Natural Nutrition for Cats: The Path to Purrfect Health by Kymythy R. Schultze, C.N., C.N.C, is a comprehensive guide to species appropriate nutrition for cats. Schultze, a Clinical Nutritionist and Certified Nutritional Consultant, shares her extensive knowledge of proper nutrition and points out why most commercial pet foods may not be the best way to feed our cats.
The book covers the basics of cats’ nutritional needs in great detail. Cats are obligate carnivores and need protein to thrive, but they also need fat, minerals, vitamins and water. What they don’t need is carbohydrates, and Schultze explains why grains in a feline diet can cause many of the degnerative diseases we see in cats, such as diabetes, kidney disease, and even cancer. She looks at how commercial pet foods are formulated and manufactured – information that is not for the faint of heart. It may be quite surprising to many what actually goes into these foods.
Schultze is a raw-food proponent; like many others, she believes that cooking, and especially the high heat used to produce commercial pet foods, destroys vital nutrients. She cites the Pottenger’s Cats study as one example of how cats on a raw diet tend to thrive when compared to cats who are fed processed foods. She provides step-by-step instructions on how to transition cats to a raw diet, and offers a variety of recipes for those inclined to make their own food.
This book is a must-read for anyone interested in improving their cats’ health through nutrition. Even if you don’t think raw feeding is for you, the book still provides valuable insight into what makes our feline friends tick when it comes to nutrition.
For a thought-provoking extract from the book, read Feline Nutrition – Who Bears the Responsibilty.
You may also enjoy reading Feeding Raw Food – Separating Myth from Fact, and The Truth About Dry Cat Food.
