The Purrfect Diet: Unlocking Feline Nutrition Secrets

There are many different cat foods available, and it's important to feed your cat the right food for their current stage of life. Cats are carnivores, and a meat-only diet will result in fatty acid, vitamin, or mineral deficiencies. Therefore, commercial diets are typically the easiest option for owners because they contain the necessary nutrients to ensure a balanced diet. Complete and balanced are key words to look for when selecting a diet for your cat.

Complete and balanced diet

Cats are carnivores and wild cats eat a diverse, protein-heavy diet, which can be difficult for pet owners to replicate for their domesticated feline friends. However, commercial diets are typically the easiest option for owners because they contain the necessary nutrients to ensure a balanced diet.

When it comes to feline diets, the words 'complete' and 'balanced' are key. Cats need certain amounts of each specific nutrient to be healthy, but more is not always better. This is particularly true of vitamins and minerals, so the use of supplements is usually not necessary if you are feeding a balanced and complete diet. Supplements can be harmful to your cat, and they should never be given without a veterinarian’s approval.

Commercial cat foods are formulated as dry, semi-moist, and canned. These products differ in water content, protein level, caloric density, palatability, and digestibility. Dry food contains between six and 10 percent water.

Always feed your cat food that’s labelled ‘complete’ – this means it has all the nutrients they need. If it’s labelled ‘complementary’, this means it should only be given occasionally as a treat.

It’s important to feed your cat the right food for their current stage of life e.g. kitten, adult, or senior. Cats should have access to clean, fresh water at all times.

Life stage appropriate

Cats are carnivores and need a protein-heavy diet, but this can be difficult for pet owners to replicate. Commercial diets are typically the easiest option for owners because they contain the necessary nutrients to ensure a balanced diet.

Cats should have access to clean, fresh water at all times. Commercial cat foods are formulated as dry, semi-moist, and canned. These products differ in water content, protein level, caloric density, palatability, and digestibility. Dry food contains between six and 10 percent water.

Feeding a wet diet can increase your cat’s water intake if they’re not keen on drinking. It’s important to feed your cat the right food for their current stage of life e.g. kitten, adult, or senior. Each cat or kitten is an individual, just like people, they may have taste or texture preferences and unique dietary needs.

Dr. Debra Zoran, a professor at the Texas A&M College of Veterinary Medicine & Biomedical Sciences, offers advice for mimicking a cat’s natural diet and finding the best option for your particular pet. When it comes to feline diets, the words complete and balanced are key, according to Zoran. Even though cats are carnivores, a meat-only diet will result in fatty acid, vitamin, or mineral deficiencies.

Always feed your cat food that’s labelled ‘complete’ – this means it has all the nutrients they need. If it’s labelled ‘complementary’ this means it should only be given occasionally as a treat. Anyone who has more than one cat in their house knows that while you may want to feed every cat the same food (for convenience or simplicity), that is not always possible. For this reason, she recommends tailoring each cat’s diet to its specific needs, life stage, and preferences, in terms of flavor and texture, and making sure that each cat eats only from its own bowl.

Wet or dry

Cats are carnivores and wild cats eat a diverse, protein-heavy diet, which can be difficult for pet owners to replicate for their domesticated feline friends. However, there are several guidelines owners can follow to make sure their cat’s meals are both nutritious and delicious.

Commercial diets are typically the easiest option for owners because they contain the necessary nutrients to ensure a balanced diet. Complete and balanced are key when it comes to feline diets. Even though cats are carnivores, a meat-only diet will result in fatty acid, vitamin, or mineral deficiencies.

Cats should have access to clean, fresh water at all times. Dry food contains between six and 10 percent water, while wet food can increase your cat’s water intake if they’re not keen on drinking.

Feeding a wet diet can increase your cat’s water intake if they’re not keen on drinking. If you feed a combination of wet and dry food, you’ll just need to make sure that you’re giving them the right amount by looking at the packets and working out their portion sizes.

Each cat or kitten is an individual, just like people, they may have taste or texture preferences and unique dietary needs. Anyone who has more than one cat in their house knows that while you may want to feed every cat the same food (for convenience or simplicity), that is not always possible. For this reason, she recommends tailoring each cat’s diet to its specific needs, life stage, and preferences, in terms of flavor and texture, and making sure that each cat eats only from its own bowl.

Avoid supplements

Cats should have access to clean, fresh water at all times. Commercial cat foods are formulated as dry, semi-moist, and canned. These products differ in water content, protein level, caloric density, palatability, and digestibility. Dry food contains between six and 10 percent water.

Although your cat needs certain amounts of each specific nutrient to be healthy, more is not always better. This is particularly true of vitamins and minerals, so the use of supplements is usually not necessary if you are feeding a balanced and complete diet. Supplements can be harmful to your cat, and they should never be given without a veterinarian’s approval.

Complete and balanced are key when it comes to feline diets. Even though cats are carnivores, a meat-only diet will result in fatty acid, vitamin, or mineral deficiencies; therefore, commercial diets are typically the easiest option for owners because they contain the necessary nutrients to ensure a balanced diet.

When it comes to choosing a diet for your cat, it is important to consider their life stage. Always feed your cat food that’s labelled ‘complete’ – this means it has all the nutrients they need. If it’s labelled ‘complementary’ this means it should only be given occasionally as a treat.

Each cat or kitten is an individual, just like people, they may have taste or texture preferences and unique dietary needs. Anyone who has more than one cat in their house knows that while you may want to feed every cat the same food (for convenience or simplicity), that is not always possible. For this reason, she recommends tailoring each cat’s diet to its specific needs, life stage, and preferences, in terms of flavor and texture, and making sure that each cat eats only from its own bowl.

Clean, fresh water

Cats should have access to clean, fresh water at all times. Dry food contains between six and 10 percent water, so it's important to make sure that your cat has clean, fresh water available to them, especially if they are eating wet food. Feeding a wet diet can increase your cat’s water intake if they’re not keen on drinking.

Commercial cat foods are formulated as dry, semi-moist, and canned. These products differ in water content, protein level, caloric density, palatability, and digestibility.

Wild cats eat a diverse, protein-heavy diet, which can sometimes be difficult for pet owners to replicate for their domesticated feline friends. Dr. Debra Zoran, a professor at the Texas A&M College of Veterinary Medicine & Biomedical Sciences, offers advice for mimicking a cat’s natural diet and finding the best option for your particular pet. When it comes to feline diets, the words complete and balanced are key, according to Zoran. Even though cats are carnivores, a meat-only diet will result in fatty acid, vitamin, or mineral deficiencies; therefore, commercial diets are typically the easiest option for owners because they contain the necessary nutrients to ensure a balanced diet.

Complete and balanced are key words to look out for when selecting a diet for your cat. Always feed your cat food that’s labelled ‘complete’ – this means it has all the nutrients they need. If it’s labelled ‘complementary’ this means it should only be given occasionally as a treat. Anyone who has more than one cat in their house knows that while you may want to feed every cat the same food (for convenience or simplicity), that is not always possible. For this reason, she recommends tailoring each cat’s diet to its specific needs, life stage, and preferences, in terms of flavor and texture, and making sure that each cat eats only from its own bowl. In addition to their regular canned diet, owners can occasionally treat their cats with small pieces of unseasoned, cooked meats or cat grass, which can be a great source of fiber.

Frequently asked questions