Cats are different. Some are picky eaters, while others get on the chunky side. All in all, they will always find a way to communicate with us when they are hungry or not. According to Julie Churchill, a nutrition associate professor, cats usually have their food preferences shaped up during their first years of development. They can have a healthy choice for dry, wet or semi-dry food. But as they grow older, their feeding habits tend to change due to their age and low metabolism.
Knowing how to feed your cat is very vital for any cat owner. You can consider the following useful tips.
- Use Automatic Cat Feeders
Do you reside alone with just your cat? Do you go to work very early in the morning and come back very late? You probably cannot leave your cat at your friend’s or neighbors’ crib. It means your cat will be all alone during the day with no one to feed it. Luckily, technology has made things simple and convenient by giving us automatic cat feeders. These machines are designed with in-built capabilities to allow for cat food dispensing at selected periods. Meaning, if you are away from home or busy with work projects, your cat will still eat.
Smart feeders with timer which can dispense both dry and semi-moist foods are the best options. All you need to do is fill it with proper meals, set the timer intervals and it will do the rest for you. For instance, if you will be away the whole day, the timer can be arranged for 7 am, 12 pm and 4 pm. The good thing is that once the cat has gotten used to it, it will be a seamless affair.
- Balanced Diet Is Important
Just like humans, cats require a proper supply of nutritional benefits to ensure they grow and develop healthily. When feeding your cat, you have two options. Either to prepare homemade food or you purchase cat supplies from the stores. Both ways are beneficial if undertaken appropriately. Focus on the nutrients. For homemade food, ensure it is balanced and fresh. Let the food have high quality and balanced carbohydrates, proteins, vitamins, grains and a supply of clean water. For a tight budget, this is the best option. With processed cat foods, they come ready made with all the essential nutrients in balanced proportions.
Note: Chocolate is poisonous to cats
- Be Keen on How Much and How Often To Feed
Usually, most cats will get to feed during dawn and dusk hours with minimal feeding during the day. Regarding how much you should feed your cat, it depends on the size, age and how active it is. On average, a cat would consume roughly 200-250 calories per day. Pay extra attention to the calories count of each meal your cat eats. If unsure, you can always consult the veterinary doctor.
Also, check out for overfeeding. Usually, cats are poor judges of how much they should eat at any given time. Overfeeding leads to obesity which leads to joint diseases, diabetes and heart conditions for your cat.
- Do Proper Modifications
It’s a fact that your cat’s nutritional needs will change from time to time due to some factors as it grows and develop. For instance, if your cat has been found to be underweight or overweight, you can get to modify the feeds amount by 5-10% over time. The mistake you should avoid is making drastic adjustments. Studies have shown that cats have unusual metabolism and rapid fluctuations/changes in calories intake or deficiency of the same can have far-reaching health problems.