Let's Talk Cat Health - Kibble and Litter

Let's talk about cats! One of the most common things we are asked about in-store is overall cat health. Our feline friends are masters of disguise and sometimes hide discomfort when something is wrong. As cat parents, it's the little everyday things that really matter and can make the world of difference when it comes to caring for your kitty. We wanted to share with all of you a few of our go-to tips for every day care that can assure you are doing everything you can for your furry companion. While we are asked about cat health so often, it is a topic that doesn't seem to be talked about enough and many new cat parents feel a little lost when it comes to every day care for their cats.

Before we get into it we want to say, we are not veterinarians. We at Bon A-Pet-Treat! are fellow animal lovers (many of us with cats of our own), and what we are discussing today are simply routine tips we have learned from years of experience. We strongly recommend working closely with your vet for what works for your cat, but we hope this helps anyone looking for some baseline information on cat health!

The best place to start when discussing cat health is their diet; a question we hear almost every day is "what should I be feeding my cat?". The answer is not black and white, as there are many options when it comes to feeding cats. However, there are a few things that are a must when it comes to feeding cats:

1. Meat: Cats are obligate carnivores, meaning they are meat lovers and thrive off of a meat based diet!
2. Hydration: Cats naturally have low thirst drives, and do not drink enough water so adding hydration to their diet is key for a healthy kitty.
3. Balance: It's not just about feeding "good ingredients", but about making sure your cat is getting the nutrients they need in order to be their healthiest selves.

Let's dig a little deeper! Starting with reason #1, Meat. Cats are true carnivores and they rely on nutrients that only come from animal protein, like taurine, to keep things like their heart, vision, and overall health in check. You’ll often notice that when cats are on a more meat-based diet, they tend to have better energy, healthier coats, and just do better overall.

This is usually the part where we are asked, "so should I be feeding kibble or raw?".
Kibble can be convenient and budget-friendly, and some cats do well on it, but it’s typically more processed and much lower in moisture, which isn’t ideal for our kitties who already struggle with hydration. However, kibble based diets can work if they are paired with the right tools to make sure they aren't missing out on anything. Raw or fresh, meat-based diets tend to be closer to their biological diet and packed with moisture, which can lead to better digestion, smaller poops, and healthier skin and coats. Fresh is best, however, we realize that raw may not be for everyone. It is not as convenient as it requires portioning, preparation, and sometimes supplementing with other ingredients to find the balance they need. We are going to focus on kibble based diets today, but don't worry we will dive into raw in part 2!

What to look for when choosing a kibble:

• Go for foods with real meat up front. You want to see actual chicken, beef, turkey, etc., listed first — not vague stuff like “meat by‑products.”
• Animal protein beats plant protein for cats. Peas, lentils, soy… those shouldn’t be the main protein source.
• Try to keep the carbs low. Cats don’t really need things like corn, wheat, or a bunch of starchy fillers.
• Simple, clear ingredients are your friend. If you can recognize most of what’s on the label, that’s a good sign.
• Make sure it includes essential nutrients like taurine, which cats need for healthy hearts and eyes.
• Look for foods with minimal processing and no artificial colours, flavours, or preservatives.

There are so many kibble brands out there, but we want to highlight 2 that we think are great options when it comes to cat kibble: Farmina N&D and Canada Fresh.

Farmina N&D Cat Food is a really great option because it focuses heavily on high-quality animal protein first, rather than relying on plant-based fillers. Farmina works closely with veterinarians and uses carefully sourced ingredients, which is a big reason it’s considered a higher-end kibble brand.


You’ll also notice their recipes are designed to be lower in carbs and don’t use artificial preservatives or colors, so it’s much closer to what a cat’s body actually needs, even in a dry format. They have several lines including a pumpkin based line for digestive health, and a quinoa line that targets specific situations like urinary health, digestion, and weight management.

On the other hand, something like Canada Fresh Cat Food is another solid choice, especially if you’re looking for something simpler and more budget-friendly. What we like about Canada Fresh is that they keep their ingredient lists really straightforward, usually focusing on a single animal protein source and avoiding a lot of unnecessary extras. That can be great for cats with sensitivities or for pet parents who just want something easy to understand.

Remember above when we said hydration is key and that kibble based diets can work if they are paired with the right tools? Well, one of the coolest things about kibble is often brands make wet foods that align with their kibbles, making it easier and more convenient for cat parents to add the moisture into their cat's diets that they lack from dry food. Both Farmina N&D and Canada Fresh have wet food lines that can be fed alongside their dry diets and encouraging hydration in ways that aren't just water.

This is where reason #2 Hydration comes into play. Hydration is so important and most of us (and our cats) do not drink enough water. Wet food is a great way to add moisture to your cat's diet, but cats can be picky and sometimes not want to eat wet food. Here are a few other ways that you can add more moisture into your cats diet:

• Fountains: Cats love drama, even in their water. A fountain gives them that fresh, flowing stream they’re instinctively drawn to, instead of a boring bowl that goes stale fast. The movement catches their attention, encourages them to drink more, and keeps them hydrated without the fuss.

• You can also add hydration through cat‑safe bone broth, which many cats love. It’s a tasty, nutrient‑rich way to encourage even more fluid intake.
• Raw food: adding a little raw food once in a while can make your cat feel like they’ve just unlocked a secret bonus level in their meal routine. It’s fresh, it’s juicy, and it taps into their inner tiny tiger. A small scoop can help with smoother digestion, softer fur, and that extra sparkle-in-the-eyes energy. This adds variety, moisture, and fun! Cats love options, and they can get picky over time from eating the same things too often.

At the end of the day, it’s less about being “all or nothing” and more about getting more real, meat-based nutrition, hydration, and #3 balance into their bowl in a way that works for both you and your cat.

To close off this discussion on cat health, we want to tell you a little story about our beloved store cat, Elroy.

Elroy was a healthy, deeply loved (and very spoiled) cat that lived at our Bowness location for 17 years; many of you knew and loved Elroy as much as we did, and his journey is one of the reasons we have decided to talk more about cat health overall. Elroy - like most cats - had a healthy and balanced diet, with water bowls GALORE. He was an avid water drinker, wet food connoisseur, and snack-a-holic. However as he grew older, he experienced some health concerns that we are asked about quite often which are urinary and bladder issues.

Elroy showed no obvious signs of litter box issues until he was nearly 18 years old. When we began noticing what looked like blood in his litter, we knew it was time to see the vet ASAP. After examinations, scans, and further testing, we received heartbreaking news: Elroy had a rapidly growing mass in his bladder. We had to say goodbye to him in January 2026. His condition was something we never expected, but looking back, there may have been subtle signs in his litter box long before we were able to see them.

His story is exactly why we decided to bring in the OdourLock MaxCare Health Monitoring Granules for Clay Litter, as they are designed to help bridge that gap between what we can see and what we might otherwise miss. These granules use a special technology that reacts to your cat’s urine and changes colour when certain markers are present. Specifically, they can detect traces of blood or glucose, which may be early indicators of urinary tract issues or even diabetes. Is it gimmicky? Yes in a way it seems like one of those "too good to be true" items. But is it helpful? Also yes! Sometimes it is hard to detect what is urine and what is blood, so this actually can be a very helpful tool to identify what is going on in your cats litter box.

How they work is pretty simple: after your cat uses the litter box, the granules react to certain things in their urine. If everything looks normal, they stay their usual light colour. But if they detect traces of things like blood or glucose, they can change to a blue colour, giving you a visual cue that something might be worth paying attention to.

It’s important to note that tools like this aren’t a replacement for veterinary care, but they can act as an early warning system. In many cases, detecting issues earlier can mean simpler treatments, better outcomes, and more time with the pets we love. OdourLock MaxCare granules are not recommended for use with plant - based litters as the granules can react even when there isn't a problem; we recommend using OdourLock Clumping Litter for best results!

Looking back on Elroy’s story, we can’t say for certain that this would have changed the outcome, but having something that helps monitor those hidden signs could make a meaningful difference for other cats and their families. 

If you have made it this far, give yourself a little boop on the nose. We could talk about cats all day (obviously), and honestly, this is just scratching the surface of what goes into keeping our feline friends happy and healthy. Every kitty is different, and there’s so much more to explore when it comes to diet, hydration, litter habits, and all those quirky little behaviors that make cats… well, cats. Make it make sense for you.

If you ever want to dive deeper, ask questions, or chat about what might work best for your own furry sidekick, we’d love to see you in store. Come by anytime! We’re always up for a good kitty chat.

📍Bowness: 5111 Bowness Road NW, Calgary, AB T3B 4M9
📍Britannia: 815 49 Ave SW, Calgary, AB T2S 1G8
📍Calgary Farmers' Market South: 510 77 Ave SE, Calgary, AB T2H 1C3
📍Calgary Farmers' Market West: 25 Greenbriar Dr NW, Calgary, AB T3B 6M3