Feeding Times And Feeding Methods For Cats-How Often You Feed Your Cat?- Feeding Methods Meal Feeding VS Free Feeding What’s Best?
Feeding Times And Feeding Methods For Cats
How Often You Feed Your Cat?
Check the pet food aisle at your local supermarket, and you'll find
dozens of varieties of food to entice your cat. Feed your cat too little or the
wrong kind of food, and he won't maintain good health. Feed him too much, and
he'll get fat. But you can help get your cat off on the right paw by
establishing regular feeding routines. Although the food you feed your cat
should be complete and balanced, the simple answer to how often you should feed
him is that there isn't a simple answer.
Age Makes a Difference
Kittens require more food per pound of body weight to support their
growth than do adult cats, and therefore should be fed more often throughout
the day. "Growing kittens up to six months of age may require three meals
a day," says Francis Kallfelz, DVM, Ph.D., board certified by the American
College of Veterinary Nutrition and James Law professor of nutrition at Cornell
University College of Veterinary Medicine. "From age six months to
maturity, most cats will do well when fed two times a day."
Once the cat becomes an adult, at about one year, feeding once or twice
a day is appropriate in most cases. age seven and above, should maintain the
same feeding regimen. "Once cats reach adulthood, once a day feeding is
fine as long as they are healthy and have no disease problems suggesting a
reason to feed differently," says Dr. Kallfelz.
The Health of Your Cat
Matters
If your cat suffers from a health problem such as diabetes you may
need to feed him based on whenever he is administered insulin, depending on the
type. "Talk to your veterinarian," says Dr. Kallfelz.
If your cat has hydothyroidism, he may want to eat all the time.
"Treat the disease," says Dr. Kallfelz. "If it is a treatable
problem, treat it and then feed your cat normally."
When a cat ages, his teeth may go deteriorate, or he may develop
gum disease that may make it difficult to chew dry food. "If they get to
that point, then offer them canned food or dry in a finer nugget size,"
says Dr. Kallfelz. You can also mash up the dry and mix it with water to make
it easier to chew.
A Best Type of Food?
Many cat owners feed only dry food to their felines. "Dry food is
fine as long as it is complete and balanced," says Dr. Kallfelz. Dry food
may be less expensive than canned cat food and may stay fresher longer. Cats
that eat only dry food need to be provided with lots of fresh water, especially
if they are prone to developing urinary tract problems. For all cats,
constant availability of fresh, clean water is important.
Canned cat food is typically about 70 to 80 percent water, and can be
fed in addition to or instead of dry. Some cats may find canned food more
palatable. These cats may consume too much if they are allowed free access to
food. Of course, this may occur with dry food as well. "Food with average
palatability may be preferable," says Dr. Kallfelz. If it is extremely
palatable, the cat may be more likely to overeat. If it is not quite so palatable,
he may be less likely to overeat.
Super-sizing food portions is not just a problem for people. Since the
feeding instructions on pet food labels are based on the needs of the average
cat, you may be feeding more than necessary if your cat's needs are lower than
average. If you feed your cat dry food, you may provide it to him at specific
mealtimes in measured quantities. Dry food can also be supplemented with a
small amount of canned food to make meals more appealing.
"There's no problem mixing the two types of food," says Dr.
Kallfelz. "Just make sure the calories are what your cat needs and not
more."
Free feeding dry food is acceptable for the cat who exercises
self-control, but some cats like to snack, and for them, free feeding can add
up to extra pounds. "If a cat can maintain his weight, free choice feeding
is okay," says Dr. Kallfelz. Even dry food left out for your cat to free
feed needs to be fresh, so be sure to provide new food each day. If free
feeding doesn't work, you need to control how much they eat. "Several
small meals may make them feel less hungry," says Dr. Kallfelz. "But
one is okay nutritionally."
And here's a useful hint: If you have a finicky cat, switching foods
occasionally may help keep from him becoming hooked on only one diet.
Consider Your Schedule
How often you feed your cat may depend on your schedule as well.
Mornings may be hectic as you get the kids off to school and yourself off to
work. Under those circumstances, feeding your cat may be easier in the evening
when it's quieter and less busy. If you are running around a lot in the
evening, feed your cat in the morning before everyone else is up. Find a
schedule that works for you and your cat - and then keep it consistent.
In a multicat household, not all cats automatically come when called for
dinner, potentially making it difficult for some to get food unless it is left
out all the time. And other cats may eat too much when food is always
available. "You just need to come up with a plan," says Dr. Kallfelz.
You can feed them separately or in different parts of the house.
Feeding Methods
Meal Feeding VS Free
Feeding
What’s Best?
Do you struggle with figuring out the right way to feed your cat? Are
you asking yourself, "Should I free feed my cat?"
How are you feeding your cat now? Do you currently have free feeding
cats? Do you set strict meal times, or do you do a combination of both? Read on
to find out about the three different ways pet parents feed their feline
friends, along with the advantages and disadvantages to each method.
Meal Feeding Cats
Meal feeding means you're providing food to your cat only at specific
meal times during the day. Both canned and dry foods can be fed in this manner.
Advantages:
Food intake can be closely monitored, which means it will be easy to
tell if your cat has had a change in appetite. In addition, if you have the joy
of having a multiple cat household, all cats will have access to food
without one being dominant over the others — one cat could be eating all the
food and gaining too much weight, and the other cat(s) could be missing out on
the nutrients they need to stay healthy.
Disadvantages.
Cats might beg for food between meals. Your cat cannot control how much
she eats at a certain time. However, if you are following your veterinarian's
advice with proper amounts and regular feeding, you can rest easy that she is
indeed getting the right amount of food and nutrients.
The bottom lines.
While kittens should be fed up to three times a day, once a cat becomes
an adult (at about one year of age) feeding once or twice a day is just fine,
says the Cornell Health Feline Centre. In fact, feeding just once a day
should be acceptable for the majority of cats. "Once cats reach adulthood,
once a day feeding is fine as long as they are healthy and have no disease
problems suggesting a reason to feed differently," Cornell reports. Again,
always check with your vet before deciding on a feeding regimen.
If you have multiple cats, ideally each cat should have her own food and
water station in a quiet, low-traffic place where the cat likes to spend time, The
Cat Doctor advises. That's because cats are solitary eaters — they prefer to be
alone when they eat.
Free Feeding Cats
If you're not considering
other options, you might be wondering if free feeding is an acceptable method.
When you free feed your cat, her food is available at all times. Keep in mind
that only dry foods can be fed in this way because wet food should not be left
out throughout the day. If you're noticing that your cat is leaving dry food in
her bowl for more than a day, you should still throw it out to maintain its
freshness.
Advantages: Your cat can eat multiple
small meals per day on her own schedule.
Disadvantages: Free feeding
cats can lead to overeating and obesity. It can also be difficult to tell if
your cat's appetite has changed, for the better or worse. It's also difficult
to tell, if you have multiple cats, how much each one is eating.
The bottom line: While free feeding can lead
to extra weight if not correctly managed, there are ways to allow free feeding
that keeps your cat's weight and food take into account. Make sure to properly
measure the amount of food necessary for them for the day. When the food is
gone, don't fill it back up until the next day. This will teach your cat to
feed throughout the day, rather than gobble it all down at once.
Another option for free
feeding cats, it's a good idea to use a food puzzle with pre-measured food so
you control how much and how often your cat eats. In an interview with Scientific
American, cat behavior expert Mikel Delgado says she likes food puzzles not
just for rewards, but as a way to feed cats every day.
"The thinking is
two-fold: the first is that food puzzles provide activity and mental
stimulation for cats; the second is that as obligate hunters, cats would
naturally work for their food. No one would hand them a bowl
of mice," Delgado says.
The Combination Feeding:
Mixed feeding can be
defined as serving canned food as a twice-daily meal and dry food is freely
available.
Advantages:
Combination feeding allows
your cat to eat multiple, small meals per day on her own schedule. You can
monitor appetite at least partially when you feed her wet food. It also gives
cats the nutritional benefits of both wet and dry food.
Disadvantages:
Combination feeding, like
free feeding, can often lead to overeating and obesity, so it is important to
measure the food out and not refill her bowl until the next day. If you have
multiple cats it can be difficult to monitor each one's total food intake, so any
form of free feeding may not be the best option.
The bottom line:
Both wet and dry have
advantages and disadvantages, when it comes to your cat. For instance, cats
diagnosed with certain medical conditions — such as urinary and kidney issues —
might benefit from the higher moisture content in wet food. Dry food,
meanwhile, is better for a cat's teeth and is easier to store.
If you do try combination
feeding, consider using a food puzzle so your cat feels challenged by playing
with her snacks.
If you have a multi-cat
home, keep in mind that the volume of food offered should not exceed the total
calorie requirements for all the cats each day. Otherwise, your cat or cats
could become overweight, leading to a higher risk of developing other health
problems.
No matter what method you
choose, measure food out each day to best track how much your cat is eating.
You can find guidelines for how much your cat should be eating each day on
every Hill's cat food bag and in feeding guides on the product pages on the
Hill's website.
Remember, these are only
guidelines. A cat's needs will vary depending on her size, energy level, and
health issues. Consult your veterinarian about the number of calories your cat
should be consuming each day.
No matter what method you
choose for your feline friend, make sure to choose a high-quality food to
provide her with the nutrients she needs to live a happy and healthy life. If
you feel like your cat is struggling with weight management, or just eating in
general, we highly recommend Setting Up Appointment with your Veterinarian
to come up with the healthiest game plan.
Reference:
“Cornell Feline Health Center”
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C.E.O; Pets Care Online
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posted by Pets care online @ November 03, 2019
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