Learn Hardcore Portuguese (Portugal): A ração nova parece melhor, e a gata come tudo. - The new pet food seems better, and the cat eats everything.

Usually Portuguese doesn’t use a comma before e. Here it’s optional because you’re linking two independent clauses with different subjects. Both are fine:

A ração nova parece melhor e a gata come tudo.
A ração nova parece melhor, e a gata come tudo. (comma adds a slight pause/emphasis)

What’s the difference between a ração nova and a nova ração?

Word order with adjectives changes nuance:

a nova ração = a different/new kind (new to us compared to the previous one).
a ração nova = a feed that is new (brand-new/recently produced or just opened). In everyday speech, many speakers alternate; context usually makes the intent clear.

Why is it nova and not novo?

Because ração is feminine. Adjectives agree in gender and number:

singular: a ração nova
plural: as rações novas Tip: nouns ending in -ção are usually feminine.

Why parece and not parecem?

Subject–verb agreement. The subject is singular (a ração nova), so parece. If plural:

As rações novas parecem melhores.

Could I say parece ser melhor or parece estar melhor? What about parece que…?

All are possible, with nuances:

parece melhor = seems better (concise, neutral).
parece ser melhor = seems to be better (slightly more explicit).
parece estar melhor = seems to be in a better state (more temporary).
Parece que a ração nova é melhor. = It seems that the new feed is better (clausal version).

How does melhor work here?

melhor is the built-in comparative of bom (good) and also of bem (well). Don’t use mais melhor.
It’s gender-invariant, but it does have a plural: melhor / melhores.
- A ração é melhor. / As rações são melhores.
With the article, o/a melhor = the best.

Does melhor need a “than” phrase?

No. You can leave it implied, or add one:

Parece melhor (do que a antiga).

What exactly does tudo mean here? How is it different from todo/toda?

tudo = everything (neutral pronoun, no gender/number).
todo(a) + article + noun = all the/ the whole.
- toda a ração = all the feed / the whole feed.
- Post-nominal: a ração toda (very common). So:
A gata come tudo. = The cat eats everything (often “all of it” from context).
A gata come toda a ração / a ração toda. = The cat eats all the feed (unambiguous).

How do I say “she eats all of it” using a pronoun?

Most natural: avoid the clitic and name the noun:

A gata come a ração toda. / A gata come toda a ração. If you really refer back with a clitic (EP norm):
A gata come-a toda. (“a” refers to a ração). Note: In Brazil, clitic placement like this is rare in speech; they’d prefer the full noun version above.

Is come tudo ambiguous?

A bit. It can mean “eats everything (given)” or “eats everything (in general).” To be explicit about the feed, use:

A gata come a ração toda / toda a ração.

Why is there an article in a gata? Could I say “my cat”?

Portuguese uses definite articles with specific nouns more consistently than English. A gata = the (known) female cat. For “my cat” in European Portuguese, include the article:

A minha gata (EP norm). Dropping the article (minha gata) is more Brazilian.

Can I replace a gata with ela, or drop the subject?

Yes:

Ela come tudo. (pronoun subject) Portuguese allows dropping subject pronouns, but here the subject is a noun. After it’s been established in context, you can use ela, or sometimes omit the pronoun if context is crystal clear:
Come tudo. (understood from context, but 3rd person can be ambiguous)

Pronunciation tips (European Portuguese)?

ração: the ç sounds like “s”; -ão is a nasal vowel (roughly “rah-SOWN” with nasalized ending).
parece: final e is a reduced vowel (≈ “pah-REH-sɨ”).
melhor: lh is like “ly” (“me-LYOR”).
come: ≈ “KOH-mɨ”.
tudo: “TOO-doo” (both vowels closed).

Could I say sabe melhor (“tastes better”) instead of parece melhor?

Grammatically yes: A ração (até) sabe melhor = it tastes better. Use saber (to taste) mostly for food/drink you actually taste; with pet food, parece melhor (seems/appears better) is the safer, more neutral choice.

How would I put the second clause in the past: “and the cat ate it all”?

… e a gata comeu tudo. To be explicit about the feed:
… e a gata comeu a ração toda / toda a ração.