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Cat Food terms
What cats eat: recalls, raw diets, brands and treats.
Arachidonic acidAn omega-6 fatty acid that cats cannot make from plant oils in sufficient amounts and so need ready-made from animal fat.Complete and balancedA pet-food label claim that a food supplies all the nutrients a cat needs at a stated life stage, when used as the only diet.Dry foodCat food baked or extruded into small pieces with about 10 percent water, convenient and shelf-stable but low in moisture.Grain-freeCat food made without wheat, corn, rice and other grains, which does not make it low in carbohydrate or better for most cats.Hairball formulaA cat food with extra fibre meant to move swallowed hair through the gut, which may help some cats, alongside brushing.HydrationKeeping a cat's body supplied with enough water, which matters because cats drink little and are prone to urinary and kidney problems.Kitten foodA food with more energy, protein, fat and minerals than adult food, made to support a kitten's fast growth.Limited-ingredient dietA food built around few ingredients, often a single protein, used in a vet-guided trial to find out whether a cat has a food allergy.Obligate carnivoreAn animal that must eat animal tissue to get nutrients its body cannot make for itself, as domestic cats must.Prescription dietA food made to help manage a medical condition such as kidney disease or urinary crystals, fed only on a vet's advice.Raw dietA diet of uncooked meat, organs and bones, whether home-made or bought, which carries infection and nutrition risks that vets warn about.Resting energy requirementThe calories a resting cat uses each day, a baseline vets multiply by a factor to work out how much food an individual cat needs.Senior dietFood marketed for older cats, which varies widely, so the right choice depends on the individual cat's weight, teeth and health.TaurineAn amino acid cats cannot make in enough quantity and must get from food, essential for heart muscle, eyesight and reproduction.Wet foodCat food sold in cans, pouches or trays, containing roughly 70 to 80 percent water, which helps a cat get more fluid.Automatic feederA device that releases set portions of cat food at programmed times, or only for a cat it recognises by its microchip or tag.Cat water fountainA small pump-driven bowl that keeps drinking water moving and filtered, which some cats find more appealing than a still bowl.Free feedingLeaving food out all day so a cat can eat when it likes, which suits some cats but often leads to overeating.Meal feedingFeeding a cat measured portions at set times each day instead of leaving food out, which helps control weight and spot appetite changes.Puzzle feederA toy or tray that makes a cat work to get its food, adding exercise and mental effort to mealtimes.WeaningThe gradual switch from mother's milk to solid food, which usually starts at about four weeks and is mostly complete by eight to ten weeks.