Your cat depends upon you to supply him or her with food and water throughout life. It is important that you consider the implications of the choice of food you give to your cat. A well balanced and healthy diet will allow your cat to live a longer and healthier life than if they are fed a poor quality diet. It is not my aim in this article to suggest which food you should give to your cat but rather to point out some common issues which I have come across in everyday veterinary practice.
Water should always be available for your cat. Water should of course be clean and fresh. Many cats prefer rainwater to our tap water and this is probably because they can detect chemicals such as chlorine in it. If you keep some tap water in a glass bottle in the fridge overnight for your cat much of the chlorine will come out of it and your cat may find it more palatable. Many cats enjoy still spring water but do take care with this as some types have a high mineral content which may not be good for their kidneys. I like to give cats their water in large shallow metal bowls as plastic ones may impart an unpleasant taste to the water. The cat should be able to reach the water without its whiskers touching the sides of the bowl. Of course, we all know of cats who enjoy drinking out of dripping taps and there is no harm in this, but I would advise against allowing cats to drink out of the toilet!
Cats enjoy milk and cream in many cases, but it may not be very good for them and may cause tummy upsets. Remember that the milk we usually buy is intended to be given to young calves, not to cats (or humans). Mother Nature has done a very good job of making it just right for the baby bovines it was intended for but that does not mean it is good for adult cats. Cats should ideally not be given milk; they do not need it. If you like to give your cat milk or cream and your cat does not get a tummy upset from it, give it as an occasional treat only.
Cat owners sometimes ask how often they should be feeding their cat. The number of feeds offered per day will need to be tailored to the individual cat's needs and the type of food which you are providing. Many owners choose to give their cat two meals a day. In most cases this is ideal as cats do not really do well on just one meal per day as many dogs can. If you do not offer food twice per day your cat may get hungry and decide to visit your neighbors for food. Hunger may also lead to the vomiting of bile. Sometimes cats may be provided with a large quantity of dry food to last them through the day. I do not really advocate this approach as the cat may eat large quantities of food and this can lead to obesity.
The type of food you should offer your cat to a large extent depends upon your personal preferences. Most good quality brands of cat food are nutritionally balanced and will meet all your cat's dietary needs. Once you have decided upon a particular type and brand of food it is wise to stick to it as far as possible. Cats do not really need the variety in their diet which we enjoy. Regularly changing the brand or type of food offered to your cat may lead to tummy upsets, food intolerance and a fussy eater.
I personally prefer the wet types of food over the dry biscuit varieties. "Wet" or tinned foods are a better mimic of the natural food of the cat (i.e. small birds and rodents) and have a higher water content than dry foods. Cats fed exclusively on dry foods may not take in adequate amounts of water to make up for the lost water content of these foods. This may lead to bladder and kidney problems later in life. Wet foods do not stay fresh all day and need to be taken up if not eaten within a reasonable length of time. The cat therefore has less opportunity to snack during the day than if left with dry food available all the time. As in people, constant snacking can lead to weight problems and I often see overweight cats which are fed a dry food diet. Dry foods do have the advantage of staying fresher all day and can help to keep the teeth healthy, but overall I do prefer to feed cats the wet foods with a few biscuits on top as a crunchy treat.
If you do ever need to change the diet of your cat it should be done gradually in order to prevent tummy upsets. At first mix a small amount of the new food in with the old diet. This will allow your cat to become used to it without having to eat too much. Remember that it is natural for cats to just sniff at novel foods when they first experience them. They need to get used to having a new type of food around and will not necessarily eat any of it until they have had a chance to get a good look (and sniff) at it a few times. Allow this to happen and do not be tempted to give up if you have to throw the first few portions away. Your cat is just being naturally cautious about the new food. Over the course of about ten days gradually increase the amount of new diet and decrease the amount of old food in each meal until your cat is eating the new diet exclusively. You should not allow your cat to go completely without food for longer than 48 hours, so if your cat really does not like the new diet you may have to take care that he eats something. It is O.K. to warm or moisten cat food to increase the palatability of it and in some cases you may need to hand-feed your cat to ensure that it takes something at first. Most healthy adult cats usually take to a new diet relatively easily, but if your cat is unwell or elderly or does not seem to be eating well at all it would be advisable to speak to your vet.
Remember that feeding your cat a good diet will give your cat a better chance of a long and healthy life. Cats may choose to eat foods which are not very healthy if given the chance (just like children) but it is your job to choose the diet which is most appropriate for your cat and ensure that a balanced diet is provided for him or her.
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