What is the best time to feed cats

Best Cat Feeding Time and Schedule

Proper feeding and nutrition is an important consideration for every cat owner. You want to make sure that health requirements are met. On the other hand, you also want to want to prevent your cat from overeating, as obesity can cause for bigger health problems later on. Some cat owners choose the free feeding method, where the cat has free access to food anytime, while others apply portion control and feed their cat more than once a day. But following a cat feeding schedule, alongside close weight monitoring, can definitely help you ensure that your cat gets the nutrition he needs every day.

So, whats the best cat feeding schedule? Cats are pretty much like people, in that, every cat may have different needs and requirements. How much to feed a cat, how often should you feed him, and what types of food are just some of the questions that you might be asking. Knowing about the basics of feline habits and physical needs can help you can come up with an ideal feeding schedule for your cat. Here are a few things you must remember about cats:

• Cats are creatures of habit. A consistent feeding routine makes your cat feel more secure.
• Cats usually get hungry 8-10 hours after the last meal. Feeding your cat once or twice a day is generally acceptable.
• Cats that suddenly show loss of appetite are likely ill.
• Kittens have different feeding requirements compared to adult cats. See our detailedkitten feeding schedule and guide.
• Some cats are more finicky than others. You may have to combine wet and dry food, switch food brands occasionally, and make adjustments according to your cats eating habits.
• A cats daily calorie requirement would depend on his weight. Referring to a cat feeding schedule chart could serve as your guide in making sure your cat is eating healthy.

How Often Should I Feed My Cat?

How often should cat owners feed their pets? The answers would vary according to some factors, according to your cats age, health, preference, and habits.

Your Cats Age

Kittens would requiremore food per pound and thus, more frequent feeding time until theyre about six months old. Based on thiskitten feeding schedule, kittens need to be fed lee frequently as they grow older. At six months onwards, feeding your cat once or twice a day is considered sufficient and is common practice, given that the cat maintains a healthy weight.

Specific Health Needs

Diet and feeding would also have to be adjusted if your cat has a health condition. For instance, veterinarians commonly advise feeding diabetic cats at the times when theyre administered insulin. In some cases, cats may develop gum or mouth problems, which would call for finer sized kibbles or wet canned food to help them chew easier. Your vet would offer recommendations on feeding in case your cat falls ill or has a health condition.

Food Preferences

You may be wondering if its better to feed your cat wet or dry food. Both types of food have their own advantages. You can certainly feed your cat a combination of wet and dry cat food for a healthier, well-rounded diet. The varying textures could be exciting for your pet, too. However, your cat may actually prefer one type over another and this is of course, something youd also need to consider.

Feeding your cat specific portions at certain times of the day comes with several advantages. For one, you can schedule feeding, according to your own schedule, in consideration of your cats eating habits. Free feeding or leaving out food available to your cat all day can be a cause for obesity. It would be a better idea to provide treats or snacks in between meals if your cat begs for food.

Portion-controlled meal feeding also makes it easier for you to monitor your cats eating habits and see right away if there is an arising health problem. If there are changes in appetite levels, or if you notice anything like your cat guarding his food or speed-eating, you might need to have him checked by the vet. If your cat is sick, its also easier to administer medicine with meal-feeding.

Cat Feeding Guide: Wet and Dry Food

Combining a diet of wet and dry food can be good for your cat. Dry food is easier to store, but lack the moisture that can be found in wet cat food. The following cat feeding schedule template can help you better estimate how much and how often you should feed your cat.

So how does this feeding chart work? As you can see, the schedule takes into consideration how much your cat weighs, his daily caloric requirements, and how much wet and dry food you can feed him in order to meet those requirements. Every cat has different caloric needs, depending not only on weight, but also on how active they are, whether or not theyre neutered prone to obesity, and other lifestyle factors. You can use some anonline calculatorto determine your cats unique calorie needs.

The cat feeding guide by weight will help you maintain a healthy weight for your cat. As an example, a cat weighing 10lbs can be fed roughly 230 calories per day. Check his weight every week. If your cat is gaining or losing weight, you definitely have to make some feeding adjustments. Read the nutrition labels on your wet and dry the cat food. Check for caloric content on the label and divide this number to your cats daily calorie requirement. The total is the number of calories your cat needs to consume within a 24-hour period.

Feeding cats properly isnt exactly rocket science. As long as you understand your cats preferences and needs, you can come up and follow a healthy feeding schedule for your cat. If this is the first time, youre hearing about the advantages of a good feeding schedule, its certainly worth considering if you want to ensure that your pet grows healthy. Just remember to ensure your cat is getting the nutrition and calories he needs. If you have further questions, dont hesitate to consult your vet.

Meal Feeding vs. Free Feeding Cats: What's Best?

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 amultiple 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 line.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 theCornell Feline Health Center. 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 their own food and water station in a quiet, low-traffic place where the cat likes to spend time,The Cat Doctorsadvises. That's because cats are solitary eaters they prefer to be alone when they eat.

To live a long, healthy life, your cat needs proper nutrition. Here are some things toconsider when selecting an appropriate diet for your cat.

Necessary Nutrients

Cats are obligate carnivores, which means that they rely on nutrients found only in animal products. Cats evolved as hunters that consume prey that contains high amounts of protein, moderate amounts of fat, and a minimal amount of carbohydrates, and their diet still requires these general proportions today. Cats also require more than a dozen other nutrients, including vitamins, minerals, fatty acids, and amino acids.

Although your cat needs certain amounts of each specific nutrient to be healthy, more is not always better. This is particularly true of vitamins and minerals, so the use of supplements is usually not necessary if you are feeding a balanced and complete diet. Supplements can be harmful to your cat, and they should never be given without a veterinarians approval. Cats should have access to clean, fresh water at all times.

Types of Commercial Cat Food

Commercial cat foods are formulated as dry, semimoist, and canned. These products differ in water content, protein level, caloric density, palatability, and digestibility.

Dry Food

Dry food contains between six and 10 percent water. Depending on the specific formulation, a mixture of ingredients are combined, extruded, and dried into bite-sized pieces. Ingredients may include:

• meat and/or meat byproducts
• poultry and/or poultry byproducts
• grain and/or grain byproducts
• fish meal
• fiber sources
• milk products
• vitamin and mineral supplements

The pieces of dry food are often then coated with flavor enhancers, such as animal fat, to make the food more appetizing.

Dry cat food is relatively inexpensive, and since it does not dry out, it offers owners the convenience of free choice feeding. However, dry food may be less palatable to a cat than moist or semi-moist food, and depending on the types and quality of the ingredients, may also be less digestible. If you do use dry food, it is important to store unused portions in a cool, dry location, and not to use the food after its expiration date. Owners often buy large amounts of dry food that can sometimes be stored for months, so checking the expiration date before feeding it to your cat is very important. Storing food for a long period of time decreases the activity and potency of many vitamins and increases the likelihood that fats will become rancid. Its a good idea to store dry cat food in an airtight container to help prevent nutrient deterioration and maintain flavor.

Semi-Moist Food

Meat and meat byproducts are the primary ingredients of semi-moist food, which contains approximately 35 percent moisture. Other materials, including soybean meal, cereals, grain byproducts, and preservatives are added to make the final product. The cost of semi-moist food is generally mid-range. Semi-moist foods may be more appealing than dry cat food to some cats and can also be fed free choice. After the package is opened, however, the food can dry out, becoming less palatable and/or becoming rancid.

Canned Food

Canned cat food has a moisture content of at least 75 percent, making it a good dietary source of water. It is generally the most expensive type of cat food, but is also highly palatable for most cats. Many different varieties are available, which can be helpful if your cat is a finicky eater. Canned food has the longest shelf life when unopened, but any unused portion of opened canned cat food should be refrigerated to maintain quality and prevent spoilage. Gourmet canned cat foods generally feature meats, such as kidney or liver, and whole meat byproducts as primary ingredients. Some brands, however, may be nutritionally incomplete, and it is important to read the nutrition labels carefully on such specialty cat-food items to ensure that they have a nutritional guarantee.

Choosing A Food

Commercially prepared cat foods have been developed to give your cat the correct balance of nutrients and calories. Basic minimum nutritional requirements for cats have been established by the Feline Nutrition Expert (FNE) Subcommittee of the Association of American Feed Control Officials (AAFCO), and manufacturers use these standards in producing cat foods.

Reading the nutrition label on food packaging is the best way to compare cat foods. Pet food manufacturers are required to supply certain nutritional information on the package. Labeling regulations are established by the AAFCO and the United States Food and Drug Administration. All pet foods that carry an AAFCO-approved nutritional guarantee, often referred to as theAAFCO statement, are considered to be nutritionally complete and balanced.

A cats nutritional requirements change through different stages of life. These stages include kittenhood, adulthood, pregnancy, and lactation. The nutritional claim on the cat food label should state the stage of a cats life cycle for which the food is complete and balanced, and that it meets the requirements of the AAFCO. Some cat foods are formulated for all life stages, which can simplify the selection process for owners with multiple cats of different ages.

In choosing a cat food, it is also important to read the ingredients list. As with human foods, the items are listed in order of decreasing proportional weight. Look for foods in which meat, meat byproducts, or seafood are listed among the first few ingredients, as this indicates the food probably contains enough animal-source ingredients to supply essential amino acids and fatty acids.

Once you have determined that a food is complete and balanced, choosing between the types of food may be a matter of what your cat prefers. Some cats like canned food, some like dry food, and some like a combination of the two. Choose the ones that work best for your cat.

Homemade Diets

Making your own cat food is a difficult and time-consuming process, as the recipe may not contain the right quantities and proportions of nutrients for your cat. It is generally recommended that cat owners purchase nutritionally balanced commercial foods, unless a veterinarian recommends a home-formulated recipe for medical purposes. In that event, your veterinarian will likely recommend a recipe developed by veterinarians certified in animal nutrition.

Treats

While giving your cat an occasional treat is not generally harmful, they are usually not a nutritionally complete and balanced source of nutrition and should only be fed occasionally. A good rule of thumb is not to let treats exceed 10 to 15 percent of a cats daily caloric intake. In addition, some foods should be avoided completely. Although raw meat is an excellent source of many nutrients, it is not recommended as a food or a treat for cats, because it is a potential vehicle for toxoplasmosis and other infectious diseases. Some cats that have consumed canned fish products meant for humans have developed potentially serious neurological disorders. Milk is not generally recommended as a treat for cats, as many cats are lactose-intolerant and can develop gastrointestinal problems if fed dairy products.

Other Considerations

Cats can be choosy about where they eat. Keep in mind that heavy-traffic areas, noise, the presence of other animals, dirty food containers, or nearby litter boxes can deter a cat from eating. Try to be sensitive to your cats eating behavior, and make necessary adjustments.

Maintaining a healthy weight is another important consideration. Cats vary greatly in the amount of food they need to consume to ensure they dont become over-or underweight. Obesity is the most common nutrition-related problem in cats, and makes cats susceptible to a number of health problems, including arthritis and diabetes. Ask your veterinarian to help you determine the ideal body weight for your cat and follow their suggestions for adjusting your cats diet to reach and maintain that weight (Figure 1).

Although many cats are content to eat a single food, some cats may develop finicky eating habits and become very selective about what foods theyll accept. Feeding your cat two or three different cat foods provides flavor variety, and may prevent your cat from developing an exclusive preference for a single food. A cat that refuses to eat can develop serious medical problems. This is true for sick cats that lack an appetite, for cats on a diet, and for the finicky cat that refuses to eat. A veterinarian should examine any cat that refuses to eat and is losing weight.

Updated July 2017