While very young kittens need feeding several times a day, you only need to feed a cat once or twice a day. The question is finding the best feeding regimen and knowing what to feed your feline friend.

Tuna, fresh sardines, strips of raw beef—what exactly should you feed a cat? (And what shouldn’t you feed a cat.) Firstly, it’s worth remembering cats are carnivores, so they absolutely need meat.

A cat’s gastrointestinal tract and metabolism is familiar with eating meat, whereas cats can’t easily digest plant-based food. Cat’s need meat for essential nutrients, but not just any old meat!

Cooked chicken, beef and turkey are great to feed a cat. Deli meats are less welcomed, as they tend to be high in salt and preservatives. That’s not to say your cat wouldn’t happily chow down on a handful of deli ham!

The other meat to avoid feeding your cat is raw meat. This can contain bacteria, which can result in food poisoning. Additionally, be aware when feeding your cat fish.

I know cartoons, like Tom & Jerry, show cats enjoying being fed tuna but it’s really not that good for them. Yes, they’ll surely eat it but too much tuna can cause mercury poisoning. Plus, it doesn’t have all the nutrients that meat has, so may lead to malnutrition. Of course, giving your kitty tuna every once in a while is completely okay.

What’s more, raw fish should also be avoided. Just like raw meat and eggs, it can contain bacteria. However, raw fish can also reduce your feline friend’s Vitamin B levels, which in the worst-case scenario can cause neurological problems down the track.

What about store-bought cat food?

When it comes to what commercial food to feed a cat, opt for high-quality, nutritional cat food. Make sure the food you choose is intended for your cat’s age and health status.

Also, it’s recommended you feed a cat a mix of wet and dry food. Not only does feeding your cat a mixed diet provides your purring pal with a combination of textures (good for fussy eaters), it also closely resembles their natural feeding behaviour.

When mixing wet and dry food, it can be best to avoid store-bought raw pet food (meat found in the pets section on the supermarket). This typically contains added preservatives to boost its shelf life, which can be bad for your moggy’s health.

Instead mix dry, quality nutrient-rich cat food with wet, human-grade raw meat. This should provide your cat with a well-balanced, nutrient-dense dinner!

Finding a feeding regimen

With regards to when to feed a cat, you can free feed your meowing mate or follow a strict feeding regimen. Alternatively, you might consider combining both!

Free feeding

This method only really works if you are happy to feed your cat dry food only. Wet food, such as raw meat should not be left out all day.

Free feeding gives your feline friend access to food whenever he or she is hungry. Of course, if you have a greedy kitty, this is probably not a good option—unless, the amount of food is limited.

Also, if you have a multiple cat household it may be tricky to tell if one cat is eating all the food. Certainly, free feeding can require some time and monitoring to work out exactly how much food is the right amount. However, it does mean your purring pal can enjoy frequent small meals, rather than one or two bigger meals.

Meal Feeding

This is when you lay down food for your cat at certain times—for example, at 8am and again at 6pm. By doing this, you can easily monitor how much food your cat is eating. Also, if you happen to have more than one cat, you are present to make certain that one cat isn’t eating everyone’s food. Meal feeding is an ideal method if you intend on feeding your cat both wet and dry food.

Combination feeding

This method of feeding allows your furry friend access to dry food throughout the day and wet food once or twice a day—when you provide it.

The advantage is that you can mix up their feeding and give a combination of dry and wet food, which can be good for a cat’s health. However, it can lead to overeating, so it’s important to keep watch of how much dry food your cat is consuming throughout the day.

I have multiple cats to feed

Feeding several cats in the same house can be tricky, especially if you have one VERY HUNGRY moggy! Here are a few tips to keep all cats in check when feeding multiple cats.

  • Feed cats in different areas of the room
  • Use a different room in the house to feed each cat
  • Create a cat-feeding schedule for the cats, allowing them each a set amount of time to eat
  • Use a feeding station that is operated by your cat’s microchip
  • Feed the cats only when someone is home, so they can monitor the cats’ feeding behaviour and ensure each cat eats an ample amount

As a responsible cat owner, it’s important to ensure your cat is eating a healthy, balanced diet and is getting enough nutrients. It’s also essential your kitty has access to clean, fresh water throughout the day.

Keeping an eye on what your cat is eating and when will help avoid any issues with obesity. If in doubt, contact your vet for advice tailored to your individual cat.

 

What do you feed your feline friend?