What Is A Proper Diet For Your Cat Or Kitten?

We often forget that while Cats are domesticated, they are also carnivores.  That means they eat meat and have very little need for other foods.  When cats eat their prey, they will eat muscle, skin, bones and the internal organs.  Cats expect you to duplicate that "preferred diet".  That means a lot of protein and fat.  A recommended cat diet should contain 25 to 30 percent protein and 15 to 40 percent fat.  The average cat meal is equivalent to about 5 MICE!

Cats will do very well living on the prepared cat foods found in stores.  Canned meat is easily stores and  contains lots of water, which is essential for the cat's diet.  Soft, moist cat foods are also good.  Dried foods are suspected of causing bladder problems because they do not contain enough water.  You need to ensure that you provide plenty of fresh water and encourage your cat to drink by keeping it fresh.  A combination of all 3 types of cat food would ensure that your pet accepts variety as some do become very picky as well obtaining some of the benefits that all 3 types of cat food offer. 

Some Cats enjoy fresh foods like cooked meats ie. poultry, beef, lamb, pork and fish.  Cheese is also good. Giving your pets other foods insures a balance diet and is particulary recommended if you feed mostly dry cat food.  Most Cats cannot tolerate a lot of Cows Milk.  It often causes diarrhea.

The Cats' teeth are constructed so that Cats do not chew.  Chopping up food or serving in lumps that they can tear using their carnassial teeth (last premolar in  upper jaw and first molar in lower jaw) which act like shears. Their teeth are designed for holding and killing prey, tearing flesh.

A few Cats will eat vegetables and fruit, but they definately could not live on this diet.  Cats will also eat grass.  Grass is food for cats, acting as an emetic to make them regurgitate furballs and other unwanted matter.  If your Cat eats grass quite regularly, be sure that you use nontoxic lawn care products.  For indoor cats, there are products where you can "grow grass" for your cats.

Here is some DO NOT FEED CATS!
-do not feed only liver-it can upset their bowels
-do not feed Cats a fish diet only-it can cause Vitamin B1 deficiency
-do not feed only prime lean meat diets, it produces calcium and vitamin deficiencies
-do ensure that there is always fresh water available, and yes keep the toilet seat up if this is your cat's choice of a water fountain.
-do not give tap water that is treated with Chlorine directly from the tap.  Chlorine irritates the sensitive cats'nose.  Let tap water sit for 24 hrs before serving it to a cat.
-do give minerals and vitamin supplements if your cat food is a poorer/cheaper grade
-do not give cats raw egg whites, it contains avidin which neutralizes biotin
-do not give cats prepared dog food only.  The meat content is not high enough for a cats' needs!

 Here Is A Guideline Of How Much To Feed Your Cats And Kittens
Cat Details                                                       Food (Ounces per cat)
Age of Kitten  Cat Weight (lbs)  Feeds/day    Dry     Semi-Moist   Canned
10 wks           1-21/2                 4             1-21/2            1-3        3-7
20 wks           11/2 -41/2           3           11/2-21/2     13/4-3    41/2-7
30 wks           31/2-6                 2           11/2-21/2    13/4-3    41/2-71/2
40 wks           5-81/2                 2             11/2-3       2-31/2     5-81/2

Adult Cats
Active           5-10                   1-2             2-4           2-41/2    5-101/2
Inactive         5-10                   1-2           11/2-3     11/2-31/2    41/2-9
Lactation     51/2-9                  3-4           51/2-10      6-11      151/2-28
Neutered      5-10                      1             2-21/2         2-3          81/2
Old 10yrs+   5-10                   3-4         11/2-21/2       2-3            7

Obese Cats-reduce portions but feed more times/day to encourage nibbling.  If the obese Cat is competing for Food, try feeding it somewhere else and ensuring that he also does not have access to your other pet's food.  Diet and execise can reduce the weight but it needs to be done gradually, reducing food while increasing the activity for your Cat.  There are many Cat Exercise Products and Diet Cat Foods
available on the market to encourage your cat to play more, become more active while getting a balance and complete diet which has been formulated to assist the fat cat lose weight.