Cat Nutrition

Cats are ‘obligate carnivores’, meaning they must have meat in their diet. Only meat provides taurine (essential for normal vision and a healthy heart), important polyunsaturates such as the fatty acid arachidonic acid, as well as a specific form of vitamin A which they require.

Dry food is convenient for owners, excellent for dental health, and it is more economical to feed a high quality dry cat food than a high quality wet food. However, cats require a lot of moisture in their diets to prevent urinary tract issues, as they have evolved to eat raw meat which has a very high moisture content. For this reason, it is recommended to feed approximately 70% dry food and 30% wet food to adult cats, unless your cat drinks plenty of water from bowls or Cat Water Fountains.

A newborn kitten has a lot of growing up to do. A kitten grows amazingly rapidly in the first six months of his or her life, reaching 75% of adult body weight. They have to manufacture muscle, bone, hair, teeth and a fully developed immune system extraordinarily quickly, so it's hardly surprising that they're going to need the highest quality nutrition, and plenty of it, to get there.

Kittens are full of curiosity about the world around them and need lots of energy to explore it. A specially formulated complete kitten food will contain abundant protein to support healthy tissue and organ development, and higher levels of essential minerals such as calcium, phosphorous, magnesium, zinc and iron to help them build strong bones and teeth. 

Mother's milk makes the ideal first food for every kitten and is naturally rich in everything they need, especially the building blocks for their own natural defences. Although they won't be ready for complete weaning until they are six weeks old, most kittens will start to nibble solid foods at three or four weeks. This is the best time to start offering a specially formulated kitten food - wet or dry. If you choose a dry food, it should be moistened and mashed and food should be offered in a shallow bowl. As they grow older, kittens’ eating habits become more adult (leaving some food in the bowl for later). Most cats are also lactose intolerant, and for this reason, cats in general should not be offered cow’s milk. 

Kittens have small stomachs (about the size of a walnut at 8 weeks old) but large appetites, so feed small amounts on a frequent basis. This should suit your kitten's eating habits as well. After weaning, a kitten will eat at least four meals a day for a steady source of fuel. If a person is unable to accommodate this feeding regime, feed three times a day but also leave a little dry food out as a snack.  

As kittens get older, gradually reduce their feeding to three meals a day and then, by six months old, to two meals a day.Some cats are natural 'grazers', preferring to take several small meals throughout the day (especially those eating mainly dry food), others prefer fewer, bigger meals. Generally cats do not adapt well to eating just one meal a day, as some dogs do.

Cats are creatures of habit, so it is best to feed a kitten in the same place and at the same times each day, in a quiet area away from the hustle and bustle of the house. Place the feeding bowl far away from the litter tray, and if there is more than one cat or kitten, put feeding bowls a reasonable distance apart to avoid confrontations. If the cats do not get along, completely separate feeding locations may be required.Try to serve wet food at room temperature as it smells more attractive and is easier to digest. This can take some time if the food is kept in the fridge, so you can microwave wet food for a short time until it’s warm (never hot) to the touch.

Once a cat is about seven years old, the calorie intake may need to be adjusted. Just like humans, cats also suffer from a lower metabolism as they age. If an older cat is fed the same amount as always, he or she may put on weight. To prevent this, gradually reduce the calories provided to about 20-25 calories per pound of bodyweight. If an older cat is reluctant to eat, it may be due to dental problems. Wet cat food can be fed, warming it for a few seconds in the microwave can make it more appetizing as the heat helps to release the aroma. Cats spend roughly 40% of their lives as seniors, so it's important they eat the right food to stay in good health. A good senior diet provides concentrated, high quality, protein, controlled levels of fat and easy to digest carbohydrates for energy. Key minerals support ageing joints, and vitamins, along with proteins, help support the aging immune system.