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Pet Lifestyle is your pet guide and information dot com.
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Pet Cat Care Guide
Basic care for cats
Feeding and Nutrition
Canned or Dry Food
Water
Mealtime
Treats
Weight Problems
Feeding and Nutrition
- Standing in front of the vast selection of cat food
available at pet-supply stores, you may feel you need a degree
in feline nutrition to choose the appropriate food for your
pet. Start narrowing down your choices by selecting from products
appropriate for your cat's age. Many manufacturers have a
food formulated for each stage of a cat's life: kitten, adult
(regular and diet) and senior. Kittens, for example, need
more protein and fat than adult cats, while older cats need
fewer calories.
If your cat has any health problems, this will affect your
choice. An overweight cat can benefit from a diet food, but
check with your vet before making a switch. If your cat is
pregnant or has kidney or heart disease, your vet may suggest
a special "prescription" diet available through the clinic.
This may be temporary, although in some cases your cat will
have to be on this food for the rest of his life.
For the long-term health of your cat, a premium brand is
worth the investment; ask your vet for some recommendations.
You may want to alternate among a few of the high-quality
brands, serving one kind for a couple of months, then changing
to another. If your cat becomes so used to one type of food
that it's all he'll eat, you'll be in a bind if ever it isn't
available. But because cats' digestive systems can be delicate,
radical changes of food may cause diarrhea. Introduce new
food or alternate brands gradually, adding more of the new
food while decreasing the proportion of the original food
until the changeover is complete.
Canned or Dry Food -
Choosing between canned or dry food is largely a matter of
convenience and preference. While you may find yourself holding
your breath as you scoop out canned food, most cats love this
mucky stuff, and the high nutrient content in the better brands
means your cat can eat smaller quantities to meet his dietary
needs. But any portion left in the can isn't very tasty if
served straight out of the fridge. First heat it up a bit,
but only to body temperature. Dry food is easier to serve
and won't spoil if left out for the day. It's also considerably
cheaper.
Water - An ample supply of clean
water is also key to your cat's well-being. To make the watering
hole appealing to fastidious feline tastes, keep the bowl
clean and change the water at least twice a day. While cats
eating canned food consume a fair amount of water in their
diets, cats eating only dry food will need to drink more.
Mealtime - While leaving out
dry food so your cat can eat whenever he's hungry may be convenient,
"free feeding" leads some cats to overeat, often out of boredom.
The alternative is scheduled feeding: Two or three meals a
day at set intervals is a good pattern. Feed your cat in the
same place every time — a quiet spot that's out of traffic
routes and well away from the litter box, or your cat may
refuse to eat there. Leave the food out for a set period of
time (15 to 30 minutes), then remove the bowls.
Mealtime becomes more complicated when you have more than
one cat, since their appetites and eating behavior will probably
vary; they may even eat different foods. Use separate food
and water bowls for each cat, set well apart, always placed
in the same locations. Feed the slowest eater first and the
fastest eater last. If one of your cats gulps down his share
and immediately bulldozes his way into the neighboring bowl,
discourage him, removing him from the room if necessary. Or,
if you have a cat that doesn't eat his entire portion in one
go, cover his bowl with a plate, then uncover it later for
him to finish (refrigerate the leftovers if the food is canned).
Treats - An occasional healthy
treat in addition to regular meals won't cause any harm and
can, in fact, be a useful training tool. But the key words
here are "occasional" and "healthy." Limit between-meal extras
or you'll eventually have an overweight cat on your hands.
Avoid foods intended for humans; they don't contribute to
a complete and balanced cat diet. Fish, for example, is not
only high in unsaturated fat (which cats have trouble metabolizing),
but in sufficient quantities will sap the body of vitamin
E and lead to steatitis (a painful skin condition). Pet-supply
stores offer a variety of healthful treats; ask your vet which
ones would be good for your cat.
Be careful about milk. Many adult cats are lactose-intolerant,
so diarrhea may result. If you really want to give liquid
treats, you can try milk in very small amounts, but stop the
practice if it causes an intestinal upset.
Weight Problems - In
most cases, if you feed your cat high quality food in quantities
suggested by your veterinarian, and if he gets sufficient
exercise, he will maintain an ideal weight. But if your cat
becomes overweight or is underweight, it's time to take action.
You can judge your cat's correct weight by his ribs: If they
are clearly visible, he's too thin; if they are difficult
to detect by touch, he's overweight. Take a look at your cat
from above: If his sides bulge out, he's overweight; if they
are concave, he's too thin.
Obesity, the most common food-related problem, is easy to
correct. First, talk to your vet about the weight-loss program
that's right for your cat. In many cases, this will involve
switching to a high-fiber, low-fat diet and scheduled feedings.
Introduce any new diet slowly — suddenly placing an overweight
cat on a strict diet can cause fat to accumulate in the liver,
leading to liver failure. Along with a change of food, it's
also a good idea to encourage a sedentary cat to become more
active through play.
The vet should see a scrawny cat that doesn't gain weight.
If there is no health problem, ask for a good food to bulk
up your bag of bones. It's not a big deal if your cat skips
a meal every now and then, but a finicky cat that repeatedly
turns up his nose at his food is another story. If he's holding
out because a new food is being introduced, make the change
even more gradual. Some cats simply don't like a variety of
foods and may not eat again until they get their favorite
dish. It will become more dangerous to hold out, in the hope
that your cat will come around to the new diet, than to feed
the same food daily. Don't let your cat go without food any
longer than 24 hours before you take him to the vet; disinterest
in food may be the first sign of a serious illness.
BACK TO TOP
Find your cat needs here at Pet Lifestyle.
Cat Care Basics Guide
This includes - Feeding & Nutrition, Pregnancy, Grooming,
Sterilization, Common Health Problems, Emergency Care.
Cat Choosing Basics This includes
- Purebred Basics, Shopping Around, Mixed Breeds, Cat-Proofed
House, Big Commitment, First Days.
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