Feeding Cats
A Healthy Cat Diet
It is important to feed your cat a sensible diet. Cat obesity can cause serious health problems for your cat. You should carefully decide on what to feed your cat, based on the type, age and size of the cat, and stick to that. Changing the cat's food regularly can upset the cat's digestive system, and could cause health problems.
Cats are naturally carnivores (unlike dogs who are omnivores), and need to eat meat based foods for the cat's digestive system to work most efficiently. Cats can survive eating plant based food (such as many types of dried cat foods), however the food must replace all of the types of nutrients that the cat would get from meat based food.
Commercial Cat Food
There are many different types of commercial cat foods available, the main options being canned/foil wrapped meat based food and dried food. Meat based food best replicates the diet that cats would naturally eat, and works best with the cats digestive system. If you prefer to feed your cat dried food, make sure that the food has low levels of carbohydrate. Canned food usually has around 5% carbohydrate, whereas some dry foods can be higher than 50% carbohydrate. The lower the better for a cat, as too much carbohydrate in the cat's diet can lead to health problems such as diabetes.
Many people choose to feed a meat based food as the main diet with the addition of some dried biscuits. This mixture provides variety for the cat, but ensures that all the protein required is in the cat's diet.
Home Made Cat Food
If you choose to make your own cat food, or use food intended for humans to feed your cat, you need to ensure that the balance of nutrients is correct. Cats love to eat foods such as cooked chicken or tinned tuna. You should not feed meats that are too fatty, and do not feed your cat carbohydrate based foods.
Be careful of feeding leftovers from your meals to your cat, as there may not be the correct balance of nutrients in the food. If you give your cat leftovers as well as feeding cat food, make sure that your cat does not become overweight as this can lead to several health problems.
Cat Treats
There are many cat treats available, as well as little scraps of meat or fish left over from your meals. Little treats occasionally are fine to give your cat, but as with humans, too many could cause obesity which leads to health problems.
Water
Cats need to have access to water at all times, including when eating. Cats can easily drink from a bowl or saucer, make sure that you change the water regularly to keep it fresh and make sure it does not run out.
Milk
Cats do not have the enzymes needed to break down the lactose in milk. Some cats enjoy a small amount of milk occasionally and can digest it, others can not. It is best not to give your cat normal milk. There are special cat milks available which are lactose free and can be digested easily by cats.
The RSPCA Complete Cat Care Manual is full of all the information you need to look after your cat. Available in our store.
