Cats are wonderful pets to have. They mainly take care of themselves and their independence means less work for you. At the same time, they love to play and snuggle and do all those silly cat things that make you laugh.
To ensure your cat lives a long and healthy life, it’s important to consider proper cat nutrition. What’s in your cat’s diet?
Our guide below explains cat nutritional needs and how to make sure you’re providing your cat with everything they need. Continue reading to learn more.
Feeding Your Kitten
If the momma cat isn’t around to feed her kittens, you’ll need to bottle feed your kitten milk until he’s ready to transition to solid foods. Speak with a veterinarian to find the right milk for your kitten. When it’s time to transition them from milk to kitten food, be sure the food is specifically for kittens.
Your kitten can bottle feed on milk until about 8 weeks, but be sure to offer kitten food to him earlier and have him doing both until eventually, you take away the milk. They can start chewing on dry kitten food at around 5-6 weeks.
Feeding Your Adult Cat
The amount of food you allow your cat to eat depends on how active they are and the size of the cat. The food you choose should be a premium cat food with high-quality ingredients and enough protein to keep them healthy. Cats are carnivores and will need meat as the main ingredient in their diet.
Fresh and clean water should be available to your cat at all times. Read the label on the food bag or container and feed accordingly. You typically want to give your cat 2 full meals a day.
Space them out with about 8-12 hours in between. Remember, if your cat is more active, he might want to eat more, and it’s okay to adjust the feeding schedule to suit his needs. If you’re feeding him dry food, you can even leave the food out during the day for him to access at all times.
The food won’t go bad sitting out all day as soft food might. If your cat is recovering from surgery, has medical issues, or any other type of special diet needs, then be sure to speak with his vet about a proper diet.
Extra Tip: Although your cat might love indulging in milk drinking, you want to avoid giving him dairy products as cats don’t have the proper enzymes to break down the lactose found in milk products.
Feeding Your Senior Cat
As your cat begins to age, you’ll start to see changes to his body and overall health. It’s essential to start preparing for a senior feeding schedule when your cat reaches the age of 7. You want to maintain his body weight, so it’s important you stick to a consistent feeding schedule with no changes.
You’ll also want to take him to the vet on a more regular basis as well.
Maintain Proper Cat Nutrition in Your Cat’s Diet
To maintain proper cat nutrition in your cat’s diet, be sure to feed him high-quality foods whether that be wet food or dry food. Create a feeding schedule that best suits your cat’s needs and then be consistent with it.
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