RedRock - with a longhaired cat, you definitely will need to brush her, and she's beautiful! Or you'll learn about the dreaded hairballs.

Cats are obligate carnivores - must eat meat, don't eat or digest carbs very well. So with that thought in mind, the the http://www.felinediabetes.com/diet.htm website has some interesting links to cat nutrition. Basically cheap cat food is BAD.

I have two elderly cats, both with nutritionally related diseases, that I don't know if I fed them differently they would be healthier now or not. They ate ScienceDiet most of their lives, which I thought was good for them. Still high in carb count. Or it could just be an elderly cat thing.

Still your kitty is beautiful, may you have may happy years together. Catnip mice are lovely toys.