Feline nutrition

Dear Riley,

I've been trying to talk my owner into feeding me shrimp for every meal. She insists that cat food is much better for me, but I really doubt the wisdom in that. Could you weigh in on the pros and cons of commercial cat food versus a home made diet (especially one with lots of shrimp!)?

Signed,
Starving for Attention


Dear Starving for Attention,

Oh, how I understand your plight! I too have struggled with the humans in my life. They say they love us, but then deny us the yummy morsels they put on their own plates.

However, I have gained some wisdom in my time living at Care Animal Hospital, and I have learned that feline nutrition is a very complex topic. As much as I would love to indulge in those exotic foods of our human servants (I am particularly fascinated by Dr. Garnett's Bacon Soda, which she keeps in her office), I know that my exquisite feline physiology is best maintained on a food specifically formulated for me. There are actually teams of nutritionists involved in designing our cat foods. As much as I enjoy their company, this is not something I would trust to my humans. There is a troubling statistic that 90% of "homemade diets" are unbalanced for our feline needs. I don't know about you, but I don't want to take my chances with those odds.

So, stay strong my feline friend. Though not always "exciting", commercial cat food is really the best food for you. However, I wholeheartedly support a daily cat nip snack!

All the best from Care,
Riley