What You Should Know About Changing Your Cat’s Diet

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How Wheat Is Used in Our Cat Foods

Why Use Wheat in Cat Food?

Wheat is a grain used as a high-quality carbohydrate source in dry cat foods. It provides energy for daily activity, as well as processing characteristics for the food. IAMS™ research has shown that including wheat in a complete and balanced diet resulted in a moderate glycemic response in dogs and cats, lower in general than that observed when a rice-based diet was fed.1,2

Misconception About Cat Food Allergies

A common misconception is that feeding wheat causes food allergies. Here are the facts:

The cat must have a hypersensitivity to the food or ingredient. It is an adverse reaction of an individual animal to proteins in the diet.
Food allergies are rare in animals and account for a very low percentage of allergic reactions in cats.
If your cat has a food allergy, he is most likely allergic to one ingredient or a combination of ingredients in his diet.

¹ Sunvold GD. The role of novel nutrients in managing obesity. In: Recent Advances in Canine and Feline Nutrition, Vol II: 1998 IAMS Nutrition Symposium Proceedings. Carey DP, Norton SA, Bolser SM, eds. Wilmington, OH: Orange Frazer Press, 1998; 123-133.

² Bouchard GF. Effect of dietary carbohydrate source on posprandial plasma glucose and insulin concentration in cats. In: Recent Advances in Canine and Feline Nutrition, Vol III: 2000 IAMS Nutrition Symposium Proceedings. Reinhart GA, Carey DP eds. Wilmington, OH: Orange Frazer Press, 2000; 91-101.

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How to Keep Your Cat’s Urinary Tract in Tip-top Shape
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Is your feline leaving puddles of urine in your bathtub or on your tile floors? Making lots (and lots) of trips to the litter box? Or crying out in pain when they pee?

Sounds like
tinkling trouble.

Urinary problems pester lots of grown-up cats, especially dudes, bro.
Your furry friend might have feline lower urinary tract disease (FLUTD), which is just scientific jargon for a collection of painful conditions that can wreak havoc on your kitty’s bladder and/or urethra.

So, what common urinary tract conditions are we talking about, exactly?
Some of the most common FLUTD diseases include urinary tract infections, urinary stones caused by a buildup of minerals, obstructions within the urethra or an inflamed bladder.

What causes FLUTD?
Not drinking enough water
Not urinating often enough
A urine pH level that’s too high
Too many minerals and not enough water in the urine
Being a male cat — because their urethras are longer and narrower
Stress or anxiety

Keep your
eyes peeled for
peeing problems ...

How to check if your cat has a urinary tract infection (UTI) or other urinary health issue:
The American Veterinary Medical Association says to watch for these major signs:

Straining to go
Frequently urinating a little at a time
Prolonged attempts to go
Crying out while urinating
Excessively licking their genital area
Peeing outside the litter box
Passing blood in their urine

Get your cat back
on the right tract.

How to treat
FLUTD:
Decide whether you need an immediate vet visit.
First things first, if your feline seems to be in a lot of pain or isn’t able to pee at all, get to the vet — stat!
Your cat might have a urethral obstruction, a life-threatening condition that your veterinarian must treat quickly!
Seriously, don’t dillydally.

Next, try these tips to help get your cat’s system flowing again:
Feed smaller, more frequent meals.
Always provide your cat with clean, fresh water.
Encourage your feline to drink as much as possible to help keep mineral buildup at bay and flush your feline’s urinary system.

Finally, don’t forget about litter boxes and S-T-R-E-S-S!
Be sure you have the right number of litter boxes — usually one more box than the number of cats you have.
Place litter boxes in quiet parts of the house.
Always keep litter boxes clean — they should be scooped once or twice a day.
Maintain a steady routine and make your home as stress-free as possible. Consider how your own stress level, any visiting house guests and any other pets might be affecting your cat.

Take this old adage to heart:
“An ounce of prevention is worth a pound of cure.”
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