You may have come across or being recommended pate cat food when your cats are refusing to drink water or have some problems with their daily meals. So what exactly is pate cat food?
Pate is a form of cat food that has a completely smooth consistency like pureed food but firmer. Pate cat food does not contain any chunks or shreds of meat. Pates vary in texture as some are creamier whereas others are firmer.
Many cat owners like pate cat foods as they are easy to spread, making them a great option for creating tasty treats. This is because pate cat food can be nicely blended with water or broth to make a soup that many cats absolutely love.
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Why Cats Love Pate Cat Food
Cats love pate cat food because it is soft, and many prefer this texture. Cats also love how pate cat food comes in a variety of flavors. It is no surprise that when you open a can of pate cat food, your cat will come running.
Is Pate Easier for Cats to Digest
When cats are suffering from digestive issues, wet food is by far the best choice for feeding. Dry food is a common cause of many digestive problems in cats because of the low water content in dry diets and the high amount of carbs.
Dry food also expands in the cat’s stomach after absorbing the saliva and stomach juices thus causing the cat to become nauseous and vomit.
Cats can digest wet food much easier because wet food is high in protein and has high water content. Cats are obligate carnivores, so their digestive tracts are designed to break down high-protein foods. Cats are not designed to metabolize carbs.
A cat’s diet must consist of primarily protein, water, and fat. Only 10% of a cat’s diet should consist of carbs. Wet cat food meets these dietary requirements.
In addition to wet cat food being easier to digest for cats, pate cat food is even better. Pate cat food is the best kind of cat food for cats who contend with digestive issues. This is because pate cat food can be made into a gruel by adding broth or water.
When cat food can be turned into a gruel, this enables cats’ digestive systems to relax and do less work. Gruel is easier to digest than chunks or flakes of food because the digestive tract must do more work to break down foods that are more solid.
Cats who have chronic digestive issues, such as IBS, IBD, or acute, chronic gastritis, will benefit significantly from a gruel-based diet.
3 Key Reasons Why Pate Is Good for Cats
Pate foods are excellent for cats. Three reasons why pate cat food is beneficial is as follows:
Pate Cat Food Can Better Help Meet Hydration Needs
While all wet food is beneficial for cats, pate cat food can be better used to meet the hydration needs of cats who are ill or who have special needs.
This is because pate cat food will still maintain a desirable texture even after broth or water has been added. Other types of cat food, such as flaked or chunks, are not as desirable after the additional liquid is added which will cause cats to refuse to eat.
Pate Cat Food is Beneficial for Cats Who Have Trouble Chewing
Whether pate foods are served in their normal form or have had additional liquid added, they are beneficial for cats who have difficulty chewing. This is because pate cat food is soft, and little chewing is required. Pate foods can be made into a gruel for cats who have lost all their teeth.
Kittens benefit from pate foods because they are easy to manage when they are first learning to eat. Senior cats also benefit from pate foods as they must do less work to eat the food of this consistency.
Pate Cat Food is Excellent for Hiding Medicine
Giving medicine to cats is difficult. Often, cats must be wrapped in towels and blankets, and this still does not stop cat parents from getting scratched or bitten. Pate foods are excellent for hiding medicine because the mush can be molded around pills making them almost impossible to detect.
If you need to give pills to your cat, take some food from the can and mold the mush around the pill. Then, put the mixture into your cat’s bowl. Make sure your cat does not see you make this preparation because many cats will not consume food if they see their parents put additional things into it.
Make sure your cat has eaten the mixture containing the pill first. Once your cat has consumed the entire mixture, you can then offer the rest of the can.
How to Serve Pate Cat Food
Serving pate food is simple. All you need to do is open the can or container and plop the food into your cat’s bowl. Before you serve the food to your cat, mush it up with your fingers or a spoon to make it a smoother consistency.
If you want to make sure your cat is getting enough fluid, add a teaspoon of water or broth to each meal and stir. Make sure to stir well so the food is a consistency that your cat will find appealing.
If you are feeding a kitten, a cat with dental issues, or a senior cat, make the pate into a gruel. Gruel can be made by putting a can of pate cat food into a bowl and then adding half a can of water or broth. You can also use kitten milk replacer for added calories or for sick cats who need more nutrients.
[Related Article: 5 Best Automatic Cat Feeder For Multiple Cats(Buying Guide)]
Types of Wet Cat Food Flavors
Pate cat food comes in a variety of flavors. Common flavors include salmon, beef, pork, duck, chicken, tuna, rabbit, and lamb. There are also more exotic flavors such as quail.
To give cats even more variety, there are interesting blends such as tuna and chicken as well as salmon and shrimp. All the flavors you see in other types of wet cat food can be found as a pate.
