I Thought I Was Feeding My Cat Right — Until She Got Sick
By PurrCuddle Team •
Honestly, I didn’t think I was doing anything wrong. I picked a well-known dry food brand from the pet store, one with a shiny bag and words like “complete” and “premium.” I thought, “This must be good.”
But then my cat, Mimi, started gaining weight. Not the cute, chubby kind — the kind where she could barely jump on the couch anymore. She became less playful, her coat lost its shine, and worst of all… she started having digestive issues.
Let me tell you exactly what happened — because if you’re feeding your cat without reading the label closely, you could be walking into the same mistake I made.
The Wake-Up Call
One evening, Mimi threw up twice. Not hairballs — real food, undigested. She looked uncomfortable and kept licking her lips, a sign I later learned is often linked to nausea in cats.
I took her to the vet the next day. Blood tests, x-rays — the whole works. Thankfully, there was no organ failure. But the vet told me something that stuck:
"Your cat’s food is probably the problem. It's calorie-heavy, low-moisture, and full of fillers. She's overweight, dehydrated, and not getting the nutrition she needs."
I was shocked. The food claimed to be “nutritionally balanced.” But the ingredients? Corn meal. By-products. Artificial colors. Hardly any real meat.
What I Changed
I did a full overhaul. I switched to a **high-protein wet food** with limited ingredients and added daily hydration using a water fountain. I also started mixing in a bit of plain boiled chicken from time to time.
Instead of free-feeding, I gave her measured portions twice a day and monitored her weight weekly. I used this cat feeding guide from International Cat Care to adjust her meals properly.
Within two months, her energy returned. Her coat softened. She started jumping again — and the vomiting? Gone.
What You Should Look For
- 🧐 Named meat first on the ingredient list (e.g., chicken, turkey, salmon)
- 💧 High moisture content (especially in wet food)
- 🚫 Avoid: corn, wheat, soy, meat by-products, and added sugars
- ⚖️ Adjust feeding by age, weight, and activity level
- 🧴 Make sure fresh water is always available (consider a fountain!)
Helpful Resources
My Honest Advice, as a Fellow Cat Lover
Don’t let marketing make the decisions for you. Read the labels. Know what your cat is actually eating. And most importantly, watch how your cat behaves and feels — that’s the best feedback you’ll ever get.
Mimi taught me that food isn’t just about hunger. It’s about health, behavior, and quality of life. She still gives me that “why did you feed me junk?” look when I open a can of her new food — but I think we’re both happier now.
0 Comments