Cat Feeding Tips

Pet Feeding Tips - What Food should you feed your cat? 
It is said that the best diet consists of mixed dry and wet food.  Usually dry in the morning and wet in the evening. 

To have variety in your pets diet is more fun for them also so change the flavours.
If your pet only has wet food, their diet can be to rich and they make take longer to accept dry food.  Dry food can be kinder on their teeth.

• Your budget may play a part on your pet’s diet.
• Wet cat food can last a fairly long time providing it is unopened.  It can smell and spoil when left out.
• Wet food should be disposed of after 30 minutes of room temperature exposure.  This is to avoid bacteria growth.
• Opened cans/tins can be left in the fridge for 24 hours.
• Canned food does not keep as well as the wet sachets; perhaps the quality is not as good as it develops an offish smell after 2 hours.  Ask any cat!
• Wet sachets are of course more expensive but you can try to stretch the food by squeezing a few dry cat biscuits.  Cats love it, the only trouble is depending on the cat, up to 4 sachets are required per day.
• We not serve wet food straight from the fridge, allow food warm to room temperature before serving.
  

Some human food is ok for cats but be careful with ingredients and quantities always in moderation.

If you reheat food, please allow food to cool down before serving.  Cats are a lot more sensitive to high temperatures than humans.
The advantage of homemade cat food is that at least you know what is in it.
Even though you can control what is in your cat’s food this way, unless you are a pet nutritionist or expert, you should allow pet food manufacturers to provide the majority of your cat’s diet.
Your cat’s nutritional needs will be dependent on its age, health and lifestyle.

Changing food brands may not be easy, your cat may refuse to eat until the fancy food returns to his/her plate.
Changes to diet may be easier when introduced slowly.  Your cat will ask for the usual food until you give in, specially if the new food is not as rich as before.

With or without making changes in food type, if you cat does not eat for longer than 24 hours, make an appointment to see the Vet straight away.
A cat can survive without food for days but without water it cannot.

Overall, feeding your cat with main brand name cat food should provide its nutritional needs.

Check that the quality of food packaging has not been compromised (tins/boxes/sachets).  If so, re-consider before using such food.
Always buy from a reputable pet food supplier and ensure that the food label is in date.

• Start by checking the label.
• A less expensive brand may contain the same amount of protein as premium cat food.   However, cheaper foods are often made from cheaper ingredients.  Ethical views may play a part here.
• The label may not always disclose the food source, you may need to research deeper  to find this information by writing to the manufacturer, search on internet and pet    magazines.
• Just like in food for human consumption, some food manufacturers get away with disclosing little information about food source and how animals were treated before arriving at production line.
• Most colourings and additives are disguised with E numbers and more often than often these are not critical to your cat’s diet.  The colour is to make the food look for vibrant and attractive to the eye and the additives are a cheap way to bulk up the food, similar to what manufacturers do to cheese for human consumption.
• It is not all bad, good pet food suppliers carry out good research into pet nutrition . They regularly improve their recipes, use quality ingredients and add Vitamin/Mineral supplements to pet food.  Making it worthwhile the extra expense to invest in premium food.
  

If you invest in a quality diet, you increase the chances of having a healthy cat.  But do not forget your own diet, you need the energy also!

Kittens have different needs, higher in calories and fat to allow them to grow.
Their diet should be mainly chicken and fish, you can buy kitten food at any pet store but check the label.  Avoid foods that contain additives and by-products.  Ideally a diet based on wet food which will be better for your kitten.

Always follow your Vet’s recommendations.  Most pet stores have a good selection of special diet foods but always check the label and ask your Vet  for advice.
Cats like to eat grass because it can help regulate their digestive system and can help them cough out fur balls.
You  may find that they eat other plants too.
So make your garden safe and avoid flowers/plants that are poisonous to your cat like lilies, hydrangea, crocus, sweet pea to name a few.
If you have a garden get cat friendly plants like catnip, oat grass and cat grass.  A small pot can also do the trick.

There are fish oil supplements you can get at pet store which may help improve their skin and coat.  But do not force your cat to take these.  If your cat enjoys these as treats, great.  Otherwise, avoid causing unnecessary distress.
Unlike humans, cats cannot survive on vegetarian food alone.  Not a long healthy life anyway. 
Essential nutrients like protein amino acids are only found in animals and it is design to keep your cat in good shape.
There is protein in vegetables but not enough for cats.



Cats should not be given dog food either.  This is because dog food does not contain sufficient Vitamin A and essential fatty acids which cats need more than dogs.

Raw food may be fun for your cat to simulate the hunting ritual but raw meat can sometimes contain diseases.  As a precaution, it is best to cook meat before giving it to your cat.

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