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Your kitty is a veritable fluffy bundle of joy and wonder that has filled your heart with love and been by your side during some of the most important moments in your life. Like all pet owners, it’s safe to assume your top priority is to make your pet happy, ensure her wellbeing and invest in the right products to aid in her physical and cognitive development process. So, in other words, you are probably ready to purchase premium ZIWI Peak cat food from an online pet shop that delivers in your local area. What are the main reasons for investing in premium kibble or wet cat food? Let’s start with the basics: quality.
The food presented to our pets is more than just a simple energy source. It’s the best medicine we can give them, and represents a way to boost their immune systems, strengthen their bodies, clear their minds and reduce unwanted behavioural traits that might have a negative effect on their lifespan. Cats, unlike us and dogs, are carnivorous animals, which means their nutritional needs are a bit different from what we are used to, and their food intake should be well regulated. Investing in premium cat foods, if you think about it, represents an investment in the future well-being of your kitty.
It’s All About What Top Brands Can Offer
Sure, occasionally you can go for no-name brands that are just starting to get their foothold in the Australian market. But do this for an extended period of time, and you will gamble with the long-term health of your fluffy bundle of you. Premium kibble, like the one produced by ZIWI Peak cat food, takes into consideration the nutritional values of our pets at different stages of their development, and top brands employ large-scale teams to develop formulas that will offer only the right nutritional balance for our small but fierce companions.
Top brands have the most to lose if their commercialised products are not of superior quality, and for this reason, they are typically open with their protein sourcing and to collaborating with organisations like AAFCO or the Pet Food Industry Association of Australia. The biology of cats is different from that of other pets, and in many ways, our fluffy bundles of joy are a bit more sensitive when it comes to the foods they can process. After all, the metabolism of cats is dependent on nutrients that are only found in animal tissue, such as vitamin A or arginine.
However, perhaps the most important amino acid found in animal tissue and vital for the long-term development of your cat is taurine. Without this chemical, cats can become susceptible to eye issues, muscle weakness, bone density problems, or even cardiomyopathy in extreme cases. Therefore, the vast majority of premium kibble brands, like ZIWI Peak cat food, supplement their product with added taurine and arachidonic acid, the latter of which is essential for cell signalling and platelet aggregation. Plus, unlike with dogs that can synthesise it from linoleic acid, cats can only get arachidonic acid from their meat-based diet, or from supplements.
What Do You Risk If Going for Low-Quality Kibble?
First of all, selecting the products of a no-name brand doesn’t always mean the kibble will also be of low quality. But, at least in some cases, there is a chance that the cat food will be less nutritious than the one manufactured by an internationally recognised label. Plus, cheaper brands can also be less precise with the calories of their recommended serving sizes, could use lower-quality ingredients in the production of the cat food, and might be less consistent with their decontamination procedures, which sometimes results in more chances of gastrointestinal issues.
Even when purchased from an online pet shop, premium kibble, like ZIWI Peak cat food, can be slightly more expensive than the options commercialised by no-name brands. However, it’s also more nutrient-dense and digestible, which in the long term means fewer vet visits for diet-induced gastrointestinal issues. Our cats are fierce little warriors. That said, they are fragile little creatures that could end up suffering from a myriad of significant health issues caused by poor nutrition.
Some examples of this are FLUTD, a potentially fatal ailment that is often caused by the long-term ingestion of kibble with excessive amounts of phosphorus or magnesium, or CKD, which can often be triggered by eating kibble with 1) low moisture levels and 2) that’s made with proteins from low-quality sources. Low-quality cat food can lead to the appearance of specific food allergies, might trigger skin dermatitis, is often associated with dental issues, and, not to be forgotten, it is associated with obesity. Yes, premium brands like ZIWI Peak cat food can sometimes be more expensive. But, in the long run, the benefits added to the well-being of your pet will far outweigh any negative financial impact of going for high-quality cat food labels.
Why Should You Buy Your Cat Food from an Online Pet Shop?
It’s all about convenience. Do you like to purchase your products in bulk, and you’re not exactly keen on driving to your local pet store and then transporting your purchased goods back to your residence? If so, an online pet shop could represent the best solution for your particular lifestyle. Kibble, especially when purchased in large enough quantities, is not exactly the lightest item to carry, and it can be particularly annoying to purchase if you are mainly relying on public transportation for your daily errands.
On top of that, online pet shops often feature a more diverse selection of products than is the case with local pet stores, and you can compare the products you’re interested in side-by-side, including their price and the presented nutritional facts. Yes, nothing truly beats receiving custom product recommendations from the staff of a local pet store. But, strictly from a convenience standpoint, online pet supply stores are more practical, and can, in many cases, even be the cheaper option.