What Is The Best Food For Cats With Asthma – A Basic Guide

People have many misconceptions about a feline’s diet. I see many cat owners feeding their pets food that is not particularly good and nutritious for them.

If people don’t know what their healthy kitties need to eat, imagine how things can get complicated if their feline friend has asthma. There aren’t many asthmatic cats, which is probably why it is difficult to find content on what to feed your furry friend with asthma.

In our article, we will go through what you should and shouldn’t eat a cat, what can be an asthma trigger for your feline friend, and what is the best food for cats with asthma.

What do our feline friends eat?

If you observe outdoor cats, you will notice that they tend to hunt for birds or rodents. Their digestive system is made to absorb all nutrients and water they need from the animals they hunt and eat. Felines don’t drink much water, particularly because they get what they need from their prey.

A cat’s diet has to be rich in proteins packed with vitamins and minerals which plants can’t support. And, even if some plants can provide all those nutrients, a kitty’s system won’t process them into a form that would be useful for them.

All in all, for a healthy and happy cat, moisture and protein-rich food that meets all its nutrition and hydration it needs is the way to go.

What should you not feed your feline friend?

What is the first food people think of when they want to feed a kitty? A bowl of milk! It may come as a shock, but cats are mostly intolerant to lactose. If you have any milk from a cat, you may use it. Otherwise, you can do more harm than good if you feed your kitty any dairy product.

Another common food that people use to feed their cats is fish. Although there is nothing wrong with feeding your furry feline friend some fish, it should be done occasionally. Fish doesn’t have enough nutrients that cats need, and in the wild, they won’t be diving into a river or a lake to hunt for fish. Also, fish bones can be quite harmful if they get stuck in your kitty’s throat or digestive tract.

Finally, grains are definitely something your cat absolutely doesn’t need. Unfortunately, many brands of cat food use grains like corn, wheat, or rice in their food. If you haven’t seen a cat cooking its own bowl of rice and eating it, it doesn’t need it. Read the label of the food you are getting for your cat, and make sure it largely consists of protein.

Many of the food “fillers” in commercial cat food can be a cause for a lot of health issues cats have, including obesity and asthma.

How do you know if your cat has asthma?

Many symptoms of asthma can be the cause of something else. Never play a vet yourself to try to diagnose your kitty.

Take your feline friend to the vet, even if it is just wheezing or it seems like it will throw up a hairball. Furthermore, the cause of its coughing may be an issue with the respiratory system, like a viral or bacterial infection.

Once the vet has diagnosed that your cat has asthma, you may want to check for any allergy triggers you have at home. Artificially scented products can cause allergy attacks in many cats. These products include scented cat litter, the laundry detergent you use, or even air fresheners.

Moreover, foods such as corn, fish, beef, and soy can trigger asthma in kitties. So, think deeply, research the triggers, and try to eliminate as many of these as possible.

Best food for cats with asthma

Balanced nutrition plays a crucial role in your feline’s general health, and cats with asthma are even more delicate than their non-wheezing friends. Kitties suffering from asthma are likely to have a weakened immune system. So, well-balanced nutrition that prevents inflammation and resembles a diet your furry feline friend would eat in the wild is optimal for optimal health.

Primarily, start with eliminating dry food, which is incredibly rich in grains, fish, and poultry, and it goes without saying, no grains. Choose food that is preferably organic and made with as little processing as possible.

Changing a cat’s diet can show immediate improvements in your feline’s wheezing, but that doesn’t mean you should stop any medication your vet has prescribed. Opt for natural remedies and better nutrition, but these should complement whatever the vet has asked you to give your cat.

It is important to remember that even if your kitty doesn’t show any improvement and its symptoms are the same, the well-balanced diet and food changes will improve its health and strengthen its immune system, giving your cat a chance to prevent the start of further health issues.

Best Food for Cats With Asthma – What Should I Look for?

Since felines are carnivores who hunt their prey (rodents, birds), their natural diet satisfies their dietary needs the best. So, what should you look for in cat food for a cat with asthma to get all the necessary nutrients without the allergens that can compromise its immune system?

Protein Matters

Protein and its content in cat food are extremely important because they are the primary source of nutrition for cats. It is essential for their development, growth, and well-being. A diet high in protein from fish, eggs, poultry, and meat is crucial for your cat’s optimal health.

Fatty Acids for the Metabolism

Healthy animal fats are beneficial because they provide fatty acids for metabolic regulation.

Vitamins and Minerals

Vitamins and minerals are essential to a cat’s diet, and felines usually get them from other animals they hunt. So, cat food that is rich in vitamins and minerals is vital for your cat and its immune system.

Asthma and Diet – How are they linked?

Your kitty’s food may contain substances that can trigger asthma attacks or cause your feline friend to develop asthma.

Dry food without grains may help your asthmatic cat breathe easier, and sometimes it may help reduce the need for medication.

Although certain diet changes in your cat’s nutrition can alleviate asthma symptoms, diet change isn’t a treatment. Change your cat’s diet only after you consult with a veterinarian, and make the change as an addition to medication.

Best Food for Cats With Asthma – Our Top Five Recommendations

Grain-Free Dry Food with Turkey & Chicken by American Journey

If you check the ingredient list of this food by American Journey, you will notice that the first item is deboned turkey, and deboned chicken comes after it. This cat food is rich in protein and gives felines the flavor and nutrients they need.

The formula doesn’t include artificial preservatives, poultry by-product meals, soy, wheat, or other grains.

The essential amino acids, antioxidants, and fatty acids improve your cat’s skin, coat, heart, and eye health and support its immune system.

PROS

• It is made with high-quality protein from poultry
• It doesn’t contain any grains, artificial preservatives, or poultry by-product meals
• It is rich in vitamins, minerals, antioxidants, and fatty acids for overall health support

CONS

• Some kitties may refuse to eat this food

Grain-Free Food by Taste of the Wild

Rich in protein from roasted venison and smoked salmon, this cat food recipe supports your kitty’s muscles, bones, and joints.

The formula contains vitamins, minerals, omega fatty acids, antioxidants, probiotics, and prebiotics for your furry friend’s overall well-being and immune health.

PROS

• It supports your cat’s active lifestyle with a good-quality protein source
• It promotes a healthy digestive and immune system with the added antioxidants, probiotics, and prebiotics
• With the vitamins and minerals in the formula, it keeps your cat’s skin and coat healthy

CONS

• Some cats won’t eat it at all

Grain-Free Food With Chicken by Blue Buffalo

The recipe of Blue Buffalo’s dry cat food supports the development of strong and lean muscles by including real chicken in its ingredients.

The blend of vitamins, minerals, and antioxidants strengthens your cat’s immune system.

Furthermore, the formula of this food doesn’t include any meat by-products, soy, wheat, corn, or artificial flavors.

PROS

• Its formula contains protein from real chicken
• It has a blend of antioxidants, vitamins, and minerals for the overall health of the immune system
• It is free of grains, artificial flavors, and by-products

CONS

• Some felines may refuse to eat it

Grain-Free Food, Hydrolyzed for Food Intolerance by Blue Buffalo Natural Veterinary diet

Blue Buffalo’s dry cat food contains hydrolyzed protein for cats with food intolerance. The veterinary formula offers readily digestible protein derived from salmon, which minimizes the possibility of your cat’s having adverse reactions to food.

Moreover, your feline’s immune system is supported by vitamins E and C and antioxidants from certain ingredients like pumpkin.

The omega-3 fatty acids from flaxseed and fish oil support your kitty’s coat and skin health.

PROS

• It contains hydrolyzed protein from salmon for cats with food intolerance
• It has vitamins, minerals, and fatty acids, supporting your feline friend’s overall health
• It doesn’t contain any grains in its formula

CONS

• Some furry friends may refuse to eat it

Grain-Free Food With Chicken & Eggs by Purina Beyond

Enriched with natural probiotics to support your feline’s digestive health, this dry cat food by Purina Beyond contains a high quantity of protein from white chicken meat. The recipe of this kibble excludes the use of any artificial flavors or preservatives, wheat, soy, corn, and poultry by-product meal.

The added vitamins, minerals, and essential nutrients support your cat’s health and active life.

PROS

• It doesn’t include grains or artificial preservatives and flavors
• It is rich in protein from white chicken meat
• It contains added vitamins, minerals, and essential nutrients for overall health

CONS

• Some felines may stop eating it

To conclude…

Having an asthmatic cat for a pet asks for a little bit of extra care and responsibility. You must ensure it takes its required medication, and changing its nutrition plan will help alleviate asthma symptoms.

Moreover, if you stick to balanced nutrition that is as close to a cat’s natural diet as possible, you will give your furry friend extra care. Also, avoiding foods that don’t contribute to your kitty’s nutrition requirements and can worsen its condition is another step you can take to help your feline friend. Become knowledgeable about what you shouldn’t, and then focus on what you should give your cat to eat.