Domestic cats are ‘obligate carnivores’ which means they need to have meat in their diet to be able to survive. As strict carnivores, cats have several specific dietary requirements that many other animals don’t.
Choosing a cat food
Feeding your cat a good quality commercial cat food is the best option. It is a real challenge to provide a good balanced diet for your cat with food prepared at home because of their unique dietary requirements. When choosing a food for your cat, make sure it’s a ‘complete’ food that has been specially developed to meet all your cat’s nutritional needs. Check the packaging to be sure. Avoid feeding your cat foods intended for other animals (e.g. dogs).
Although we know the type of foods cats tend to prefer, there is a lot of variation between individual animals. Some of this comes from their food experiences as kittens. Some develop a preference for a food (e.g. wet or dry) when fed over a long period of time. Although some cats may develop a preference, generally it is a good idea to offer your cat both good quality dry and wet foods. International Cat Care recommend feeding healthy cats both wet and dry food so they can enjoy the benefits of both. Research also suggests that feeding a mixed diet may reduce the risk of obesity in your cat compared to a dry only diet.
Dry food can help improve your cat’s oral health, and wet food can help make sure your cat is getting enough water. Cats get lots of their water intake from their food, and wet food obviously provides more water than dry food.
- Wet – Wet food comes in many different flavours and forms with jelly or gravy and in tins, pouches and trays. Some cats may prefer meat or fish-flavoured food – other cats will eat both.
- Dry – Dry food is great for cats who prefer to ‘graze’ as it doesn’t go off as quickly as wet food.
For some cats, especially those with certain medical conditions, increasing their water intake can help manage their condition and so wet food can be beneficial.
Wet and dry foods can vary enormously in price and quality – we recommend opting for the best quality food that you can afford.
If your cat is on a ‘prescription diet’ for medical reasons, talk to your vet before making any changes.
If you need to change your cat’s food (e.g. as a result of advice from your vet) you should aim to do this by initially mixing a very small amount of the new food in with your cat’s usual food and build this quantity up over time. This process should be gradual as changing to a different food or diet too quickly can lead to an upset tummy.
Feeding adult cats – Age 9 months plus
Just like their wild ancestors, cats naturally hunt on their own which means they tend to go for small, manageable prey. A typical mouse only contains about 30 kilocalories, so in the wild cats need to hunt, kill and eat approximately ten mice a day to meet their daily nutritional requirements. Under natural circumstances, this means cats eat little and often, over a 24 hour period.
You can recreate this at home with your cat by feeding them regular small meals alongside a measured amount of dry food left out to allow them to graze.
Cats have a very well-developed sense of smell, so the smell of food is particularly important to them. Cats also tend to prefer food at body temperature (about 35°C) so it’s always best to allow any food kept in a fridge to warm up to room temperature before offering it to your cat.
Food bowls
Ensure your cat has two food bowls – one for wet food and another for dry. Cats tend to prefer shallow bowls with a wide diameter, so the cat’s whiskers don’t touch the sides and to allow the cat to see more easily around them whilst they’re eating. We recommend using glass or ceramic bowls rather than plastic as these can pick up smells which can be unpleasant for your cat.
Food bowls should be placed well away from full-length windows, cat flaps, busy areas, noisy household appliances and litter trays as locating them in these areas is likely to feel dangerous or stressful for your cat. Cats prefer to be able to see all around them while they eat, so placing bowls away from walls and corners allows a cat to position themselves at any point around the bowl.
If your cat is much older, feeding stands and raised bowls can help them access their food and helps them to feel more comfortable when eating.
Making mealtimes interesting
As well as providing food in bowls, feeding time is also a good opportunity to let your cat search for, capture and ‘kill’ their food, like they would in the wild. This way of feeding will give your cat some mental and physical exercise and can also help stop them feeling bored, frustrated or anxious.
Here are some feeding tips to try with your cat:
- Feed your cat little and often, dividing their daily food ration into at least five portions. If it’s not practical for you to feed your cat little and often, then we recommend feeding your cat two meals of wet food per day with a measured amount of dry food available throughout the day so your cat can snack.
- Use puzzle feeders and timed feeders. Puzzle feeders are like feline ’brain-teasers’. Your cat has to engage their brain to release the food, which means meals last longer and they get a little brain and body workout. If your cat is struggling to get the food out of a puzzle feeder, make it easier initially and then slowly make it more challenging over time as they get the hang of it.
- Try scattering some of your cat’s dry food for them to ‘forage’, or hide it in different locations around the home for your cat to seek out and find. We would recommend sticking to dry food for this in order to avoid any forgotten, smelly surprises!
Puzzle feeders and food toys don’t need to be expensive – there are plenty of ideas online for how to make your own homemade ones out of household objects like empty toilet rolls and cardboard boxes.