When and How Much to Feed Your Cats

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Have you ever wondered how often or how much you should feed your cats? That is a question that many people have asked themselves, but few know the actual answer to. Of course it all depends on what type of food you are feeding your cats. Is it canned or is it dry? But did you know that the amount that you feed your cat and how often you feed them varies depending on their age, health, and preference? According to veterinarians at Cornell University, these 3 factors are the main components that you should use when you decide when to feed your cat and how much to feed them.

When cats are kittens, they require more food because they are growing and need the proper nutrition to help them in their growth. In order to keep them healthy, you should be feeding a kitten that is growing more often throughout the day. "Growing kittens up to six months of age may require three meals a day," says Francis Kallfelz, DVM, PHD, board certified by the American College of Veterinary Nutrition and James Law professor of nutrition at Cornell University College of Veterinary Medicine. Once your cat is fully grown and reaches adulthood, it is acceptable to only feed them once or twice a day as long as they are healthy and do not have any diseases. Depending on whether your cat has a disease such as diabetes or not, you may have to feed them differently depending on when you give them their insulin.

When it comes to feeding your cats, dry food is fine as long as it is well rounded and balanced. Most of these dry cat foods cost less and last longer, so that is why owners choose them. However if you do decide to give your cat dry food, make sure to provide them with lots of water to prevent them from developing urinary tract infections. Having clean and fresh water around consistently is an important thing for any cat. If you decide you want to feed your cat canned food, this can be used separately or in addition to dry food. You need to be careful because canned foods can be more palatable, so cats may tend to overeat. In order to fight this, try and use a food of medium palatability.

When it comes to portion control, it is a good idea to look at the instructions on the cat food label. However, remember that these portions are to be fed to the average cat, so if your cat is a little smaller, than you should feed them a little less, but if it is a little larger, than you should feed them a little more. If you decide to make the meal for your cat more appealing, by mixing canned and dry cat food, then make sure to match the calories from both up to the proper serving for your cat.

When it comes down to it, just try to work around your schedule. If you find yourself being busy at night, then feed your cat during the day or in the morning, but if those other times are more hectic for you, try to feed your cat in the morning. The key is consistency. Once you choose a time, try to stick to it because that is what your cat will become accustomed to.

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Sources: http://www.vet.cornell.edu/fhc/news/feed.htm

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