Top Tips on Feeding Your Cat
One of the most important parts of having a pet of any type is making sure they are happy and healthy and a core element of this is giving them the right food.
To understand what is the right food, it helps to understand a little about their dietary needs and with cats, this means the fact that they are carnivores.
But what does this mean for the domestic cat? Differences The first thing to understand about cats is that they are very different to humans and their dietary needs are relatively inflexible.
For example, they need to eat a lot of meat and protein.
If a human ate what a cat needs to eat, we would all be suffering with heart disease at the age of 20.
This is a clear example of how different cats are to humans and even to dogs.
The latter point is important because many owners think they can feed their cats and their dogs the same but this isn't the case.
In fact, dog food can actually be bad for cats and over a long period of time, potentially fatal.
This is because it doesn't fulfil the dietary needs of the cat and is filled with carbohydrates, which cats don't process well through their bodies.
Carbs can also lead to obesity and to diabetes as a result of it.
Great taste When it comes to selecting a cat food, firstly ensure that it meets the standards set out by the governing body of animal food, such as the American Association of Feed Control Officials (AAFCO) in the US.
This means that they are happy the food provides the minimum nutritional needs of the animal.
Don't get drawn in by terms such as premium, gourmet and natural as these are simply tags applied by the manufacturer and have no standard - they may be no better than food without these tags.
The best way to see if your cat likes the food you have chosen is to give it to them but be prepared to offer up an alternative if they don't eat it after a while.
Cats will go on a hunger strike if they don't like their food and this can dangerous for their health.
Long-term hunger strikes can lead to liver failure and even death so if they really don't like the food, try switching it.
Portion size One of the most frequent questions from new cat owners is about how much food to give their cats.
The temptation is that if they are eating it, keep giving them some more because they are hungry, but this isn't really the case - they will eat it because it is there and will often be eating too much.
Whether the cat is an indoor or an outdoor cat affects their portions size, as does if they have been spayed or neutered.
If you are unsure about portion size, speak to your vet who will give you the ideal weight for your cat and how many calories they need to eat each day.
Once you know this figure, stick to it because otherwise, the cat will begin to gain weight.
Scheduling meals is another top tip.
Cats often like to eat lots of small meals during the day so putting food out and leaving it there for them to nibble when they want is a good method.
Giving half their daily food on a morning and half on an evening is recommended and keep treats to a minimum as these often have little nutritional value.
To understand what is the right food, it helps to understand a little about their dietary needs and with cats, this means the fact that they are carnivores.
But what does this mean for the domestic cat? Differences The first thing to understand about cats is that they are very different to humans and their dietary needs are relatively inflexible.
For example, they need to eat a lot of meat and protein.
If a human ate what a cat needs to eat, we would all be suffering with heart disease at the age of 20.
This is a clear example of how different cats are to humans and even to dogs.
The latter point is important because many owners think they can feed their cats and their dogs the same but this isn't the case.
In fact, dog food can actually be bad for cats and over a long period of time, potentially fatal.
This is because it doesn't fulfil the dietary needs of the cat and is filled with carbohydrates, which cats don't process well through their bodies.
Carbs can also lead to obesity and to diabetes as a result of it.
Great taste When it comes to selecting a cat food, firstly ensure that it meets the standards set out by the governing body of animal food, such as the American Association of Feed Control Officials (AAFCO) in the US.
This means that they are happy the food provides the minimum nutritional needs of the animal.
Don't get drawn in by terms such as premium, gourmet and natural as these are simply tags applied by the manufacturer and have no standard - they may be no better than food without these tags.
The best way to see if your cat likes the food you have chosen is to give it to them but be prepared to offer up an alternative if they don't eat it after a while.
Cats will go on a hunger strike if they don't like their food and this can dangerous for their health.
Long-term hunger strikes can lead to liver failure and even death so if they really don't like the food, try switching it.
Portion size One of the most frequent questions from new cat owners is about how much food to give their cats.
The temptation is that if they are eating it, keep giving them some more because they are hungry, but this isn't really the case - they will eat it because it is there and will often be eating too much.
Whether the cat is an indoor or an outdoor cat affects their portions size, as does if they have been spayed or neutered.
If you are unsure about portion size, speak to your vet who will give you the ideal weight for your cat and how many calories they need to eat each day.
Once you know this figure, stick to it because otherwise, the cat will begin to gain weight.
Scheduling meals is another top tip.
Cats often like to eat lots of small meals during the day so putting food out and leaving it there for them to nibble when they want is a good method.
Giving half their daily food on a morning and half on an evening is recommended and keep treats to a minimum as these often have little nutritional value.
