Nutrition

Just like you and I, cats need the right food in the right amounts in order to be healthy and happy. It’s also a legal requirement for cat owners to make sure their cat has a suitable diet.

The food that a cat needs depends on their age and lifestyle. For every cat, a nutritionally balanced diet throughout their life is key to promoting good health. 

Feeding your cat a complete commercial pet food is the best way of ensuring they get all the nutrients they need.

Do you eat the same amount as a one-year-old? Or how about your Dad or Uncle – do they eat more than you? ‘Life-stage feeding’ means feeding your cat different food at different ages or stages of their life, according to their needs. For example, kittens need food containing more calories because they are so energetic. Many commercially made pet foods are available for different life stages; for example, kitten, junior, adult and senior. 

Life-stage feeding is good because it matches a cat’s food to what is needed at different ages. It is really important though to remember to always introduce new food gradually by mixing new food in with the old food (the food you have been feeding your cat). Slowly add more of the new food and less of the old food each time to avoid giving your cat or kitten a very sore stomach.

Unfortunately, vets are seeing more and more pets that are overweight. This is called obesity. When a cat is really overweight, they have a reduced quality of life, such as not wanting to play or having difficulty breathing. It also causes serious health problems such as diabetes. Preventing obesity depends on having the right food in the right amounts. 

The importance of feeding your cat the right amount is just as important as choosing the right food for your cat’s age and lifestyle. Most commercially made pet foods will have daily feeding guides printed on their packaging. Follow these guidelines on the packet to ensure you are feeding the correct amount. 

It’s usually best to feed adult cats twice a day. Kittens need feeding more often, with smaller amounts. Remember, different cats have different needs, so always check with your cat’s vet if you are ever unsure of what, how much or how often to feed your cat.

Just like people, most of a cat’s body is made up of water – 80% of it in fact! Water is absolutely essential for every function of their body. A cat needs water because, without water, a cat is not going to survive for very long. Give fresh, clean water daily.

Your cat should have easy access to fresh, clean water at all times of the day and night – inside, outside and even in the car if you are travelling.

A very common mistake that some people make is thinking cats, especially kittens, should be given milk. We even see pictures throughout storybooks and scenes in movies of cats and kittens drinking milk, when in fact they shouldn’t ever be given milk!

Most cats are lactose intolerant. Lactose is a sugar found in milk. Being ‘intolerant’ to this sugar means your body cannot digest it properly, which causes a very upset tummy, cramps and even severe diarrhoea (squirty poo!)

All mammal babies, like kittens, start their lives by drinking milk from their mothers. However, for the digestive system to handle this milk - or particularly to process milk’s special form of sugar called lactose – their body needs to produce a special enzyme called lactase. Lactase is produced by the body as long as there is milk to be consumed. Usually, once a kitten moves on to solid foods, their mother will stop feeding them milk and their body will stop making lactase. Once the body stops producing lactase, it never re-starts. Without lactase, the cat will not be able to digest or handle milk and therefore they will feel yucky and sick if they drink it.

So remember – your cat or kitten may really like the taste of the fat in milk, but your cat or kitten doesn't know what "lactose intolerance" is! They won’t understand that drinking it will make them sick. If you give it to them, they will probably lap it up and then end up having a very sore stomach!

Fresh, clean water is all cats need to drink. If you do really want to give your cats milk as a treat, then you can buy lactose-free pet milk from your pet food store, vet or supermarket - but it is definitely not essential.

• Human food should never be given to cats as a treat. Many human foods like onions, garlic, chocolate, bread dough, avocado, grapes, raisins, sultanas, and nuts are poisonous to cats.                                     
• Cats love meat, but it is really important to remember to never give your cat small or cooked bones, as they can break and splinter and get stuck in the throat or inside of your cat. 
   
• If your family is ever unsure about your cat’s weight or anything to do with their diet, they should contact your cat’s veterinarian. Your cat’s vet will know your cat specifically and is the best person to give you and your family the right advice for your cat.
   
• If your cat or kitten is already on a particular food and you wish to change their food, you must do it slowly - over about a week. Gradually introduce the new food by mixing a little with his existing food. Over the following days, gradually change the mix to favour the new food. For example, the first couple of days will be ¾ old and ¼ new food, the second couple of days ½ old and ½ new food and the final couple of days ¼ old and ¾ new food.