Feeding the kitty
So, you have now adopted a cat or kitten and you want to know what you should feed it. Firstly, you should speak with the shelter and find out what she has been eating there. You may not want to drastically change her diet because it may cause stomach upset, refusal to eat or diarrhea. 
Even if you don’t plan to stay with that diet, you should continue to feed her the old food and then gradually introduce the new food.
Cats are natural carnivores. They need the nutrients and minerals that are contained in meats so if you are a vegetarian or vegan, don’t expect your cat to thrive on the same diet. And don’t feed your cat human food. Not only is it not good for her, it will encourage her to bother you when you are eating. You will be reinforcing unwanted behaviour including begging, eating off the counter and stealing food off plates when aren’t looking. And do not feed your cat dog food. Her nutritional needs are different from your dog and you will be doing harm to her.
You should be feeding your cat food with minimal grains. Cats cannot process carbs like humans do. Invest in grain-free or low grain foods. Your cat will be happier and healthier for it. Her coat will be shinier and your vet bills will probably be lower in the long run.
How to Read a Pet Food Ingredients Label (from homevet.com)
- The words “natural” or “premium” are not necessarily indicative of high quality!
- Look for meat as the first ingredient. This will be listed as “chicken”, “turkey”, etc. NOT ”chicken by-products”, or “chicken broth”. The term “meal” denotes that it has been rendered (cooked for a long time at very high temperatures) and is lower quality than meat that has not been as heavily processed. By-products can include feet, intestines, feathers, egg shells, etc. and are less nutritious than meat.
- Grains should be absent or, at least, minimal in amount. This means if they are present, they should not be among the first three ingredients. Corn and wheat are thought to be common allergens when compared to other grains such as rice, oats or barley so it is best to choose a food that does not contain corn or wheat.
Common Feline Health Problems and Ties to Their Diet
There is a very strong connection between the way that we are currently feeding our carnivore felines and many of the life-threatening diseases that afflict them.
- Diabetes: Diabetes is a very serious disease that is becoming very common in cats. Why is it so common? The high level of carbohydrates in cat dry food wreaks havoc on the blood sugar level of any meat eater. The blood sugar level rises significantly upon ingestion of dry food. With chronic high blood sugar, the insulin producing cells in the pancreas burn out, leading to diabetes.
Kidney Failure: Kidney disease is probably the #1 cause of mortality in cats. It is troubling to think about the role that chronic dehydration plays in feline kidney failure. And remember, cats are chronically dehydrated when they are on a diet of predominantly dry food.- Cystitis (bladder inflammation) and Bladder/Kidney Stones: Cystitis and stones are extremely common in cats. Some cats have a higher tendency to form crystals in their urine. Cats on dry food have more highly concentrated urine which means that a higher concentration of stone-forming crystals will be present in the urine. This increases the chance of producing life-threatening stones. Also, a very concentrated level of crystals acts like 60-grit sandpaper on the delicate bladder wall, which can lead to painful cystitis. Cystitis can lead to inappropriate urination (urinating outside of the litter box) and stones can cause a fatal rupture of the bladder. (Any cat that is repeatedly entering the litter box but not voiding any urine is in need of IMMEDIATE medical attention!) Cats eating canned food are more appropriately hydrated, and therefore, have more dilute urine. This greatly decreases their chance for urinary tract problems.
- Inflammatory Bowel Disease (IBD): IBD is thought to be a common cause of vomiting and diarrhea in cats. There are many reports of cats with IBD that improved tremendously on a balanced, grainless, raw diet.
- Obesity: Cats are built to meet their energy needs with a high protein, moderate fat diet. Carbohydrates are minimally used. Those that are not used for energy are converted to and stored as fat. The so-called “light” diets that are on the market have targeted the fat content as the nutrient to be decreased, but in doing so, the pet food manufacturers have increased the grain fraction, leading to a higher level of carbohydrates. Hence, many overweight cats eating these “light” diets are still obese. These products are among the most species-inappropriate diets available to cat caretakers.
Hepatic Lipidosis (Fatty Liver Disease): This is the most common metabolic liver disease of cats. Overweight cats that go longer than 48 hours without eating, for any reason, are in danger of developing this serious, and often fatal, disease. Feeding a high-protein, low-carbohydrate diet helps keep cats at an optimal, healthy body weight.- Dental Disease: Long-standing claims that cats have less dental disease when they are fed dry food versus canned food are grossly overrated, inaccurate, and are not supported by recent studies. First, dry food is hard, but brittle, and merely shatters with little to no abrasive effect on the teeth. Second, the high carb level in dry foods has been shown to cause dental decay. Third, many cats swallow the majority of their dry food whole and thus receive minimal benefit from chewing motion. There are many factors that contribute to dental disease in the cat such as genetics, viruses, and diet.
Wet food or dry food?
Cats need both. They need wet food to give them the hydration that they desperately need. They cannot get sufficient hydration from a bowl of water. They will also need dry food to feed on when they are hungry when you are out all day. Make sure that they are high quality food so that they get the nutrients that they need. Don’t worry about the cat overeating on dry food while you are out. Cats will eat when they are hungry as opposed to dogs that eat whenever they are presented with food. If your cat is becoming overweight, use grain-free weight management food or fill the bowl with less dry food before you leave the house, as long as it is enough for your cat to be nourished on.
Diets for Kittens vs. Diets for Adult Cats
Firstly, you should feed kittens specifically designed kitten food. Kittens have very small stomachs, so they tend to pick a few bites and go, rarely eating a full meal in one sitting. Combine this eating habit with the type of rapid growth kittens experience in that all-important first year of development and it’s easy to see why they need a formula that’s packed with optimum nutrition in every bite. Kitten food differs from adult cat food because higher percentages of protein and fat are used in the formula.
Kittens have small stomachs (they’re about the size of a walnut at 8 weeks old) but large appetites, so feed small amounts on a frequent basis. This should suit your kitten’s eating habits as well. Here are some tips:
- Initially, your kitten will eat at least four meals a day of wet food. This provides a steady source of fuel throughout the day. If you are unable to accommodate this feeding schedule, feed three times a day but also leave a little dry food out as a snack for the day.
- As kittens get older, gradually reduce their wet food feeding to three meals a day and then, by six months old, to two meals a day.
- Cats are natural ‘grazers’. They do not adapt well to eating just one meal a day, as some dogs do.
- Cats prefer food that is fed at room temperature, so it’s better not to feed wet food directly from the fridge. Leave it to warm up a bit before serving or microwave it to room temperature.
- If you have a combination of adult cats and kittens, feed your kittens in a separate area than your adult. This way, the kittens will focus on the food of the adult. Sometimes, kittens will be more interested in what the adult is eating and push him out of the way to get it. Your adult may miss out on her meal to accommodate the kitten.
Water
It is important that your cat or kitten get plenty of water in order to maintain good health. While your feline will get some essential hydration from wet canned food, you will need to have a constant supply of water available. You should have a bowl of fresh water by his dry food bowls. You may also want accessible water upstairs if you have a multi-level home. Also, a great investment is a pet fountain. This is a fountain that you plug in and it will have a stream of water constantly running. Cats tend to drink more from these units as the running water prevents their water from being stagnant. If you see your cat hanging around the faucet or resting in the sink, you may want to invest in a fountain.
A healthy diet and ample hydration is essential for the health and happiness of your cat. The more you invest in this concept, the less you will pay at the vet’s office.
