Snacks and treats should make up no more than 10% of your cat’s diet – if that.Īs for when you should treat your cat, it’s pretty simple: As a reward for good behaviour, such as using a scratching post instead of your furniture or as an “apology” for making them endure something unpleasant, such as a teeth cleaning session or a dose of medication. Like with many things, moderation is the key. If left unchecked, this can lead to obesity, and all of its associated health problems. Ultimately, when it comes to snacks and treats, cats are just like you and me: The occasional one now and then won’t hurt, but too much of a good thing can introduce too much salt, and too many calories, to their diet. Also, overdoing it on the treats will interfere with your cat’s strict nutritional requirements - which, again, are inflexible and demanding as is. The last thing you want to do is make them even pickier. And remember, cats are already fussy eaters. But too many treats can make your cat overly finicky. The occasional treat can be a great reward for any cat. It’s certainly no substitution for clean water. No matter how much they seem to enjoy it, more often than not, milk is not very good for cats at all. But the truth is, most cats are lactose intolerant. A persistent myth is that cats like milk, which is why some cat owners sometimes treat cats to a saucer of milk. Without water, cats can become seriously ill in a matter of hours. No matter how regularly you feed your cats, they’ll always need constant access to clean drinking water. ![]() Luckily, most of the leading cat food brands sell different recipes for the various stages of your cat’s life. Kittens, for instance, being the unstoppable little balls of energy that they are, need a lot more calories than adult cats. Your cat will also have different dietary requirements at different stages of life. A good strategy is to put out half of their recommended daily portion in the morning, before you leave for work, and the other half when you get home. So rather than sticking to a strict feeding schedule, aim to leave food out for your cat to graze on whenever they feel the need. In this way, you’ll help your cat to maintain a healthy weight.Īs for feeding times, cats like to eat small meals throughout the day. It’s then up to you to stick to these portion sizes – even if they seem too small. They’ll also be able to advise on portion sizes based on your cat’s weight and their daily calorie requirements. Again, your vet will be able to recommend a feeding plan that’s right for your cat. For example, is your cat strictly a house cat, or are they allowed to roam freely outside?Have they been spayed or neutered? How old are they?Īll of these issues, and more, will affect your cat’s daily dietary requirements. When should you feed your cat, how often should you feed them, and how much should you feed them? Unfortunately, there’s no single right answer to any of these questions. But once you start seeing empty bowls and healthy stools – that is, not diarrhoea – you’ll know that you’ve struck gold. You might have to experiment with a few different brands before you find something that meets your cat’s exacting requirements. And obviously, cats that don’t eat – or who don’t eat enough – will likely fall ill before long. If they don’t like the taste of the food you choose for them, they’re much more likely to go on a hunger strike than they are to put up and shut up. Unfortunately, cats can be very fussy eaters. If you’re unsure which food is right for your cat, ask your vet for some recommendations. When choosing cat food, whether it’s wet or dry, check the packaging to ensure that it meets all of your cat’s nutritional requirements. To stay healthy, cats need a good daily dose of vitamins D and E, a source of Omega 6, and a balanced intake of minerals. But that’s not to say that you can just feed them any meat. But they will always need the high levels of fat and protein that are only found in meat. As we’ll see later, there are many things that they simply cannot process. ![]() When it comes to nutrition, cats are inflexible. ![]() ![]() While humans can adapt to plant-based diets, cats need meat. The main thing you need to remember when feeding your cat is that cats are carnivores. Then, if you have any more questions about feeding your cat, either talk to your vet, or give us a call on 01924 465 592. This is a broad topic that could potentially run for hundreds of pages, but we’ve decided to keep things simple for now. Here’s our essential guide to diet and nutrition for cats.
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