Top Tips for Feeding Your Cat the Right Way

All cats are unique, so they may have different tastes when it comes to choosing the smell, texture and flavour of their food – but there are also foods that they can’t eat which we won’t cover in this article.

Mellowed Cats is a good place to check whether or not a certain food is healthy for your cat. Mealtime between pets and their owners can be a time for bonding and relaxation. When looking for advice on feeding your furry friend, it’s easy to get lost in the heaps of information available on the Internet. This is why, by using recommendations from pet experts, we have come up with some tips that you can use to feed your cat the right way.

1. Find The Right Cat Food

The first step to feeding your cat properly is finding the right cat food. You’ll have to pay due attention to your cat’s age, breed, weight, and overall health. Kittens will need kitten food, while cats over seven years will most likely be suited with senior cat food. Cats not too young can survive on an adult cat maintenance formula. There are varieties of textures and flavours of cat food to choose from. You can serve wet or dry cat food or a mixture of both.

2. Consider Feeding Canned Food

A lot of cat owners prefer to serve up dry food, considering its convenience and low cost. For most felines, dry food is an excellent option that will allow them to maintain a healthy weight with appropriate nutrient levels.

However, there are many benefits to canned cat food, which is low in carbohydrates and often high in moisture compared to dry food. Cats with diabetes, chronic kidney disease or lower urinary tract diseases especially benefit from canned food. Unfortunately, cats used to consuming dry food may be unwilling to transition themselves to a canned diet when the need arises. Consider introducing your kitten to eating little amounts of canned food to make the transition process easier when they get older.

3. Establish A Feeding Routine

A feeding schedule will help to acquaint your cat with what to expect during mealtimes. This can make the whole feeding process more convenient for both of you. You may decide to dish out a whole day’s serving of cat food each morning for your cat to eat throughout the day or divide the overall amount of food for each day into 2 or 3 servings. Wet cat food ought to be eaten within 20-30 minutes after dishing, and any remaining food refrigerated or consumed within twenty four hours of opening.

4. Watch Your Cat’s Weight By Regulating Food Portions

Feline obesity is usually associated with the constant consumption of dry food. To keep your cat from being overweight, pay careful attention to food portions or size. You can also discuss a weight loss program with your veterinarian. He/she can find any underlying condition which may be causing your cat to hold excess weight while also giving you advice on ways your pet can lose weight safely.

5. Find The Right Feeding Dish

Whiskers help cats to navigate their surroundings, communicate their moods and figure out the width of openings.

A deep bowl with high edges can irritate your cat’s whiskers, making mealtimes uncomfortable. This phenomenon is called “whisker stress” and may be quite upsetting to them.

The best kinds of cat bowls are wide and shallow but with small lips. A shallow bowl prevents whisker irritation and also lets your cat remain conscious of their surrounding during mealtimes, which can put them at ease.

Consider Feeding Your Cat In A Manner That Simulates Hunting Behaviour

Cats in the wilderness are constantly on the hunt for their next meal. Compared to the typical house cat who spends much of her day lazying around on the couch, save for the occasional waddling towards the food bowl to chomp down on some food. It’s not difficult to understand why our pet cats tend to be obese or sometimes demonstrate a few problematic behaviours.

Fortunately, many feeders have been designed to encourage your indoor cat’s activeness throughout the day, providing both exercise and mental stimulation.

7. Always Introduce Diet Changes Gradually

Any abrupt food change may cause diarrhoea or vomiting, particularly in cats with weak or sensitive stomach. Also, a few cats are picky eaters and would prefer to go hungry rather than try something new. Most cats experience major negative effects from starving themselves, so make sure that your cat has completely transitioned to the new food before completely removing the old food from its diet.

Any change to a cat’s diet has to be gradual. By gradually increasing the quantity of new food in the serving for each day, you will be able to fully transition your cat to the new diet without any issues.

Conclusion

Feeding your cat the right way shouldn’t be something that is difficult if you pay attention to their needs and preferences. Do not offer your cat home-cooked meals, as these meals may likely not satisfy the complex nutritional requirements of your pet. Rather, stick to the specifically formulated pet foods to guarantee the best health, nutrient, and weight levels.