A common myth about cat feeding is that
owners think that their cat hunts for their own food like mice and small
birds, so there is not really a need to provide food for their cat. Truth
is though, although cats are pure carnivores, today's house cats are unable
to hunt for their own food because they have lost that instinct. Therefore,
it is the owner's responsibility to make sure their cat is provided with
the food and nourishment it needs to live healthily.
In order to help provide the right nourishment
for your feline, here are some helpful guidelines and suggestions to remember
when feeding your cat:
- Kittens should
not
be separated from their mother until they are at least seven to eight weeks
old because of the highly needed nourishment from their mother’s milk.
- Once they
reach this age where they can be separated and be transferred to solid
food, they need to be fed canned kitten food three to four times daily
until it can be gradually reduced to two times daily as they reach six
to eight months of age.
- Once cats
reach the age of one, it is necessary to start gradually mixing small amounts
of adult cat food in with their kitten food diet over a period of two weeks
until 100% of the food being eaten is adult cat food.
- It is best to feed canned cat food, as the majority of their diet because of the nutrient-rich animal products needed most in cats' diets. Alternate different brands often. Cats have been known to get sick if using the same brand of cat food for too long.
- Adding a small
amount of frozen raw meat at least twice a week to a cat's diet, is a great
way to insure that your cat is getting the correct nutrients and vitamins
without the harsh chemical preservatives.
- Dry food is
ok but should not be used as the main part in a cat's diet because of the
lacking nutrients and because it does not clean the cat's teeth as well
as other cat foods.
- To avoid getting
cats sick never feed a cat table scraps, such as uncooked food and bones,
as well as any type of milk instead always have a fresh bowl of water in
a glass container.
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