High Protein Diet for Cats

Cats are obligate carnivores, meaning they thrive on a diet rich in animal proteins. Most commercial cat food products offer equal parts protein and carbohydrates, rather than placing focus on protein. Some cats require more protein than commercial diets can provide. In this instance, it is ideal to develop a strategy for a high protein diet. This strategy gives a cat the nutritional balance required on all counts, including carbohydrates, fat and protein, without sacrificing the protein that cats need for optimal health.

  1. Kibble

    • Kibble has become a staple in the diet of most cats because the rough surface works to keep teeth clean. Commercial kibbles are nutritionally sound but are often not high enough in protein to sustain a cat. Cats do not require carbohydrates in their diets; however, most dry cat food products are high in carbohydrates, which act as fillers. Choose a kibble product that offers a high protein level. Pay particular attention to the first five ingredients in the product. Choose dry food products that contain at least three sources of protein from meat, poultry or fish in the first five ingredients. The chosen cat food product should also contain taurine, which is a nutrient cats require.

    Canned Food

    • Choose a canned cat food with the same basic characteristics as good dry food. Canned cat food should contain protein sources drawn from meat, poultry and fish. Avoid cans of cat food that offer numerous sources of grain fillers such as beet pulp, corn, wheat and rice. While these nutrients are nutritionally sound for human consumption, they offer no benefit to cats. Feeding canned cat food is not mandatory, as a high protein kibble food is nutritionally sound enough.

    Raw Meat

    • Choose a raw meat diet either as a supplement to kibble or in place of a kibble diet. The raw meat diet is one of the most natural and nutritionally sound diet choices for a cat because it provides the two most vital nutrients, protein and fat. You can try raw chicken, fish, beef and turkey. Egg yolks are another source of protein. These protein sources can supplement the protein lost by buying a commercial diet, or you can feed the cat only raw foods. On this diet, you must take extra care to make sure it meets all your cat's nutritional needs.