A feeding guide for cats.

What should you be feeding your cat?

Cats in their natural environment, are classified as obligate carnivores, which means their nutritional needs are satisfied by eating a diet that’s based on animal proteins.

In the wild, cats would eat mice, birds and other small animals as their source of protein as well as drinking water.

Based on this, it’s essential that your cat gets sufficient protein to maintain a good healthy diet.

A cat’s body cannot get the proper nutrients with only plant based foods, cats cannot digest food is that’s too high in carbohydrates it lacks the amino acids necessary for your cats health, as an obligate carnivore,

Unfortunately your cat can’t produce all it’s own nutrients.

A cat gets it’s glucose from the protein.

Carbohydrates & Diabetes

What many people don’t realise is that cats can get diabetes from having a diet that is too high in carbohydrates. By constantly feeding your cat carbohydrates it can become insulin resistant

and unable to keep its blood glucose levels at a suitable level.

Some signs that your cat is becoming diabetic include drinking a lot of water and eating considerably more than they usually do.

You might also notice a sign of weakness in the back legs as they tend to wobble a bit when walking.

Unlike humans and other animals it is possible for cats that have diabetes to go into remission provided their diet has been changed with an elimination of high carbohydrate foods.

More protein will help to stabilize the blood glucose levels.

What is the best food for cats wet or dry?

Ideally a wet food diet is best based on the factors mentioned above but there are many cats that will only eat dry food (we have one) but there are many that will eat a combination of both which is a better option.

If a cat only eats dry food make sure it’s a good brand of commercially available cat food and that you provide him/her plenty of water. Never feed your cat puppy or dog food as it will contain taurine, which an essential protein that cats can only obtain through proper cat food.

One advantage that comes with dry food is better oral health and we’ve found this to be true with our own cats, the ones who mainly gravitate to wet food have had far more dental issues than the ones who prefer the dry.

The disadvantage to dry food is it can cause obesity in a lot of cats.

Cats can be fussy eaters and no matter how hard you try they’ll only eat what they want.

Always feed them premium pet foods made from high quality ingredients that are designed to consistently provide a nutritional and balanced diet for every stage of your cats life.

See our article 10 foods you should not feed your cat

The key nutrients required in a cats diet are fats, proteins, carbohydrates as well as vitamins and minerals. For their diet to be nutritionally complete and balanced these must be present in the correct amounts and proportions .

Cat feeding tips

• Warm food smells better and encourages the cat to eat so try to serve their food at room temperature.
• Avoid feeding your cat large amounts of raw fish, tinned tuna,cheese or liver it’s not good for them.
• To avoid digestive upsets make any changes in food and diet slowly over 3 to 5 days.
• Uneaten food should be removed and not left for long periods, always wash the bowls and replace with fresh food.
• Find a stand alone spot for your cats food and water bowls never place your cat’s food or water near it’s litter tray.
• Raw chicken bones can be fed to cats to help keep their teeth clean
• Cats do not require milk but can be given lactose-free pet milk if necessary
• Always have clean fresh water available for them at all times

Calorie Calculator for Cats

A feeding guide for cats is information exclusively of a general reference nature. Do not disregard veterinary advice or delay treatment as a result of accessing information at this site.

A feeding guide for cats