Your new family member deserves optimal nutrition

Just like humans, cats have different nutritional needs at different stages of their lives. And just as you would provide good nutrition for someone you love, you will also want to do everything you can to ensure that your cat has a complete, balanced, and tasty menu that provides her with optimal nutrition. This guide will help you select the proper food for your new cat.

Feeding time

Your cat should know that mealtimes (one, two, or three) come at regular, predictable daily intervals. Feeding her smaller portions several times a day is an ideal way to minimize overeating. She should always have her own dish in a clean area away from her litter box that is not in a noisy, high-traffic zone.

Cat food facts

• Unopened, dry cat food remains fresh for approximately one year from the date of manufacture.
• Unopened, wet cat food stays fresh for approximately two to three years from the date of manufacture.
• Refrigerated food should be set out for a few minutes before serving, since cats prefer their meals at room temperature.
• If a cat food can has a bulge or is swollen, bacteria is growing inside. At PetSmart, our associates are constantly checking shelves to ensure that we don't sell any flawed products.

Premium food

The quality of the ingredients is what separates average pet food from premium foods. Simply said, premium foods provide superior nutrition, and food quality is probably the most important factor in promoting good health for your cat. Choosing from the myriad of choices on store shelves can be a daunting task, but there are a few simple considerations that can help simplify the process.

Advantage of premium foods

Generally, cat food manufacturers identify their brands within two broad categories: premium and basic. Pet parents who want to provide their cat with the best quality nutrition plan should consider buying premium brands, because these brands tend to have higher quality proteins and grains. The benefits include:

• better digestion
• less litter box clean-up
• shinier/healthier coat

When all things are considered, premium foods also end up being the most cost-effective choice. They are made from higher quality, more digestible ingredients, which provide more nutritional value per serving. Thus, your cat will require smaller quantities of food to obtain the full amount of nutrients she needs.

Premium foods also include the latest nutritional advances, provide specific lifestage nutrition, and do not change recipes if and when the costs of ingredients go up.

What does all this mean? The lesson to be learned is that premium brands deliver optimal nutritional value for both your cat and your pocketbook!

Your cat's lifestage should determine her appropriate diet

There are many different lifestage formulas available for your cat: kitten, adult, senior, and overweight-there are even special-need formulas for hairball maintenance and urinary tract problems. To determine your cat's lifestage nutritional needs, talk to a PetSmart associate, or visit PetSmart.com and use our pet food calculator.

Transitioning your cat from one food to another

When it comes time to transition your cat's food (because of a lifestage change, for example), you'll need to start when you have about a one-week supply of current food. Since some cats will refuse unfamiliar foods and others will suffer digestive upsets if food is switched too quickly, you should transition your cat slowly into her new nutrition plan. Gradually mix in portions of the new food with the current food, adding more new food each day. In about ten days, you should be able to successfully transition your cat from one formula to another.

The scoop on cat food

Cat food is manufactured in three basic forms: dry, semi-moist, and wet. Cats can be quite picky when it comes to the types of food they will eat. Fortunately, there are numerous choices available, and one of them is sure to please your pet. Cats determine what they like and don't like as follows: texture ranks above taste, which is followed by odor. Lastly, don't forget the most important nutrient: water. Your cat should always have access to clean, fresh water.

Dry, semi-moist, or wet

When buying cat food, you'll have a choice of three basic types: dry, semi-moist, and wet. Healthy cats should eat dry foods, with wet foods offered as a supplement. Dry food also helps a cat "brush her teeth." Another advantage of dry food is that it can be left out in your cat's dish for her to graze upon throughout the day. Because of its strong aroma, wet food is a great way to encourage young or very old cats to eat their food, and it also provides part of their daily water requirement. Wet food can also be a good option for cats with sensitive mouths.

The hybrid of dry and wet foods is semi-moist, which may include a variety of nutritional supplements, some dairy products, and come in a wide range of flavors. When picking the right food for your cat, you may find that she enjoys eating a combination.