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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