Ask the NorthStar VETS Vet: Finding the right type of food for your cat

Q: What’s the best type of food to feed your cat?

A: This is a very personal answer and if you read on the internet there is a lot of different advice. Personally, my own cats eat Science Diet and Purina Pro Plan. Both of these companies do a lot of research on pet foods to help us understand what keeps our pets healthy. If your cat is doing well on a food, there is no need to change. Most pet foods are formulated to AAFCO (Association of American Feed Control Officials) guidelines. This organization creates standards for pet foods. There is no ‘best’ food, just what works best for your cat. Keep in mind that most cats are meal feeders and not grazers. Most cats who have access to food all the time will be overweight. I also recommend that in multi-cat households, cats do not share food bowls. By doing this, if one becomes sick, you will know who is not eating and if a cat needs to be placed on a special diet, it’s easy to feed your pets different foods.

Jennifer Kim, DVM
Dr. Kim grew up in New York and received her BA from the University of Pennsylvania in 1998. After spending two years at the National Cancer Institute performing cancer genetic research, she attended veterinary school at Tufts University, graduating in 2003. Dr. Kim completed a rotating internship at the Animal Medical Center in Manhattan, New York and then an oncology internship at Cornell University. She initially began at NorthStar VETS as an emergency clinician in 2005 and returned to us in January 2010 to treat oncology patients after completing a residency in medical oncology at Michigan State University, sponsored by NorthStar VETS.

The information presented on this web site is not intended to take the place of your family veterinarian’s advice and is not intended to diagnose, treat, cure or prevent any disease. Discuss this information with your own veterinarian to determine what is right for your pet. All information is intended for your general knowledge only and is not a substitute for medical advice or treatment for specific medical conditions. We can not and do not give you medical advice via this blog. The information contained in this online site and emails is presented in summary form only and intended to provide broad understanding and knowledge. The information should not be considered complete and should not be used in place of a visit, call, consultation or advice of your veterinarian. We do not recommend the self-management of your pet’s health problems.