Feeding your cat or kitten

Cats are obligate carnivores – entirely dependent on a meat-based diet to survive. This makes their nutritional needs quite different from most other animals, and getting the balance right is vital for their long-term health.

What does your cat's food need to contain?

Feed a complete, commercially produced cat food. Preparing a properly balanced homemade diet for a cat is extremely difficult. A good quality commercial food – wet, dry or both – is the most reliable way to meet all of their nutritional needs. Look for the word "complete" on the label, which means it covers everything your cat requires.

A complete cat food will include the right balance of:

• Protein – cats need significantly more than dogs or people, and rely on specific amino acids found only in animal sources
• Fat – for energy, fat-soluble vitamins and essential fatty acids
• Vitamins – including A, D and B3 at the correct levels
• Carbohydrates – cats process these less efficiently than other animals, so balance matters

Offer a mix of wet and dry food. This gives your cat the benefits of both and helps prevent them becoming fixed on a single texture – which can cause problems if you ever need to change their diet.

How often should you feed your cat?

Little and often is best. In the wild, cats hunt and eat multiple small meals throughout the day. Dividing their daily ration into smaller portions spread across the day is better for them than two large meals. Puzzle feeders are a great way to do this – they slow meals down and tap into your cat's natural instinct to work for food.

A couple of practical tips:

• Use shallow bowls or saucers so your cat can see around them while eating and keep their whiskers comfortable
• Choose glass or ceramic over plastic – plastic bowls can develop odours that cats find off-putting

Weight and obesity

Keep a close eye on portion sizes. Obesity is a growing problem for cats. Unlike their wild ancestors, most pet cats simply visit a bowl to eat, with no physical effort required. The food packet is a useful starting point for portions, but regularly weighing your cat helps you stay on top of things.

Dry food is energy-dense, so correct portions often look smaller than you'd expect. If you're unsure what your cat's ideal weight is, give our team a call – we're happy to help.

Feeding kittens

Kittens need food designed for their life stage. They grow quickly and have higher nutritional needs than adult cats, so adult cat food won't cut it. Weaning from milk onto solid food usually begins at around three to four weeks, starting with wet kitten food or softened dry kibble. Offering both helps kittens accept different textures as they grow. Weaning is usually complete by around eight weeks.

Making mealtimes comfortable

Where your cat eats matters as much as what they eat. Cats feel most comfortable feeding in a quiet, calm space away from other cats, busy areas and litter trays.

• If you have more than one cat, provide separate feeding areas
• Avoid strong scents near food – perfume and plug-in diffusers can put cats off eating
• Warming food slightly makes it more appealing, as cats prefer food around body temperature
• If switching to a new food, do it gradually – offer the new food alongside the old and slowly reduce the proportion over time

This article was inspired by guidance originally published by International Cat Care (iCatCare), a leading authority on feline health and welfare. We're grateful for the excellent resources they provide to cat owners and veterinary professionals worldwide.