Feeding & Nutrition

Is Your Cat a Picky Eater? Cats may have minds of their own, but they still learn from how we treat them. A sure way to create fussy eaters is to chop up or change their routines, or panic at the first sign of rejection by tempting them back to the bowl with tidbits from your table. They’ll quickly learn how to manipulate you to feed them tasty ‘owner’ food rather than a healthy balanced diet. Think about it from your cat’s point of view: what would you do if you were ‘rewarded’ with a treat every time you didn’t eat? To avoid fussy tendencies, your best bet is to pick a routine and stick to it. If your cat isn’t normally picky about her food and you’ve avoided creating “problem eater” habits, a trip to your veterinarian may be in order. Any deviation from her normal habits may be a sign of illness. How to Tell if Your Cat is Overweight, in Ideal Body Condition or Too Thin Here are 3 simple ways to tell if your cat’s diet needs an adjustment. • Rib Check: Place both of your thumbs on your cat’s backbone and spread both hands across her rib cage. You want to be able to feel her ribs. Actually feeling your cat is • important, as the coat of many cats will make a visual check difficult. • Profile Check: Examine your cat’s profile – it’s best if you are level with your cat. • Look for the abdomen to be tucked up behind her rib cage – this is ideal. • Overhead Check: Looking at your cat from overhead, identify whether you can see • a waist behind her ribs. If you find that your cat’s ribs and waistline aren’t where they’re supposed to be, adjust your cat’s food accordingly.

How much to feed your cat depends on several factors, including their age, lifestyle and even the type of food. Whether you’re new to cat ownership or you’ve changed yourcat’s food, figuring out how much they needto eat each day isn’t as straightforward as you might think. Determining How Much to Feed a Cat Different cats have different nutritional needs based on their size, life stage and more. Here are some factors to consider when deciding how much food your cat should eat. • Age & Life Stage:Kittenshave different nutritional needs than adults or senior cats. Pregnant or nursing cats also have different needs. • Weight:“If your cat is not at their ideal body condition, you may need to adjust what and how much you feed them,” says Dr. Callie Harris, DVM. • Activity Levels:Cats who are active and playful throughout the day may need more calories than those who prefer to spend their time napping. • Indoor vs. Outdoor:Indoor cats may not get as much exercise as an outdoor cat would, so they need fewer calories. Outdoor (or indoor/outdoor) cats living in regions with cold winters may need more food in the cold months. The best way to determine how much food your cat needs is to talk with your veterinarian. They can tell you how much food your cat needs based on the above factors. They can also help you troubleshoot any problems that may arise, such as your cat eating more or less than usual. How Much Should a Cat Eat a Day? Dry andwet cat fooddiffer in calories as well as portion sizes. You’ll want to ensure you’re feeding an appropriate amount of food, whether you feed dry, wet or a combination of both. The label on the food packaging can give you a general idea of how much food your cat needs. The recommendations may include ranges, so you’ll need to figure out where your cat fits within those ranges. You can always adjust to meet your cat’s needs. If you have questions about how much of a particular food to feed your cat, you can also visit the manufacturer’s website or call them directly. As always, your veterinarian can also help you navigate how much to feed your cat. Cat Feeding Chart Feeding recommendations are required on all cat food packaging, but they don’t all look the same. Pay close attention to the chart on your cat’s food label to ensure you’re feeding them the right amount based on their age and weight. Here’s a sample cat feeding chart, similar to what you’ll find on cat food labels: Weight (lbs)Dry Food Amount (cups)5 to 91/3 to 2/310 to 143/4 to 1 Note: Amounts listed above are for a 24-hour period. Cat feeding amounts vary from product to product based on calorie content and formula. Consult the feeding chart on the back of your cat’s food packaging. Individual needs can vary, so consult with your veterinarian regarding special dietary needs. How Many Times a Day Should Cats Eat? Most feeding recommendations give you the total daily amount. For dry cat food, you can put the kibble in their bowl and let them graze throughout the day. It’s not uncommon for cats to want to eat multiple smaller meals per day. When feeding wet food, it’s important they eatit within a half hour or so to avoid the food spoiling. If you want to split their wet food into two meals, you’ll need to determine the total number of calories they needeach day and divide that number by how many times you intend to feed them. You may also want to try a refrigerated feeding bowl with a timer. You can program the bowl to dispense fresh wet food for your cat at designated times during the day. For example, if your veterinarian recommends giving your cat 250 calories per day, you’ll want to feed them two meals with a total of 125 calories in each. If you plan to feed your cat a combination of dry and wet food the math gets a little trickier. You’ll need to look at the calories on the dry and wet labels to calculate the total number of calories in each and decrease serving sizes to still meet the total daily caloric recommendation. Assessing Your Cat’s Eating Habits Once you determine how much food to feed your cat, use that as a guide for a couple weeks. Then, assess how your cat is doing. Here are a few things to monitor: • Leaving food in the bowl • Hungry in the middle of the night • Cleaning bowl, but gaining weight • Eating happily and maintaining weight and activity levels Cats can go up to 48 hours without food. If your cat hasn’t eaten in more than 48 hours, call your veterinarian to assess why they aren't eating. Ensuring your cat gets the right amount of food will help them maintain their idealbody condition. Consider ahealthy weight cat foodto help them achieve and maintain this ideal body condition. We also recommend working with your veterinarian to ensure there are no underlying medical issues. For more feeding tips from ourexperts, visit our Pet Expertisepage.

Whether you’re new to cat ownership or you’ve changed yourcat’s food, you may be wondering how much to feed your cat. Although the answer should be simple and straightforward, figuring out how much food your cat needs is a little complicated (kind of like your cat). How Do I Decide How Much Food My Cat Needs? Different cats have different nutritional needs based on their size, life stage and more. Here are some factors to consider when deciding how much food your cat should eat: • Age & Life Stage:Kittenshave different nutritional needs than adult or senior cats. Cats who are pregnant or nursing also have different needs. • Weight:If your cat is not at her ideal weight, you may need to give her smaller or larger portions to help her achieve and maintain a healthy weight. • Energy Level:Cats who are active and playful throughout the day may require more calories than those who prefer to spend their time napping. • Type of Food:Dry andwet cat fooddiffer in calories, as well as portion sizes. You’ll want to ensure you’re feeding an appropriate amount of food, whether you feed dry, wet or a combination of both. • Indoor vs. Outdoor:Indoor catsmay not get as much exercise as an outdoor cat would, so they need fewer calories. Outdoor (or indoor/outdoor) cats living in regions with cold winters may need more food in the winter. The best way to determine how much food your cat needs is to talk with your veterinarian. They can determine how much food your cat requires based on the above factors. They can also help you troubleshoot any problems that may arise, such as your cat eating less or more than usual. Cat Feeding Recommendations on Packaging Your cat’s food label can also give you a general idea of how much food she needs. The recommendations on cat food packaging may include ranges, so you’ll need to determine where your cat fits within those ranges. You can always make adjustments to meet your cat’s needs. How Often Should I Feed My Cat? Most feeding recommendations tell you the total amount of food your cat needs per day, but they don’t tell you how often you should feed her. If you feed dry food, you can put it in her bowl and let her graze throughout the day. When feeding wet food, it’s important that she eats it within a half hour or so to avoid the food spoiling. If you want to split her wet food into two meals, you’ll need to determine the total number of calories she needs each day and divide that number by how many times you intend to feed her. For example, if your veterinarian recommends giving your cat 300 calories per day, you’ll want to feed her two meals with a total of 150 calories in each. Assessing Your Cat’s Feeding Once you determine how much food to feed your cat, use that as a guide for a couple weeks. Then assess how your cat is doing. Here are a few things to consider: • Does your cat leave food in her bowl? Or is she waking you up in the middle of the night for more? • Is she cleaning her bowl but gaining too much weight? (See how your veterinarian assesses your cat’s weight with our Body Condition System). • Is she eating happily and maintaining her weight and activity levels? Ensuring your cat gets the right amount of food will help her maintain her ideal body condition. Consider ahealthy weight cat foodto help her achieve and maintain this ideal body condition. We also recommend working with your veterinarian to ensure there are no underlying medical issues. For more feeding tips from ourexperts, visit our Pet Expertisepage.

You can help improve your cat’s mealtimes by knowing when, where and how much to feed them. Help your cat avoid mealtime disruptions by placing their food and water dishes away from foot traffic, noise, and their litter box, in somewhere that is comfortable and easy for them to reach. When there are multiple cats in the home you can ensure each has easy and equal access to food by providing multiple food bowls in different locations. Using a plastic mat or newspaper under the dish makes for an easier clean up. You can help to encourage and maintain healthy hydration by keeping clean, fresh water available at all times. Establish a routine so that your cat is fed at the same time each day. By using your cat’s name when feeding them, you can help to reinforce their name while associating you with a pleasant activity. If you are feeding a dry cat food, you can put out a whole day’s supply in the morning (very convenient for those working long hours) or feed half in the morning and half at night. Another advantage of dry cat food is that it can help keep your cat’s teeth clean and their gums healthy. Knowing the right amount to feed your cat is important to ensure they arereceiving all the nutrients they need whilst avoiding unnecessary weight gain. You can help ensure your cat is fed the optimum amount by always measuring the amount of food provided. For a proper feeding program, follow the feeding instructions on the cat food package.

Complete and balanced nutrition Your cat requires a complete and balanced diet for their specific life stage. You can ensure your cat receives the right nutrition by choosing a cat food that includes the proper levels of vitamins, minerals and necessary nutrients as decided by scientific research. Cats have specific nutritional requirements such as the essential amino acid, taurine. Insufficient amounts in your cat’s diet can impair their vision and may cause heart problems. For cats’ daily diets, Purina nutritionists have found that a level of 30% high-quality protein will support normal growth and reproduction in cats. Comparing label guarantees By comparing the nutritional content on labels you can help choose the best diet for your cat’s health and well-being. However, there are a few considerations and limitations that are worth being aware of. The difference in moisture content among the various types of cat food impacts the nutrient density of the products or the amount of nutrients per gram of food. As the water content of the diet increases, the amount of protein, fat and other essential nutrients decreases. That means the cat must consume a larger portion of the high moisture products to receive the nutrition they need. This difference in moisture and energy content also prohibits a direct comparison of the nutrient content of one product type to another. For example, you cannot compare the 12% protein content of a canned cat food to the 21% protein level of a dry cat food and conclude the dry food will supply more protein. You can, however, make a fair comparison of the 21% protein content of one dry cat food to the 30% protein content of another dry cat food and conclude that the cat will receive more protein by eating the higher protein product. The higher protein product, however, is not necessarily superior; that depends on the life stage and lifestyle of the cat to which the product is fed. Supplements Unless directed by your veterinarian, it’s not necessary to add supplemental vitamins, minerals or other foods to your cat’s daily diet. Types of Cat Foods The three main types of cat foods are dry, soft-moist and wet products. With today’s advanced technology, all types of cat food products can be formulated to provide complete and balanced nutrition for your cat. Dry Diets Dry products consist of crunchy kibbles, which help reduce the build-up of plaque and tartar on a cat’s teeth. Dry foods also have the advantage of staying fresh longer than soft-moist and wet products once the package is opened. Wet Diets These diets generally offer the highest palatability when compared to the dry products. Once a pouch or can is opened, unused food should be stored in the refrigerator.

There are countless options and varieties when it comes to feeding your cat, but how do you know you’re choosing the right one? From food type, to meal timing, water and treating, feeding your cat can be a delicate process. If you’ve ever been left wondering whether your cat is getting the most she can from mealtime, check out the articles below, where we breakdown the differences between wet and dry food, feeding habits, and how to get the balance just right. Quick links: • MIXED FEEDING: THE BEST WAY TO MIMIC YOUR CAT’S NATURAL DIET • SOMETIMES THE SOLUTION TO PESKY BEHAVIOUR IS IN THE BOWL • MIXED FEEDING SUPPORTS HEALTHY HYDRATION IN CATS

Choosing the right food for your kitten is an important decision. Nutrition supports her growth, development and can even affect her behavior. Giving her high-qualitykitten foodnow will help support many long, healthy years as an adult cat. If you’re a first-time cat owner, choosing the right food and knowing how much to feed and when is a daunting task. We’ll help you understand what to feed and when to help set you and your kitten up for success. What Do Kittens Eat? Newborn kittens get their nutrition from their mother through nursing. If separated from their mother, a kitten milk replacer may be used. The weaning process may begin around three to four weeks of age, at which time more solid foods can be introduced. Kitten Nutrition Kittens need a complete and balanced diet formulated to meet their unique growth and developmental needs. Look for a protein-rich kitten food to support her growing body and high energy. Calcium supports her teeth and bones and DHA helps support healthy brain and vision development. Can Kittens Drink Milk? Once a kitten has been completely weanedfrom her mother’s milk, she does not need milk in other forms. Although cow’s milk is often appealing to kittensand adult cats, it doesn’t contain the nutrients they need and cannot replace a complete and balanced diet. When Can Kittens Eat Dry Food & Wet Food? As kittens begin to wean, they can start to nibble (and play with) solid foods. Starting withwet kitten foodor moistened dry kibble will help through the transition. Start by combining one part of warm water and three parts of dry or wet kitten food (it should look like oatmeal). Over the next two weeks, gradually decrease the amount of water and increase the amount of food. By six to eight weeks, kittens can eat wet or dry cat food at will. With wet food and/or dry food, you can provide a greater variety of flavors and textures, which will help support her adventurous nature. You can also feed a combination of wet and dry food or dry kibble by itself. Once your kitten is fully weaned and eating solids, choose whichever option is recommended by your veterinarian and works best for your situation. Above all else, make sure the wet or dry food you choose is specifically formulated for kittens. How Much to Feed a Kitten Now you know what to feed a kitten, but how much should you feed her? The kitten feeding guide on the back of the package will tell you how much to feed your kitten. If you’re feeding dry kibble, you can put an entire day’s serving out at once or divide in half and feed her twice a day. You can also divide wet food in half and feed her twice a day. Any leftovers in her bowl should be discarded. You can store an open can of wet food in the refrigerator for up to 24 hours. Bring it up to room temperature before serving. The chart below can help you determine how much to feed your kitten. Refer to your kitten’s food packaging and consult with your veterinarian to ensure your kitten is getting the correct amount of calories each day. Kitten Feeding Chart Feeding charts are required on all kitten food packaging, but they don’t all look the same. Pay close attention to the chart on your kitten’s food label to ensure you’re feeding her the right amount based on her age and weight. Here’s a sample kitten feeding chart, similar to what you’ll find on kitten food labels: AgeWeight (lbs)Dry Food Amount (cups) AgeWeight (lbs)Dry Food Amount (cups)6 weeks2/3 to 1-1/31/4 to 1/37 weeksto 5 months1-1/2 to 5-3/41/3 to 16 months to 1 year5-3/4 to 122/3 to 1-1/4 Note:Amounts listed above are for a 24-hour period. Kitten feeding amounts vary from product to product based on calorie content and formula. Consult the feeding chart on the back of your kitten’s food packaging. Individual needs can vary, so consult with your veterinarian regarding special dietary needs. When to Feed a Kitten Once you know what to feed your kitten and how much, it’s time to create a feeding schedule that works for you both. Use your kitten’s name when feedingto help her learn her name, while also associating you with a pleasant activity. Creating a routine and feeding her at the same time each day can help your kitten feel secure and will aid in forming a bond between youtwothatwill last for many years to come. You can feed yourkittenone to three times a day,as long asyou don’t give her more than her total daily calorie needs. For example, you can put dry kibble in her bowl in the morning and she can graze throughout the day. If a twice-a-day schedule works better, give half her daily amount in the morning and half in the evening. Same for wet food or a combination of wet and dry food. Just make sure the wet and dry food combined meets the totalamountofcaloriesshe needs in a day. When to Stop Feeding Kitten Food Kittens grow fast and before you know it, you’ll need toswitch to adult cat food. For most cats, this transition should happen around her first birthday. Large breed cats like Maine Coons, however, take a little more time to mature. They may need to continue eating kitten food until between 18 months and 2 years of age. Your kitten’s first year goes by fast, but ensuring she's getting the right nutrients during thistime will help support her in the years to come. For more on kitten feeding and nutrition fromourexperts, visitour Pet Expertise page.

When transitioning your cat to new food, we recommend you do this gradually over 7 – 10 days as this will help avoid dietary upsets. Always follow the back of pack instructions as some brands may differ. DAYS 1-2 Introduce the new foodto your pet in small amounts, still primarily feeding the old food (25% of the new blend to 75% of the old). DAYS 3-4 Feed a little bit more of the new food to your pet each day (approximately 50% mix of new blend and old recipe). DAYS 5-7 (UP TO 10) Gradually increase the amount of new food (approximately 70% mix of new to old). By Day 7 you should be feeding the new food exclusively. Need more help with transitioning your pet? Call 0800 PET VIP or contact us via email to chat to our dedicated team of Pet Care experts, based in New Zealand.

Rice is a fantastic filler food for us humans. Whether we’re serving it with a hearty helping of curry or filling out a burrito, it’s a great way to bulk up our meals and it’s also relatively good for us. But is this the case for our feline friends? A lot of commercial pet foods will add in grains like rice, but is it actually good for our cats? Can cats eat rice by itself? Can cats eat white rice or brown? Read on to find out all you need to know. Cat cats eat rice? Yes, cats can eat rice in small amounts. It’s non-toxic, so it won’t harm them to have a bit in their food, but you shouldn’t give too much as it’s not an essential part of their diet. If you’re feeding your cat a complete and balanced cat food, they won’t gain additional nutritional benefits from eating rice alongside. Plus, too much of this filler may actually stop them eating enough of the healthy diet they need! Is rice good for cats? Cats are obligate carnivores, which means they’re meant to eat mostly meat and aren’t well-equipped to digest grains. Unlike us humans, cats have no need for carbohydrates in their diet. Some commercial cat foods will contain grains such as rice but only in small, carefully considered amounts to bulk out the food. So, how about the different types of rice? In general, brown rice is nutritionally better than white as it’s higher in fibre. Vets will sometimes recommend this for cats with diarrhoea or constipation. However, rather than using brown rice as a home remedy for your cat’s digestive troubles, it’s always best to get advice from your vet on the best course of action to take. Cats can eat white rice too – it doesn’t have as much nutritional value, but if rice is only given in very small quantities alongside other food, this won’t matter too much. It’s important to note that too much carbohydrate in the diet can lead to obesity in cats. Obese cats are more likely to develop a range of health problems including diabetes, a condition which may require regular insulin injections. It’s therefore important to avoid feeding your cat too much carbohydrate – you don’t want to harm them with kindness! How to feed rice to your cat As rice offers no nutritional benefit to cats, we suggest that you just avoid giving your cat rice entirely, and stick to a quality diet and treats specially intended for feline consumption. If you do feed rice to your cat, only offer them a tiny bit. Make sure it’s thoroughly cooked without any seasonings, spices or sauces. Never give your cat uncooked rice, as this is extremely difficult to digest and may also contain a natural pesticide called lectin which can cause diarrhoea and vomiting if ingested in large quantities. If you notice bloating and your cat seems to be in pain more than 24 hours after eating uncooked rice, be sure to take them to the vet as soon as possible. Now you know the answer to the question ‘can cats eat rice’! Want more nutritional advice for your cat? Next, read our full guide on what human foods cats can eat.

Juicy, sweet, full of nutrients and easy to eat, grapes may just be the perfect fruit snack. But unfortunately, not everything that’s good for us humans works just as well for our pets. You probably already know that grapes are dangerous for dogs – but should cat owners also worry if they catch their pet eyeing up the bowl of grapes on the kitchen countertop? Keep reading to find out if grapes are good or bad for cats. Can cats eat grapes? It is not recommended to feed grapes to your cat. Although the dangers of grapes are much better understood for our canine companions, there have been reports of cats becoming very ill after eating grapes. Scientists are still trying to understand which particular substance in this fruit poses a risk to our furry friends, but even though we don’t know exactly how the toxicity works, it’s best to assume that grapes are poisonous to cats and rule the fruit out from your cat’s diet. Why are grapes bad for cats? Firstly, there are a couple of reasons why it isn’t a good idea to feed our feline friends sweet fruit in general. Cats are obligate carnivores, which means their diet should mostly consist of meat protein. Also, cats lack sweet taste receptors, which means they won’t appreciate the fruit in the way we do! This means that grapes would be an odd addition to a cat’s meal – and also an unnecessary risk, given how dangerous we know this bite-sized fruit is for dogs. There’s some evidence to show that grapes can be toxic to cats, too. Some cats have suffered a gastrointestinal upset after ingesting this sweet fruit, and more serious problems such as kidney failure have also been reported. Kidney failure is the reason why grapes are so dangerous to dogs, and this condition can potentially be life-threatening. This is why it’s so important to completely avoid feeding grapes to your pet.

Eggs are nutritious, they taste great no matter how we prepare them, and they bind many of our favourite recipes together. It’s unbelievable how many things we can do with just a humble little egg, but is it a good idea to feed this tasty food to our cats too? If you are one of the many owners about to give in to their cat’s pleading eyes and offer them a bite of egg for breakfast, but you’re still pondering the question ‘can cats actually eat eggs?’, here are all the answers you need to know about cats and eggs. Can cats eat eggs? The short answer is yes, cats can eat eggs, but only in moderation and always cooked. However, keep in mind that even though eggs come packed with nutrients, their high fat content can be detrimental if you’re trying to help your cat lose weight. If you’re considering introducing eggs to your cat’s diet, make sure to check with your vet first to make sure you’ll still keep your feline friend healthy. In general, it’s best not to feed too much egg to your cat, as this may make them eat less of their complete and balanced diet that contains the beneficial nutrients they need. It’s therefore always best to offer eggs in moderation, as an occasional treat. Rather than feeding a whole egg at once, just feed a small piece of egg alongside their normal food. Egg allergy in cats: is it real?

When it comes to choosing wet or dry cat food, the information can be overwhelming. Conflicting information and the sheer amount of choice on offer can all make choosing your cat’s diet seem difficult. Go back to the basics with your cat’s diet in this article to learn all about the benefits and drawbacks of both wet or dry cat food, so you can make the right choice for your pet. What do cats need in their diet? Every cat requires a total of 41 essential micronutrients from their food each day – whether it be from wet or dry cat food. These micronutrients are ‘essential’ because they cannot be manufactured in the body, and they are necessary for normal, healthy function. Cats are obligate carnivores who need to eat meat, and as such they can’t be fed a vegetarian diet without developing malnutrition problems. A proportion of their daily nutrients must come from animal sources, specifically the amino acids taurine and arginine, the fatty acid arachidonic acid, and pre-formed vitamin A. What do cats like in their food? Just like humans, when it comes to food, cats enjoy something tasty! Although they have far fewer taste buds than other animals—a mere 475 to dogs’ 1,700—they do have some interesting appetite quirks. A cat’s sensitivity to bitter tastes is 400 times greater than that of a dog’s, but they lack the taste buds to be able to enjoy sweet flavours. Texture and the shape are also important factors for cats when it comes to their kibble. Cats’ sense of smell is superb, and is an essential part of appealing to their appetite. Food odours give pleasure, enhance enjoyment of food, and provide your cat with their own sense of nutritional information.