How much food is enough? How much food is too much?

The amount of food your cat needs depends on age and weight. Commercial cat foods almost always include a feeding guide, which is very helpful. If you choose to cook for your cat with EQUALS, we also provide a comprehensive feeding guide.

Trying to get your cat to sit or stay on a weighing scales can be a challenge and there’s a smarter way to weigh. Simply weigh yourself first, then while holding your cat, take off your weight and there you have it. Lastly, whenever you visit your vet, for whatever reason, always discuss your cat’s diet.

Should my cat eat whenever they like?

Some people believe in “free-feeding” meaning the cat can eat all day, whenever they like. Others choose for a stricter regime: food twice a day, in the morning and the evening. One important thing to consider: your cat’s age. Generally, a kitten should eat four times per day, moving to twice a day when they are one year old. The problem with leaving food out all day, is that your cat will eat out of boredom rather than hunger. And this will eventually lead to an overweight kitty, with health issues.

What can I do about my four-legged fussy eater?

Good question! Surprisingly the wide variety of cat foods available can actually create a fussy eater.

All the different textures and flavours can overwhelm your furry friend. If you have a picky eater, there are many approaches to try. One approach is to try putting food out twice a day and taking it away after 30 minutes. Or it might just be that your cat likes a particular food. If that’s the case, stick to what they like.

Licking, cleaning, and bonding

You might have noticed, cats like licking themselves. In fact, they spend a third of their waking hours grooming. You’ve probably seen a cat with her kittens, licking them to keep them clean, but it’s also a sign of affection. It makes the kittens feel safe. Even in later life a cat will lick itself after a frightening or upsetting experience. Licking reduces tension, helps cats cool down when it’s hot and even lowers their heart rate.

Adult cats lick each other, only if they are related or have a good bond. When you stroke your cat, they will often lick you back, as a show of the affection and bond they have with you. Yes, their tongue can be a little rough, but it’s a small price to pay for your close relationship.

The world’s first cat show

It’s 1871 in London, England, a momentous moment in cat history. A group of cat fanciers (people who keep cats as pets, rather than as a mouser) arranged an exhibition displaying 170 cats. 18 years later, over 500 cats were exhibited to a crowd of 20,000 cat fans.

Feeding your cat: the basics

Firstly, cats prefer a quiet place to eat, where they won’t be disturbed. Also, twice a day, at the same time of the day.

When you choose a bowl, best is a metal or ceramic dish with a rubber bottom, which doesn’t move around too easily. Otherwise, your cat may play and overturn the bowl, leading to spillage and a little irritation. There should always be a second bowl filled daily with fresh water.

When the food is ready, make a sound, this could be tapping the bowl, shaking the bag, or calling your cat’s name. That becomes their dinner bell!

Because every cat is choosy

What a cat will eat in later life is often decided by what you feed them as a kitten. Be careful, many cat foods are no better than feeding your pet fast food every day. Which is as bad for them as it is for you.

If cats could choose themselves, they much prefer wet food. That’s because wet food has a high water and meat content. Cats need a lot of water and five times more protein than dogs. That’s the reason a cat should not be fed dog food, it just does not contain what they need and will lead to serious health problems.

In the wild, cats will travel miles to find prey. However, nowadays many cats live inside, which means you must take great care, that they get all the vitamins and minerals they need. Your cat may even go through phases when they refuse to eat. Here’s what you can do:

If you have another cat in your home, make sure that it’s not bullying that cat who refuses to eat. Try changing the type of food you usually give, moving the bowl to a quieter spot, or even using a saucer rather than a bowl. If you’ve been giving your cat refrigerated or cooked food, leave it in warm water for a considerable length of time. This will give the food a stronger and more appealing smell.

The most important thing to remember, don’t wait longer than two days to visit your vet. For peace of mind, but also because your cat may have infected teeth or a gum disease and these can develop into a serious problem very quickly.