of weight, and guaranteed analysis, which tells you the minimum and maximum amount of nutrients like fats, protein, and fiber.
Understand food descriptions. There's a difference between "chicken cat food" and "cat food with chicken." Chicken cat food must be 95 percent chicken, while cat food with chicken can have as little as 3 percent. Food described as "chicken dinner" (or chicken formula) can be anywhere between 25 and 95 percent chicken.
Labels include feeding instructions, but they're a guideline and not a "one size fits all." Your vet's recommendations takes priority.
Try to find the nutritional adequacy statement, which tells whether the food is intended for an adult cat or a kitten.
Still have questions? Just ask us! Barkley's Pet Market in Hardy, VA has everything you need for your pet. We carry a wide selection of major brands and our knowledgeable staff is eager to answer your questions and help you choose the best food for your cat. Stop by our store or call (540) 346-2277 for all your pet's needs.
