Bengal Cat Food and Diet: A [Very Good] Guide

Uncooked meals will be ready at residence, however there are dangers.

Uncooked Bengal cat meals should be full, balanced and comprise all of the vitamins important to survival and good well being.

This may be laborious to realize and if accomplished incorrectly can result in well being issues.

A great cat eating regimen ought to comprise roughly 80% muscle meat, 10% organs and 10% bone.

Plus further supplementation together with nutritional vitamins and taurine.

This was a such an in depth topic with a lot to think about, it could possibly be an article by itself, which is why if feeding uncooked meals to your cats is one thing you’re critically contemplating I urge you to learn the knowledge on Catinfo.org which covers the subject in nice element and from first-hand expertise.

It’s also possible to discover a uncooked cat meals recipe and step-by-step information put collectively by the Feline Nutrition Foundation.

Nonetheless, for steadiness, this research paper discovered that many on-line and e-book primarily based do-it-yourself meals recipes have been nutritionally insufficient.

Different Elements To Think about Earlier than Feeding A Uncooked Weight loss plan

Apart from making certain you’re feeding a whole uncooked meals eating regimen, the next are additionally vital:

• Kind of meat: not solely with reference to its supply (rooster, turkey, rabbit and so on) but in addition the place on the animal it’s from. Muscle meats from thighs are thought of preferential to breast for instance, owing to larger taurine content material.
• Bone content material: some meats comprise extra bone than others, so in an effort to get the correct quantity you might want so as to add or take away as vital. Some uncooked recipes recommend bonemeal which is less complicated to deal with, however that’s not solely an additional buy, your Bengal can even miss out on the dietary marrow inside.
• Gear: You could effectively want to amass tools starting from a meat grinder (particularly if utilizing complete bones) to acceptable and a number of storage containers and even kitchen scales
• Time: eradicating bones, weighing every part out, grinding, dividing into parts and cleansing takes extra time than merely opening a can.
• Storage: to avoid wasting time, uncooked meals is commonly made in bulk, however this implies having or discovering appropriate freezer house.
• Price: shopping for natural meat goes to be costlier than non-organic and there’s the repeated price of dietary supplements plus preliminary outlay of apparatus to consider.

• Transitioning: your Bengal could also be unaccustomed to uncooked cat meals, subsequently it may effectively take time and endurance plus some wasted meals alongside the way in which earlier than your cat adapts (if in any respect).
• Parasites: uncooked meat can comprise a spread of parasites than will be dangerous. Nonetheless, this danger will be decreased considerably purchase shopping for top quality meat geared toward human consumption and by freezing it as soon as ready.
• Microbial an infection: feeding and dealing with uncooked meat carries some danger of an infection to each cats and people. For this reason the Centre for Disease Control doesn’t suggest feeding your cat a uncooked eating regimen.

To mitigate the final drawback considerably, some folks partially prepare dinner meat earlier than feeding it to their Bengal.

Not solely does this scale back microbial content material, however could make meat extra palatable.

Nonetheless, one should be cautious of overcooking meat containing bones as cooked bones turn into laborious and brittle and may trigger hurt to your cat.

When you just like the sound of a uncooked meat eating regimen in your Bengal cats however aren’t comfy making one your self, then you might want to think about pre-prepared uncooked meals…

Store Purchased Uncooked Meals

You should buy pre-made uncooked meals each on-line and in some pet shops the place it’ll be frozen or dehydrated.

The very first thing to make sure it that it’s labelled at the least ‘full’ cat meals. 

Full Cat Meals: accommodates adequate quantities of required vitamins.

Balanced Cat Meals: accommodates all of the required vitamins within the right proportions.

Complimentary Cat Meals: might comprise some however not all of the required vitamins. Ought to solely be fed sometimes alongside a whole eating regimen.

Uncooked meals will be purchased in pouches or tubs.

Meat within the latter will have to be divided up into the proper portion size- so a bit of labor is required.

Our Bengal cat was fed (frozen) uncooked meals from tubs (see here), which we continued for a short while, however moved away from owing to price, storage and minor issues about micro organism/contamination.

Nonetheless, it’s one thing I might think about revisiting, to go alongside what she presently eats.

Dehydrated uncooked meals has an extended shelf life, however you’ll have to add water to it earlier than feeding it to your cat.

Though clearly extra handy than making your individual, commercially obtainable uncooked meals will price extra per portion.

If uncooked isn’t going to be a viable possibility for you, then you might effectively look to cooked canned moist meals…

Moist Meals

I’ve in truth written an article solely on this topic entitled ‘The Best Wet Food For Bengal Cats.’

I received’t regurgitate the article in its entirety, so if you need extra element, please have a look.

In abstract, they’re a plethora of choices obtainable however lots to be cautious of.

As with commercially purchased uncooked meals, the very first thing to do is guarantee it’s ‘full’ meals.

Ideally, it is best to goal for a product the place energy are supplied within the following percentages:

• Over 50% protein (ideally over 70%)
• Between 20-40% fats
• 1-2% carbohydrate most

Nonetheless, in an effort to set up whether or not the cat meals you’re feeding your Bengal meets these percentages, a calculation is required.

You need to see figures listed someplace on the field or tin just like this:

To exhibit the way to calculate what’s often known as the ‘crude share on a dry matter foundation’ for every, we’ll use protein for example.

Firstly, subtract the moisture share from 100:

100-80 = 20

Now divide the share said for protein by this determine, so:

16/20 = 0.8 

Lastly, multiply by 100:

0.8 x 100 = 80

This cat meals is 80% protein (minimal) on a dry matter foundation.

Utilizing this method, we are able to calculate that dry fats content material is 13%.

Moisture content material also needs to be high- at round 70%.

Carbohydrate ranges ought to be low in any eating regimen for Bengal cats, as they’ve a lot shorter intestines than canine and are subsequently much less capable of digest vegetation. Extended publicity to a excessive carbohydrate eating regimen can result in diabetes.

The under desk was primarily based on information discovered here, and was correct on the time of writing.

Purina Fancy Feast Naturals
Weruva Truluxe Fast N’ Quirky

Please observe that the figures are primarily based on ‘Typical Nutrient Evaluation’ which might solely be obtained by contacting producers. This offers a extra correct depiction of content material.

You’ll solely see ‘Assured Evaluation’ on packaging in retailer which states minimums and subsequently is not going to be as correct.

Issues to know and be cautious of

Bengal cat and pet homeowners normally have gotten extra discerning with reference to the meals they feed their animals and are more and more in search of good high quality/wholesome meals for his or her pets.

In response, producers are using related ways used when advertising and marketing human meals in an effort to get you to buy their merchandise.

the kind of thing- fairly photographs on packaging, utilizing key phrases like ‘pure’ or ‘grain-free’ and presenting it in a means that makes it seem like connoisseur eating.

A lot of this appeals to humans- a Bengal isn’t going to care whether or not its meals is served underneath a silver platter or not.

So it’s elements which ought to be focussed on, which suggests understanding among the phrases used and the way elements are listed…

Order of Components

As with human meals merchandise, elements are listed so as of highest share to lowest.

This implies you have to be in search of and hopefully discover the named meat listed first.

This appears easy, however producers make use of sure ways right here which muddy the waters.

Ingredient Splitting

Cat meals might comprise one supply ingredient which is break up into totally different ‘daughter’ fractions.

As every fraction is lower than the entire, it’s going to seem in the direction of the tip of the ingredient record, despite the fact that the supply ingredient makes up a a lot bigger share.

For instance, you discover corn break up into ‘floor corn’, ‘corn meal’ and ‘corn gluten.’

It’s all nonetheless corn, however splitting ensures that meat is listed first.

This conveniently brings us onto grains…

Grain-Free

Grains (corresponding to wheat, corn, oats) comprise carbohydrates which as we’ve seen, a cat’s eating regimen ought to comprise little or no of.

Due to this fact, by claiming their product is grain-free an organization hopes you’ll suppose it’s a more sensible choice for all cats together with Bengals.

Nonetheless, as an alternative, corporations usually might substitute the time period ‘grains’ with ‘cereals’ (one thing I’ve just lately observed on the meals we feed our Bengal) or the precise identify of the grain.

Moreover, you may even see greens on the packaging in addition to the ingredient record.

These too comprise carbohydrate that are equally unsuitable in excessive quantities.

Greens and grains are cheaper than meat so assist corporations improve their revenue margins.

Equally, greens are good for health- for people not cats.

However because it’s people who purchase the meals, by tapping into ‘greens are wholesome for people’ producers hope you’ll assume they’re additionally helpful for cats.

And subsequently, purchase their product.

To keep away from issues right here, merely look out for moist meals with an acceptable carbohydrate content material, ignoring any grain-free claims and photos of carrots on tins.

Meat Derivatives

One other widespread time period you will note listed is meat or animal ‘derivatives.’

That is non-specific for a cause.

Are you extra prone to buy one thing that states ‘animal derivatives’ or trotters, hooves, ears, toes and so on?

Precisely.

These ‘derivatives’ then are prone to be inferior nutritiously.

Colourings, Flavour Enhancers and Preservatives

You will notice related terminology utilized in human meals stuffs.

Once more, there are nonspecific for a cause as they add nothing nutritionally to the meals.

I think it’ll be laborious to search out moist meals with out a few of these in.

Jelly and Gravy

Many moist meals now both comprise jelly or gravy and each goal to make your Bengal cat meals extra palatable.

Jelly is gelatine produced from animal merchandise.

Gravy is the juices from cooked meat thickened up with flour or different non-flour thickeners.

The flour in gravy can add to its carbohydrate.

Which is best? It will depend on elements used as carbohydrates are to be prevented the place attainable.

One website suggests gravy produced from ‘gums’ like xanthan gum is best for cats, the place as one other states gravy can add a lot wanted fats.

Personally, I take a look at general dietary content material and typically feed moist meals with gravy; typically with jelly.

In fact, your Bengal might make the choice for you.

Fish

We are inclined to affiliate cats with a love of consuming fish, and within the wild the Asian leopard cat would certainly catch its personal.

Fish has sometimes been thought of a wholesome alternative, however this perception is slowly being eroded.

As our seas turn into more and more polluted, heavy metals corresponding to mercury and lead turn into concentrated within the our bodies of upper organisms together with fish.

Due to this fact, anybody or something that eats fish will too be consuming these doubtlessly well being damaging parts.

I keep away from Bengal cat meals that lists fish and different seafood ‘meat’ as one in every of its elements.

There may be an article on the well being dangers related to consuming fish at nutritionfacts.org. It’s about human consumption however nonetheless applies.

Ash

You will have already seen, ‘ash’ listed as a cat meals ingredient.

When all of the natural matter (that’s fats, protein, carbohydrates, water and so on.) in meals is heated and/or burnt off, the remnant is ash.

This accommodates vital minerals wanted to keep up well being.

Cans or Sachets?

I’ve learn that pouches typically comprise extra water than canned meals choices, which suggests much less energy in your cash and subsequently a better quantity is required to maintain kitty satiated.

Canned meals provides a special drawback in that there’s the potential for BPA contamination.

The selection you make right here might merely be all the way down to price or availability.

Moist Meals and Tooth

Common consumption of tinned or pouched moist meals in keeping with numerous sources can result in plaque build-up and different gum/tooth issues.

I’ll be sincere, I didn’t fancy brushing Hazel’s tooth daily, so I requested a good friend with cats what they do with reference to feline dental hygiene.

They use ‘Proden PlaqueOff Powder’ which you simply sprinkle onto meals as soon as a day. Easy.

I suppose time will inform how effectively it really works, however critiques I’ve learn are typically excellent.

It’s additionally produced from seaweed, which as a carbohydrate, ought to be prevented in excessive quantities, however solely a small scoop is used per day for cats.

There are claims that dry meals is best for a cat’s tooth, however there seems to be no proof for this.

I’ve additionally beforehand learn (though I can’t bear in mind the place) that crunching bones from prey or a uncooked eating regimen helps hold tooth in good situation.

Snacks and Treats

Helpful as a reward with regards to coaching your Bengal (see ‘How To Train A Bengal Cat To Do Tricks [23 of them]), snacks and treats are considerable in kind and flavours.

The commonest are most likely packets of biscuits and meat sticks.

Personally, I don’t look an excessive amount of into diet with reference to these as our Bengal has them very occasionally and solely in small quantities.

I additionally discover rustling a packet is sort of helpful when desirous to get her consideration.

The healthiest snack or deal with choices appears to be freeze dried meat such as these.

Hazel readily consumes them when given, though the identical applies to just about all treats.

Often, we would go away out a small portion of dry meals for snacking functions, however for causes we’ll delve into subsequent, now we have stopped doing so…    

What Not To Feed Your Bengal Cat

There are a selection of meals that ought to be prevented both as a result of they’re unhealthy long-term or may trigger hurt within the quick.

The primary meals kind on this part could also be stunning to you because it’s dry meals…

Dry Meals

Dry meals, biscuits or kibble is taken into account by most sources I got here throughout while researching this text to be detrimental to a Bengal cat’s well being.

It’s typically cheaper than moist meals and handy to use- wonderful promoting factors to any could be cat meals purchaser.

Nonetheless, low price and comfort come at a possible worth to your Bengal’s well being.

Dry cat meals are extremely processed, and processed meals lacks vitamins.

Dry meals tends to be decrease in high quality protein content material and better in carbohydrate content- far larger than the appropriate 2-3% stage in lots of instances.

In a single explicit model, I’ve seen cereals listed as the primary ingredient.

Salt (which can be referred to as as ‘Sodium ‘One thing’) content material of dry meals tends additionally to be excessive.

Conversely, moisture content material is low.

Too low.

Cats don’t are inclined to drink a fantastic deal as they need to get the overwhelming majority of water they want from meat (which is round 60-75% water)

So a excessive salt, low moisture eating regimen supplied by dry meals is a recipe for kidney issues afterward in life.

I’ve additionally learn that microbial content material of dry meals will be excessive particularly as soon as opened and left unused.

Nonetheless, some cat homeowners and web sites nonetheless ‘stick up’ for dry meals and as talked about, some declare it helps forestall tooth decay.

From every part I’ve learn, it is sensible to me {that a} eating regimen closest to what grownup cats would eat within the wild (minus the danger of an infection) could be healthiest.

Which suggests certainly extremely processed dry meals can’t be one of the best Bengal cat meals. 

Widespread Meals To Keep away from

The next record comprise human foodstuffs {that a} Bengal cat mustn’t devour.

It’s certainly not full, however does record these which cropped up most frequently while researching for the article ‘9 Reasons Why Your Bengal Cat Has An Upset Stomach’.

They vary from people who comprise minor irritation proper as much as these that may be deadly.

• Onions, garlic, chives, leeks and spring onions
• Chocolate
• Meals/Drinks containing caffeine
• Alcohol
• Grapes, raisins and currants
• Dairy merchandise
• Cooked bones
• Uncooked eggs*
• Nuts
• Spicy condiments

*Some uncooked Bengal cat meals diets embrace eggs. Any harbouring salmonella micro organism could possibly be dangerous to your cat(s) which is why some don’t suggest feeding a do-it-yourself uncooked eating regimen.

In order that’s meals, however what about drink?

Water

Whichever Bengal cat eating regimen you determine to pursue, your cats ought to nonetheless be given entry to recent consuming water.

This may merely be faucet water in a bowl or two in numerous places that your Bengal can simply discover.

It might make sense for people who stay in bigger houses or have a number of cats to place out one bowl per cat, though you’ll decide over time which of these your cat(s) drink from.

Cats will be choosy about what sources they use.

Some want to drink from operating water corresponding to that from fountains or faucets.

Your breeder will advise how your Bengal prefers to obtain its water.

Or you may ask.

You could be questioning what we feed our Bengal cat. If that’s the case, that’s up subsequent…

What We Feed Our Bengal

*That is now underneath overview as soon as once more following additional analysis carried out for this text. I’ll replace accordingly, most likely in a brand new blog post*

We presently feed her pouches of Webbox Naturals– however simply the meat choice in gravy.

She’s been contently consuming primarily this model for round a 12 months now and we preferred the range in flavours as effectively the content material.

I additionally give her a rooster thigh as soon as every week.

I recognize that though that is uncooked, it’s not balanced, however it solely constitutes a weekly deal with.

And he or she goes loopy for it, growling if I’m going close to her while she’s consuming.

I don’t know why. I gave it to her- I’m not prone to take it again once more.

That’s ‘what’ we feed her, however what about ‘when’ we feed her?

When To Feed Your Bengal Cat

Grownup cats within the wild are inclined to hunt and feed at nightfall and daybreak.

In order that interprets as feeding them within the morning and night.

One website talked about feeding small quantities a number of occasions all through the day, though this will not be attainable for a lot of Bengal cats on a uncooked or moist meals eating regimen.

You could need to depart your Bengal one thing to snack on throughout the day should you’re not round (we presently don’t do that).

If that’s the case, your healthiest wager once more could be freeze dried treats.

Let’s now take a look at how a lot to feed your pet.

How A lot To Feed Your Bengal Cat

If feeding a uncooked eating regimen then goal to feed your wholesome grownup cat the quantity of meals that equates to roughly 3% of its body weight.

If shopping for, then producers ought to state how a lot of their product it is best to feed your cat.

Once more, this will likely be primarily based on weight and assumes your cat has no well being issues and is ‘energetic’.

Sick and pregnant cats may have particular diets- one thing your vet can advise you on.

Additionally Bengal kittens (as much as round 1 12 months), grownup cats (1 12 months to 10 years) and people categorized as seniors (11 years and over) have totally different dietary necessities (observe that age cut-offs fluctuate in keeping with supply).

So you will note meals geared toward every of those age teams.

Once more, it’s a case of studying labels and allotting an acceptable quantity every day.

At all times use treats and extras sparingly as these are usually much less nutritious and if given too readily exterior regular feeding occasions, might contribute to unhealthy weight achieve.

Identical to people, cats can have allergic reactions too…

Meals Allergic reactions

Bengals can present adversarial reactions to explicit meals stuffs or substances in them.

Issues can come up in Bengal cats if new meals within the eating regimen can’t be tolerated or has been launched too rapidly.

And these issues might manifest as well being issues corresponding to illness and diarrhoea.

For extra on this and different explanation why your Bengal might have an upset abdomen see ‘9 Reasons Why Your Bengal Has An Upset Stomach.’

Subsequent, some questions you could have, though a few of these have already been coated…

Can Bengal cats eat dry meals?

Sure, Bengal cats can eat dry meals.

Nonetheless, the query ought to most likely be ‘ought to Bengal cats eat dry meals?’

The reply to this appears to be ‘no.’

Can Bengal cats have uncooked meals?

Sure, Bengal cats can have uncooked meals of their eating regimen.

However as already said this should be full, balanced and top quality.

In any other case, a uncooked meals eating regimen will be unhealthy and trigger well being issues.

Equally, care should be taken with reference to preparation to keep away from sickness (to people) from any doubtlessly dangerous micro organism.

Do Bengal cats want particular meals or a particular eating regimen?

No, eating regimen necessities for Bengal cats are the identical as different domesticated breeds.

Bengals do are usually extra energetic and energetic, so might subsequently have extra of an urge for food and want slightly extra to replenish their power ranges and keep a wholesome body weight.

What’s the greatest cat meals?

There is no such thing as a definitive greatest cat meals for a Bengal or in any other case.

Full uncooked meals diets have gotten more and more widespread as they mimic what a cat would devour within the wild.

Moist cat meals (canned meals or in pouches) can even present all a cat wants though some scrutiny of labelling is required to make sure that what you’re shopping for is of fine high quality.

Dry meals is greatest prevented, actually because the mainstay of a cat’s eating regimen.

In fact, it’s not merely a case of shopping for or getting ready ‘one of the best.’

There are different components to consider when contemplating a eating regimen for Bengal cats corresponding to comfort, price and storage.

Is moist cat meals higher for a cat than dry cat meals?

Sure, the consensus on this appears to be that moist cat meals are higher than dry cat meals.

Moist meals is best nutritionally resulting from larger meat and moisture content material and decrease carbohydrate content material.

At what age can a kitten eat cat meals?

In line with the e-book ‘What Cats Want’, weaning- that’s, the transition from milk to stable meals, can start as soon as a kitten’s milk tooth begin to develop which ought to be as much as 2 months into its life.

This ought to be specifically formulated kitten meals and fed in small quantities a number of occasions a day.

Bengal Cats Meals and Weight loss plan Abstract

By now, you should have seen that that is certainly not an easy topic to cowl.

Partly that is due to a lot conflicting data as to regards one of the best Bengal cat meals to feed Bengals.

Additionally, producers are adept at being nonspecific about elements and advertising and marketing their merchandise as wholesome and pure.

Uncooked meat diets are more and more widespread as they extra carefully resemble a pure cat eating regimen, however they are often problematic with reference to being balanced and carrying an an infection danger, particularly if taking place the do-it-yourself route.

Store purchased uncooked and cooked moist meals are extra handy however require interrogation of labelling to make sure you’re shopping for full, top quality meals.

Dry meals, though low cost, is greatest prevented as it’s poor nutritionally.

It’s additionally vital to keep in mind that a Bengal kitten could have totally different dietary necessities than a senior cat.

Like many, I’m all the time studying and attempting to enhance how I take care of my Bengal so will likely be reviewing Hazel’s eating regimen to see if I can enhance it.

In fact no matter you meals determine, your Bengal should conform to eat it…

Additional Studying:

Further Sources:

petmd.com: How Organ Meats Benefit Cats

petmd.com: What Is AAFCO and What Does It Do

petmd.com: Cat Nutrition What Makes Nutritional Cat Food

fda.gov: Complete and Balanced Pet Food

ukpetfood.org: cat nutrition

europeanpetfood.org

cats.com: The Complete Guide to Feline Nutrition

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