It’s National Cat Health Month, and we’re digging a little deeper. While most of us know not to give our cats a saucer of milk, there are sneakier myths that persist in the cat community; misconceptions that might be keeping your cat from feeling their absolute best.
At Birdie & Louie, we believe that knowledge is just as important as nutrition. Let’s debunk five "realistic" myths that might be flying under your radar.
1. The Myth: "Throwing up hairballs is just a normal 'cat thing'."
The Reality: While the occasional hairball happens, frequent vomiting—whether it’s hair or undigested food—is not normal. It is often a sign of potential gut issues or a diet that disagrees with them. A healthy digestive system should be able to pass most hair through the GI tract without issue.
The Birdie & Louie Fix: If your cat is a "frequent puker," look at digestibility. Our recipes are free from common irritants like corn, wheat, and soy, which helps reduce gut inflammation and keeps food moving down, not up.
2. The Myth: "My cat drinks plenty of water, so feeding only dry food is fine."
The Reality: While a high quality dry food like ours is perfect acceptable to feed your cat, cats are desert animals with a naturally low thirst drive. By the time a cat actually feels thirsty and walks to the bowl, they are likely already mildly dehydrated. Feeding exclusively dry food and relying solely on the water bowl often results in chronic, low-level dehydration, which puts immense stress on their kidneys over time.
The Birdie & Louie Fix: Don’t wait for them to drink. "Eat your water" is the best policy. Our wet foods provide hydration passively, mimicking the moisture content of fresh prey.
3. The Myth: "The litter box is supposed to smell bad—it's just part of having a cat."
The Reality: We often assume that room-clearing odors are the price we pay for feline companionship. But intensely foul waste isn't exactly "normal," it may be sign of poor digestion. When a cat eats food filled with difficult-to-digest fillers or low-quality proteins, that waste ferments in the gut, leading to larger, smellier cleanup.
The Birdie & Louie Fix: High-quality food leads to smaller, less odorous waste. Because our recipes are packed with bioavailable proteins that your cat’s body actually absorbs and uses, there is simply less "junk" coming out the other end.
4. The Myth: "A high protein percentage on the bag means it's high quality."
The Reality: This is one of the biggest tricks in the industry. The "Crude Protein" number on a label doesn't tell you where that protein came from. 40% protein from chicken breast is vastly different from 40% protein from pea flour or corn gluten meal. Cats digest animal protein efficiently; they struggle to utilize plant proteins.
The Birdie & Louie Fix: Read the ingredient list, not just the guaranteed analysis. We lead with high quality animal proteins because bioavailability matters. Your cat isn't a vegan bodybuilder; they need meat to build muscle and maintain energy.
5. The Myth: "My cat is just slowing down because of old age."
The Reality: Age is not a disease. If your senior cat is excessively sleeping or hesitating to jump, it’s rarely just "age;" it may be untreated pains or a lack of bioavailable energy. Senior cats actually need more digestible protein to maintain muscle mass, not less.
The Birdie & Louie Fix: Don't accept lethargy as inevitable. Fueling a senior cat with high-quality, easily digestible protein can often bring the "kitten" back out of them.
Meals That Work For Every Life Stage: The Birdie & Louie Way
Ready to bust these myths for good? Birdie & Louie has the meals your cat needs to thrive! Shop our entire collection today.