Cat And Kitten Feeding Guidelines

Diet is arguably the most important part of your cat’s care. Food gives their bodies the energy and strength to prowl, pounce, and play around the house. It’s important to follow cat and kitten feeding guidelines to provide the nutrients to keep their muscles, bones, and fur healthy for life!

Cats are obligate carnivores, meaning they were built to eat meat. They need protein, carbohydrates, and fatty acids in their diet. Two key nutrients in a cat’s diet are taurine and arachidonic acid, both of which only come from animal products.

High-quality cat food contains meat as the first ingredient, followed by other healthy protein sources. The first five ingredients are most important in any cat food, as ingredients are listed by weight, starting with the heaviest. Also, ensure your cat’s diet is suitable for their age, health, and activity level.

It’s also very important to feed all cats a wet food diet because cats get their water and hydration from their food. Feeding a dry food-only diet can cause kidney failure, which, unfortunately, is all too common.

Below, we’ll go over four guidelines that will help you feed your cat the right diet throughout its lifetime.

1. Provide Proper Nutrition

Of course, our number one priority when selecting a cat food is to provide for our cat’s nutritional needs, body condition, and life stage. Unlike humans, cats are obligate carnivores—meaning they must eat meat.

Protein is one of the most important parts of a cat’s diet. Ideally, this protein is made from named ingredients, like chicken, turkey, or salmon.

The food packaging nutritional label should include the name of the meat and the body part included in the food. For instance, “chicken liver” is much clearer than “poultry.” It tells you exactly what your cat is eating and limits the possibility of the food containing less desirable animal byproducts.

While high-quality cat foods can contain protein sources that aren’t meat, you do want meat to be the primary source of protein in the food.

Other nutrients essential to cats are taurine and arachidonic acid. These come only from animal products and aren’t found in plants.

Cats also need carbs, fatty acids, and various vitamins in their diet to live a long healthy life.

Is It Safe To Feed Cats Raw Food?

Raw food is also growing in popularity, with professionals on both sides of the fence. However, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) and FDA Center for Veterinary Medicine (CVM) are against feeding raw food, stating it poses dangers to humans and cats.

If you choose to feed raw, source your raw meats carefully to avoid health risks, such as salmonella poisoning. I also don’t recommend a homemade raw diet, as there are too many ways to mistakenly harm your cat unless you’re an expert in cat nutrition.

Instead, go with a reputable raw food brand and talk to your veterinarian before changing your cat’s food.

To keep yourself and your family safe, learn how to handle raw meat and always disinfect surfaces touched by your cat’s raw food.

How Do I Know If My Cat’s Food Is High-Quality?

The best way to know if your cat’s food is high-quality is to consult with your veterinarian or go with a nutritionist-recommended brand.

Here are our favorite human-grade wet cat food diets.

Open Farm Turkey Human grade!
Halo Cat Wet Food Variety pack. Humane grade and organic
Tender and True Chicken and Liver. Humane grade and organic

Of course, there are also other indicators of high-quality food. After doing some research, the second-best thing you can do is look at the ingredients list.

Here are some things that high-quality cat foods have in common:

Meat is the number one ingredient
The next couple of ingredients are meat or other protein sources
They contain minimal fillers
The brand has not had a large number of recalls
They are organic, all-natural, and human-grade

You’ll also want to consider the name of the food. This is because of the following guidelines, which were set by the Association of American Feed Control Officials (AAFCO):

Single-ingredient means the food consists of 95% of that ingredient (minus water).
“Chicken dinner,” “beef entrée,” or similar phrases require the food to contain at least 25% of the ingredient named.
If the food says “with,” the following ingredient can make up as little as 3% of the food.
Lastly, if it says “flavor,” the ingredient must be detectable but does not have to make up a large portion of the food.

It’s annoying for pet parents to have to decode this language, but it’s important to know before choosing the best food for your cat.

2. Cat Food Must Provide Hydration

You might have noticed that your cat doesn’t drink a lot of water. This is because cats naturally get their water from prey and wouldn’t drink much at all if left to their own devices outdoors.

When cats do drink, they tend to prefer running water to still water—further decreasing your cat’s desire to drink from a dish.

For this reason, many people advocate for feeding cats wet food only. Young kittens, outdoor cats, and senior cats should all eat wet food.

There are several good quality brands for wet food that have the appropriate amount of nutrients at a reasonable cost.

Is Canned Food Or Kibble Better For Cats?

Canned food is best for cats because it contains more water and is less processed. However, cats can live long lives on kibble diets, however, it comes with a higher risk of kidney disease. Because kibble is cheaper, it’s many people’s only option for feeding their furry friends.

If your cat eats kibble, I recommend hydrating it before you give it to them. This process is as simple as adding a small amount of water and allowing the kibble to soak in it for a brief period of time. For added flavor and nutrition, you can use pure, unsalted chicken or bone broth.

These can also be easy ways to introduce variety to your cat’s diet without changing their food drastically. Some cats prefer dry cat food, but it’s because they don’t know any better.

There are also kibble toppers on the market, or you can make your own by cooking unseasoned meat for your cats. A bit of salmon or chicken on top of the kibble will add nutrition and entice your cat to eat.

3. Feed on a Schedule

Most cats do best on a feeding schedule, and research has shown that grown cats should eat at least two meals a day. Most kittens will eat more frequently and more calories than two meals per day.

If you’d like to feed more frequent, smaller meals, this is completely fine! The important thing is that they get the right amount of food and aren’t eating it all in one go. Cats can gain weight quickly and feeding twice a day helps to maintain a healthy body weight.

Kittens are still growing and need constant access to food for the first four months. After this, you can transition them to the schedule you’ll feed them on for the rest of their lives.

If your cat is under 12 months old, be sure to feed wet kitten food specifically formulated for their age. Kittens need more protein and higher amounts of amino acids than adult cats.

Can I Free-Feed My Cat?

The easiest way to feed a cat is to leave a food bowl of kibble all day long. However, this is almost always a bad idea and will undoubtedly lead to a shorter lifespan and increased risk of health concerns.

Downfalls to free feeding include:

Overeating
Food going stale
Less control of your cat’s schedule
Tracking their eating habits becomes difficult, particularly in multi-cat households
Less ability to add toppers, wet food, or other fresh items to kibble without them going bad
Increased risk of kidney disease
Increased cat’s weight

Your cat not having an eating schedule can be detrimental to your life together, as it can lead to behavioral problems and less predictability for you and your cat.

Feeding schedules help address behavioral problems and are even a way of getting ahead of them, such as when you use mealtimes to slowly introduce two cats. It’s important to start feeding kittens on a proper feeding routine right from the beginning.

Tracking your cat’s eating habits is also incredibly important, as it can be one of the first symptoms of a health problem.

Some cats might do better on a free-feeding regime, particularly underweight cats or those with health concerns who need more calories throughout the day. Sometimes, these cats are grazers, eating only a few bites at a time. You might also notice they try to bury their food after only eating a few bites.

If your cat doesn’t eat their food right away, it’s ok to leave dry and wet food out for an hour or two to give them time to eat at their own pace.

If your cat is like this and you can’t keep up with feeding them small meals around the clock, speak to your veterinarian about free feeding to see if it’s right for your circumstances.

Should I Elevate My Cat’s Food?

Raised bowls began as a trend marketed toward dogs to prevent bloat or GDV. It’s understandable that no dog owner wants their pup to get this deadly disease, and unfortunately, the pet industry took advantage of that concern.

Today, some people still believe cats and dogs should eat from elevated bowls to decrease their chances of developing gastrointestinal problems. However, it’s actually been found that raised bowls may increase a dog’s chance of developing GDV.

Although there aren’t many studies for cats, as general feeding guidelines, I would avoid tall raised feeders unless instructed otherwise by your veterinarian.

Outdoor Cats Eating From Elevated Food Dish

4. Changing Your Cat’s Diet

We all know how finicky cats can be, especially indoor cats when it comes to food. It’s best not to change your cat’s diet too many times, but sometimes it’s needed!

When your kitten outgrows the kitten food or your adult cat becomes a senior cat, changing their food can better support their nutritional needs for their new stage of life.

If your kitty has a health problem or has trouble maintaining a healthy weight, your veterinarian may recommend a prescription diet. Or, your cat might become less active and require less food to account for that.

I recommend consulting with your veterinarian anytime you change your cat’s food. They can point you in the right direction to ensure you’re feeding the best diet possible (and they should be happy to help find a balance between your kitty’s health and your own financial needs!).

When possible, it’s also a good idea to transition your cat to their new food gradually:

Start by mixing in 10% of the new food with 90% of the old food. (These measurements don’t need to be precise)
The next day, mix 25% of the new food with 75% of the old food.
A few days later, progress to a 50/50 split of old and new food.
Wait another few days before feeding 75% new food and 25% old food.
Lastly, a few days later, give your cat 100% of the new food.

These steps work well when transitioning foods due to your cat’s age or because you’re trying a new brand. However, you might need to stop feeding the old food more quickly if there’s a problem, such as a recall or your cat developing a health condition that makes that food unsuitable for them.

What To Do If Your Cat Isn’t Eating

If your cat isn’t eating, you can try to give them new food. This can be a good test to see if your cat is being fussy or if its appetite has lowered. The downside to this approach is that the new food could upset their stomach.

Anytime your cat’s appetite or energy level changes, you should see a veterinarian. If your cat hasn’t eaten at all for over 24 hours, take them to see an emergency veterinarian if your regular vet cannot see it right away.

Don’t overlook this symptom, as it can be a sign of a serious health problem for many cats.

Under the guidance of your veterinarian, you might need to coax your cat to eat. Some easy-on-the-tummy foods that cats love include unseasoned white chicken, meat-flavored baby foods, and unseasoned white fish.

Kitten Feeding Chart

When it comes to feeding kittens, here are a few tips to help. From bottle-fed kittens and nursing cats to introducing solid food and feeding wet food, you should feed a kitten differently than older cats.

Bottle-Fed Kittens (0-4 weeks old): Newborn kittens during their first four weeks of life will need to be bottle-fed kitten formula every 2-3 hours, including overnight. It’s critical not to feed them cow’s milk as it can cause digestive issues.

Transition Phase (4-5 weeks old): At this stage, kittens begin transitioning to solid food. Start by offering a mixture of high-quality kitten formula and wet kitten food or mush made from kitten formula or high-quality dry kitten food soaked in water. This should be done four to five times a day.

Weaning Kittens (5-8 weeks old): Gradually decrease the amount of formula in the mixture while increasing the amount of solid food. By eight weeks old, kittens should be eating solid food. Continue feeding them kitten-specific food, which is crucial for their development, about three to four times a day.

Juvenile Cats (8 weeks to 6 months): After weaning, kittens enter into the juvenile stage and you should feed kittens high-quality dry and wet food, still kitten food, and ideally only wet food. Feed them at least three times a day until they are six months old to help your growing kitten reach their proper kitten’s weight.

Young Adult Cats (6-12 months): Between six and twelve months, you can start transitioning your cat from kitten food to adult food which has fewer calories, by mixing all the food gradually over several days. At this point, feeding two times a day is sufficient for most cats.

Throughout these stages, fresh water should always be available and mixed in with any dry food. Monitor your kitten’s growth and weight closely, adjusting portions as necessary under your veterinarian’s guidance. Remember that each cat is unique; some may require special diets due to health issues. Stay in regular consultation with your vet regarding the best dietary choices and how much wet food to feed your growing kitten.

Conclusion

It’s important for cat owners to pay attention to your cat’s eating habits, appetite, and energy levels. Changes in these behaviors can be a sign of underlying health issues or overweight cats that need to be addressed by a veterinarian. While trying out new dry foods or wet foods often may be tempting, always consult with your vet first and introduce new foods slowly to avoid any digestive upset. It’s also important to know how much to feed your specific cat based on their weight, age, and energy levels.

Remember, your cat’s health should always come first, so don’t hesitate to seek professional help if you notice any concerning changes in their diet or behavior. With proper care and monitoring, you can ensure that your feline friend stays happy and healthy for years to come!