Nutrition is an essential substance for the growth and development of an organism. Cats are simple carnivores, and their nutritional needs are different from those of humans. Malnourished cats will grow thinner and weaker than their peers and are more likely to contract infectious diseases. However, how to supplement a cat's nutrition is also a science. How to choose cat food? Is it better to feed raw meat? Should they be fed milk? These are all questions that trouble many cat owners. 
1. Is it better to feed cats dry food or wet food?
In general, both dry and wet rations have their advantages and disadvantages.
1. Dry food
It's cheap, convenient, suitable for "all-you-can-eat" feeding methods, and good for teeth.
Dry food is designed by professional pet nutritionists based on the specific physiological and nutritional needs of dogs and cats. It contains essential proteins, vitamins, and minerals, offering targeted, scientifically comprehensive, and balanced nutrition. All dry food contains nutrients to boost a pet's immunity, significantly improving their disease resistance, reducing illness, and potentially extending their lifespan. Furthermore, dry food is low in moisture, easy to store, and less prone to spoilage, ensuring food safety and preventing illnesses caused by expired, moldy, or spoiled food. It also comes in various packaging sizes, is easy to use and carry, and can provide pets with the best food in different environments. However, there are some concerns, such as the potential damage to nutrients caused by the raw material structure and processing methods. Nevertheless, this hasn't hindered the rapid popularization of professional pet food products. It's worth noting that dry food for cats is primarily produced through extrusion because cats lack the molars of dogs; therefore, cat dry food must be designed for the cutting needs of their incisors.
2. Semi-wet food
With a moderate price and taste, semi-wet food is not widely available on the market and has always maintained a lukewarm market presence. Some semi-wet foods are similar in appearance to dry food, but their moisture content is significantly higher, generally around 25% to 35%. Because they must have good water retention, some ingredients with good water-retention properties are added. This also makes semi-wet food stickier. When pets eat this type of food, the "stickiness" of the food easily leaves residue in their mouths and on their teeth, which can cause serious tartar and oral diseases over time. In addition, because these products are affected by shelf life, they usually have added salt or a lot of sugar. Furthermore, they require special storage conditions, such as refrigeration after opening, which brings certain troubles to pet owners. Therefore, they are not widely accepted or recommended by pet owners.
3. Canned food
High in water content, expensive, and tastes great. Increasing water intake can reduce the risk of kidney disease and cystitis. Canned food is widely praised for its nutritional value, primarily because it contains more poultry and seafood. It's not only an excellent source of protein but also rich in trace elements, vitamins, minerals, and amino acids. However, due to the special processing of canned food—a special dry distillation process involving high temperature and pressure—many pet nutrition experts have questioned its effectiveness. This process almost completely eliminates vitamins in canned pet food, especially B vitamins. In about two weeks, approximately 75% of vitamins are lost, and no method can reduce this loss. Therefore, the only current solution is to add excessive amounts of canned food.
II. Choosing Cat Food
Several principles:
1. It needs to be suitable for the cat's growth stage.
Make sure to choose cat food that clearly states it meets AAFCO standards and is suitable for your cat's current stage of growth (juvenile, adult, etc.).
2. Check the ingredient list
The ingredients are listed in descending order of weight. The first ingredient should be meat, and the type of meat should be specified, such as chicken or lamb, to ensure sufficient animal tissue to provide essential amino acids and fatty acids. Health is the most important criterion, but more expensive or higher-end products are not necessarily better; it also depends on whether it suits your cat's constitution. Try to choose dry cat food that does not contain animal or poultry by-products.
It's best to choose cat food treated with natural preservatives (most commonly vitamin C and vitamin E). However, be aware that many natural preservatives have a shorter shelf life than chemical preservatives, so pay attention to the product's expiration date when purchasing. Generally, dry food has a shelf life of 1-2 years. Carefully check the last-use date on the packaging. When opening the package, smell the food; if it smells unusual or is not fresh, do not feed it to your cat and request a refund or exchange from the manufacturer.
3. Choose the flavor your little one likes.
Observe your cat's reaction to dry food. After feeding for 6-8 weeks, you can judge whether the cat food is suitable for your cat by observing its fur and nail growth, weight, bowel movements/urination, and overall health. If your cat's fur becomes dull, dry, itchy, or itchy, or it falls out after eating a new cat food, it may be due to an allergy to the ingredients of that cat food or because the nutritional components are unsuitable.
When switching cat food, cat owners should pay attention to their cat's excrement. The stool should be firm but not hard, and the cat should not have diarrhea. Usually, in the first few days after switching cat food, the cat's excrement will have a foul odor. This is because the digestive system is not yet used to the new food and will return to normal in a short time. However, if the situation persists, it may mean that the cat food is not suitable for your cat.
III. Amount of food fed
Because the calorie content of different cat foods varies, the packaging will indicate the daily feeding amount corresponding to your cat's weight. In most cases, follow the recommendations on the packaging, but you should also consider your cat's size and activity level. Overfeeding is a common mistake among many cat owners. Obese cats have a higher chance of developing other diseases, such as diabetes and arthritis. Directly reducing the amount of cat food may lead to nutritional deficiencies. Obese cats can choose cat foods with a lower calorie content or prescription weight-loss cat foods. 
4. Is it okay to feed cats raw meat?
Although raw meat contains many nutrients, it is not recommended to feed it to cats. Eating undercooked fish can cause cats to lack vitamin B1, because raw fish produces an enzyme that destroys vitamin B1, and a lack of vitamin B1 in cats can lead to seizures, heart disease, and intermittent shock.
Secondly, feeding cats raw fish can introduce unnecessary parasite problems, causing trouble for both you and your cat. Some cats develop jaundice and hepatitis after eating raw fish and becoming infected with parasites. Liver disease can lead to ascites and kidney disease, which are definitely terminal illnesses for cats.
Raw meat may contain toxoplasmosis or other infectious diseases. Therefore, cats belonging to pregnant women should never be fed raw meat. Additionally, some cats have experienced fatal neurological symptoms after eating raw fish or canned food.
5. Is it okay to breastfeed a kitten?
Cats have difficulty digesting and absorbing lactose, and drinking milk can easily cause lactose intolerance, leading to diarrhea. This is mainly due to the unique anatomy of cats, which is why they should not drink milk.
When raising a cat, owners can choose lactose-free milk drinks for their feline companions. Of course, buying professional cat milk powder is the best option. This way, you don't need to worry about your cat's health and safety, and your cat can grow up healthy and strong.
VI. Undesirable Components to Be Wary Of
1. Chicken by-product powder
This source is arguably the worst of all grades of meat; it is extremely unsafe, has low nutritional value, and is cheap.
The following ranking is based on the AAFCO (American Association of Animal Feed Control) definition of meat and related products: For these ingredients, AAFCO's nutritional health standards are: CHICKEN > CHICKEN MEAL > CHICKEN BY-PRODUCT > CHICKEN BY-PRODUCT MEAL. In other words, chicken by-product meal is the lowest quality meat product. The materials used are absolutely not edible for humans; they are generally chicken heads, beaks, feet, and even feathers and feces. Its nutritional value is extremely low, and it is difficult to digest, so cats with sensitive stomachs are prone to diarrhea. PS: You can buy a large box of fresh chicken liver for 6 yuan at the supermarket, why spend money on chicken poop, my friend?
2. Preservatives extracted from animal fats
The precise term for a truly natural preservative extracted from fat should be "chicken fat." Artificial fat, on the other hand, is an artificial and unsafe preservative. More importantly, the sources of artificial fat are highly complex and difficult to control; it can come from euthanized animals or 4D animals acquired from certain pet hospitals/stores. Is this a preservative extracted from rotting animals?
7. Do I need to supplement with vitamins or trace elements?
Vitamins are a class of organic substances essential for maintaining normal metabolism in animals. Although the required amount is extremely small, they play a vital role in regulating physiological functions. For cats, most vitamins must be obtained from their diet. Vitamin deficiencies can cause specific vitamin deficiency diseases.
However, supplementing with extra vitamins or trace elements is unnecessary and may even harm a cat's health due to excessive intake. High-quality commercial cat food provides sufficient vitamins and minerals. Using vitamins or trace elements without the guidance of a veterinarian is a mistake.
