Cat owners often worry about how they feed their cat. A recent survey found that 32% of owners identify their cat as overweight, while 37% worry that their cat is underweight. We want to get it right, but the trouble is, cats are not like people or dogs when it comes to eating.
Table of contents
What do cats eat in the wild?
Cats in the wild live on prey such as small rodents, birds, rabbits, insects, frogs and reptiles that they hunt and kill. Scientific studies have shown that this wild diet is primarily composed of protein (52%), fats (46%) and a small amount of carbohydrates (1-2%). This means cats are carnivores. They need relatively high amounts of protein in their diet. And they are not as well equipped to break down large amounts of starches and sugars. Cats have a very different digestive system to that of a person or dog. And there are certain nutrients that must be found in their diet in order for them to thrive.
But if you are looking to improve your cat’s diet, it’s also important to understand how they would prefer to eat.
A solitary hunter, cats prefer to eat alone and do not enjoy group feeding. A wild diet would consist of up to 10-20 bite-sized meals a day. It is estimated that only around a quarter of hunts are successful, so cats must remain driven to hunt even if they are well fed. The same is true for our domesticated cats; feeding more doesn’t deter them from hunting. Normal feeding behaviour involves expressing hunting behaviour and expending energy.
Feeding enrichment for cats
One of the best ways to improve your cat’s diet is to try to replicate some of their natural predatory feeding behaviour into their daily routine. Good examples of this include offering small amounts of food often, placing food in different locations, and using feeding puzzles to encourage the cat to expend energy. Cats particularly enjoy predatory play, such as fishing rod toys and retrieval games.
Various commercially available puzzle feeders of varying complexity have been designed to set challenges for the cat to access food. Alternatively, puzzle feeders can be cheaply made from items in the home.
Cats and water
Cats eating a primarily dry diet need to drink more than cats that eat mostly wet food. Even so, fresh, clean water should always be available whatever the diet.
In the wild, cats rarely eat near to where they drink. In doing so, they prevent their water source becoming contaminated by the gut contents of their prey. At home your cat will be happier if their water is kept separate from their food bowl (they are really not a fan of double diner bowls)!
Cats can survive on less water than dogs due to their desert-dwelling ancestry. To compensate for a reduced water intake, cats can form highly concentrated urine. This increases the risk of cats developing urine crystals and bladder stones, which in turn can lead to life-threatening blockages. In some situations (especially some medical conditions) it may be important to take measures to try to maximise your cat’s water intake.
Palatability
The flavours and textures of foods your cat may have experienced as a kitten can affect a cat’s food preferences throughout life. Cats familiar with a certain texture or type of food (moist, dry, and semi-moist) may refuse foods with different textures. However, all cats generally prefer their food served at body temperature rather than straight out of the fridge.
Home-prepared foods and raw diets
Because of their unique and special dietary requirements, it is extremely difficult to provide a good, well-balanced diet for cats using home-prepared meals. It is very difficult to provide the right range and balance of proteins, vitamins, and minerals that cats need to thrive.
Raw food diets are gaining popularity, but like wet and dry commercial diets, it is best to use a commercially produced, complete raw cat food. When feeding raw foods there is a small risk of infectious diseases.
Wet versus dry food
Wet food and dry food both have their advantages. Decisions on what diet to feed may be based on personal preference, the life stage of the cat or be based on veterinary advice. Feeding a good quality balanced diet is key. This is usually best achieved by feeding a commercial diet, whether that comes in tinned, sachet or dry form. The chosen diet must be a complete food, meaning it is nutritionally complete, providing all the nutrients a cat needs in the right amounts and proportions. It should be a diet that is made for cats (not a dog food for example). It is important to read the label on any food packaging to check whether a commercial food is complete, and to follow the manufacturer’s guidelines on how much to feed.
UK Pet Food (formerly the Pet Food Manufacturers’ Association, PFMA) provides information on feeding commercial diets and the labelling of these foods.
Feeding the individual cat
Each cat needs the type and quantity of food that suits their individual needs based on age, weight, activity, and health. A vet may prescribe a specific diet for medical reasons, and it is important to follow their feeding recommendations.
Kittens start eating solid foods from four weeks of age
They are generally able to eat solid foods only by around seven weeks old. Because kittens are growing at a fast rate, they have higher nutritional requirements than adult cats. Good commercial kitten diets have high levels of protein, vitamins, and minerals, which are essential for optimal growth and development. Kitten food can be replaced with an adult food when they are around 10-12 months old. Neutering will decrease the kitten’s energy requirements after neutering.
Older cats may experience changes that affect their appetite
For example, a reduced ability to smell and taste food, and a reduced ability to digest fat and protein. Dental problems may hamper eating as well. It is important that older cats receive regular veterinary health checks and move onto an appropriate life-stage diet from around seven years of age, if they don’t have any underlying medical conditions. Specially formulated senior cat food contains highly digestible protein and fewer calories to compensate for reduced activity levels, helping to prevent obesity and its associated health problems. They may also contain nutrients that boost immune function and are made more palatable and easier to chew.
Overweight and obese cats should aim to lose around 1% of their body weight each week
This will avoid the rate of weight loss being too rapid. Ideal body weight can vary depending on the breed and age of a cat. Veterinary advice should be sought so that an appropriate feeding programme can be devised. Most vet practices run free, nurse-led weight clinics where a goal weight can be set, and the rate of weight loss can be monitored with regular weigh-ins.
Do you know whether your cat is a healthy weight? This article from Cats Protection will help you assess your cat’s body size.
Discussion