Chi Cat: Holistic Vet-Developed Fresh Cat Food

Our beloved cats provide us with an abundance of affection (when they choose to!), and as their caregivers, finding the highest quality food is always a priority. At Chi Cat, we believe that fresh cat food can be one of the best options to consider, as it can provide gentle, hydrating nourishment and it even appeals to those picky eaters. Let's take a general look at commercial cat food and why fresh food can be a solid choice.

Dry Cat Food & Canned: Why These Aren't The Best Option

As cat parents, you have multiple options when selecting food for your cats. The most common options include dry food and canned food, but options such as raw, freeze-dried food, and fresh food are readily available these days, as well.

As veterinarians, we do not recommend feeding your cats either dry food or canned food, and there are several reasons why. First, these foods are heavily processed and heavily cooked, which tends to reduce the nutritional value of the ingredients.

With dry food, especially, you not only lose nutrient value but also moisture. Many cats shun the water dish, and their daily meals offer the best opportunity for hydration, which dry food cannot provide.

Second, dry food and canned food also contain a plethora of artificial ingredients, including artificial flavors, colors, and preservatives. Neither cats nor dogs need exposure to these artificial additives, and some animals are sensitive to them.

Additionally, these ingredients provide no nutritional support, and we believe that every ingredient in your cat's food should be wholesome and intentional, not just a way to boost flavor or keep the food shelf-stable.

Third, canned and dry food manufacturers often include cheap fillers such as wheat and corn. The protein sources often are poor scraps of meat and often include high-fat proteins, including organ meats. High-fat proteins can be difficult for many cats to digest, which is why we use only lean proteins in our fresh cat food and dog food.

What About Raw & Freeze-Dried Food?

These have become popular options for many cats and dogs, and freeze-dried food is typically raw food that is flash-frozen to preserve nutrients and to ensure that the food is shelf-stable. Raw food is, as the name suggests, a mix of raw ingredients that are frozen and packaged, but not freeze-dried. You simply thaw this food and serve it.

In general, many freeze-dried and raw cat food brands have higher ingredient quality, and most do not contain artificial ingredients. Additionally, raw food certainly has higher nutritional value than heavily processed foods.

However, as veterinarians, we typically do not recommend a raw diet for most cats, especially older cats or cats with sensitive stomachs. Raw food can be difficult to digest, and many raw or freeze-dried foods also contain fatty proteins, which are hard for many cats to digest. Freeze-dried food also is dry, so it may not support healthy hydration for your cat.

Why We Recommend Fresh Food

Fresh cat food can be one of the best options for your cat because these meals are gently cooked, which preserves nutrients, flavor, and hydration. Additionally, gently cooked meals are easier to digest than raw or heavily processed meals.

However, not all fresh cat food brands are the same, so when making a choice, we have further recommendations. First, any cat food you select should be formulated to meet the standards set by the Association of American Feed Control Officials (AAFCO).

This is an independent organization that sets standards for animal food, including cat food. A diet that meets AAFCO standards ensures that the cat food provides a complete and balanced nutritional profile for all life stages.

In addition to meeting AAFCO standards, we also encourage cat parents to select fresh foods that contain only human-grade ingredients. Foods should contain high-quality protein sources as well as whole foods such as fresh vegetables and whole grains.

The food also should contain only lean protein sources. Again, fatty proteins, even options like salmon, can be difficult for some cats to digest. Organ meats are another common ingredient in many cat foods, and organ meats are extremely high in fat and can cause unnecessary weight gain and digestive upset.

Our Holistic Cat Food Diets

As with our vet developed dog food, both of our cat food options were developed by veterinarians and a veterinary nutritionist. All meals are prepared in a USDA-certified kitchen, and both diet plans are formulated to meet the nutritional levels established by the AAFCO to provide complete and balanced nutrition for your furry friends.

Both our fresh dog food and our fresh cat food were developed according to the principles of Traditional Chinese Veterinary Medicine, or TCVM. This is an approach to animal care rooted in traditional Chinese medicine.

As TCVM practitioners, our goal is not simply to treat disease, but to look at each cat or dog as a whole and, as such, we incorporate practices such as acupuncture, massage, and food therapy to address imbalances in the body.

While creating our holistic cat food, we used the principles of TCVM as a guide for thoughtful ingredient selection. Each ingredient we add is intentional to support a healthy balance in your cat's body while meeting all of their nutritional needs. Our two cat food diets also contain limited ingredients, which can be beneficial for many cats, especially those with food sensitivities.

Our Fire Diet includes lean turkey, millet, pumpkin, and broccoli. This diet was designed to provide a healthy gut microbiome balance, as well as support a healthy skin and coat. It's also low in phosphorus, and because we gently cook the ingredients, these meals also support healthy hydration.

For cats that seem sensitive to typical proteins such as chicken, beef, or turkey, our Water Diet can be an excellent option. This option includes lean pork, which is a novel protein for many cats. Additional ingredients include sweet potato and green beans.

In addition to providing a novel protein, the Water Diet is an excellent option for cat parents who want a kidney support diet or a diet that provides joint and bone support. As with the Fire Diet, this diet is also gently cooked and supports hydration.

Enjoy Cat Food Delivery With Chi Cat

At Chi Cat, we make it as easy as possible for pet parents to provide their cats with wholesome, high-quality cat food. With our cat food subscription, we deliver fresh food to your door whenever you need it, ensuring you always have quality nutrition on hand.

Of course, if you have any canine friends in your home, we also offer five fresh holistic dog food diets, as well. Please contact us at any time if you have questions about our fresh cat food or fresh dog food.

FAQ's

1. What is fresh cat food?

Fresh cat food is made from whole ingredients that are gently cooked instead of heavily processed. Gentle cooking preserves nutrients, flavor, and moisture, and the meals are easier to digest than raw or heavily processed options. Many picky eaters also find fresh cat food appealing.

2. Why don't veterinarians recommend dry or canned cat food?

Dry and canned foods are heavily processed and cooked, which tends to reduce the nutritional value of the ingredients. They often contain artificial flavors, colors, and preservatives, plus cheap fillers like wheat and corn. Dry food also lacks the moisture many cats need, since cats often drink very little water.

3. Is raw or freeze-dried food a good alternative?

Raw and freeze-dried foods often use higher-quality ingredients and skip artificial additives. However, veterinarians typically don't recommend raw diets for most cats, especially older cats or cats with sensitive stomachs. Raw food can be hard to digest, many raw and freeze-dried options contain fatty proteins, and freeze-dried food is dry, so it doesn't support hydration well.

4. What should I look for when choosing a fresh cat food?

Look for a food that meets AAFCO standards for complete and balanced nutrition. Choose human-grade ingredients, including high-quality protein, fresh vegetables, and whole grains. The food should also use lean proteins only, because high-fat proteins and organ meats can cause digestive upset and unnecessary weight gain in some cats.

5. What are Chi Cat's fresh cat food diets?

Chi Cat offers two limited-ingredient diets, both developed by veterinarians and a veterinary nutritionist using Traditional Chinese Veterinary Medicine (TCVM) principles. They are prepared in a USDA-certified kitchen and meet AAFCO nutritional levels.

• Fire Diet: lean turkey, millet, pumpkin, and broccoli. It supports gut microbiome balance and healthy skin and coat, and it is low in phosphorus.
• Water Diet: lean pork (a novel protein for many cats), sweet potato, and green beans. It suits cats sensitive to chicken, beef, or turkey, and supports kidney, joint, and bone health.