Feeding your cat and getting the balance right



Cats are ‘obligate carnivores’, which means they need meat in their diet, so unlike dogs, they can never be vegetarian or vegan. Felines rely on protein as their main source of energy, and need higher levels of protein in their diet than dogs. Not only is meat a ready source of protein, it also provides three essential nutrients that cats can’t live without: taurine (for heart and vision), arachidonic acid (for skin and coat health) and Vitamin A (for coat and vision).
To keep your cat fit, you need to give them the correct balance of all essential nutrients in cat diets. A good-quality, complete cat food should be carefully formulated to provide them with the perfect balance of all the nutrients they need to thrive while, at the same time, still being delicious to eat.
It might seem like a treat to you, but adding human food or supplements to a nutritionally balanced, complete cat food can actually throw off the finely-tuned balance of your pet’s diet and give them an upset tummy!
Kittens have sensitive tummies, and will need a special diet rich in protein and other nutrients to help them grow up big and strong. A complete kitten formula will make sure that they are getting everything that they need – our guide on feeding your kitten can provide more useful information on making sure your little one is well fed.
From 12 months of age a normal, healthy adult cat will receive their appropriate cat nutrition from a balanced complete diet designed for adult cats. When they reach their senior years at around the age of seven to ten, they will need to switch to a senior diet tailored to their changing needs. Take a look at our page on caring for your senior cat for helpful tips to keep your older cat happy and healthy.

You’ve probably noticed that your cat just loves to drink water from unusual sources like dripping taps or shower trays, but those should never replace an easily accessible source of constant fresh, clean water. Their water bowl should be placed a little distance away from their food bowl wherever possible, and well away from their litter tray. If you notice that your cat has suddenly started drinking from unusual places, it may mean they have a medical condition that’s causing excessive thirst so it’s worth discussing this with your vet.
Cats use protein, made from amino acids, as their main source of energy. As cats can’t make these basic chemical building blocks in their own bodies, they have to rely on specific essential amino acids in their diets. The proteins found in complete balanced cat food, such as meat and fish, should contain all the essential amino acids your cat needs to form and maintain healthy muscle, skin and fur, as well as being a key part of their immune system. If your cat doesn’t get enough protein, they can end up with poor growth, loss of muscle bulk, poor coat condition and increased risk of infection through a poor immune system.
Complete and balanced cat food should contain all the essential fatty acids your cat needs.
Sodium, chloride, magnesium and potassium, as well as zinc, copper and iron are also important minerals in cats’ diets. Good-quality, complete cat foods will provide the right balance of minerals. Balance is very important – too much of one mineral can lead to a deficiency in another.
Moist or ‘wet’ food
Complete dry foods
How do you change a cat’s food?
How do you change a cat’s food?
Do cats need food supplements?

Healthy cats that are fed a complete, balanced diet don’t need any supplements. In fact the addition of supplements could unbalance their nutrition and cause problems.
That said, some cats have special nutritional needs (e.g. for growth, certain medical conditions or during pregnancy) and cat food diets are available that are formulated for those specific needs. If in doubt, have a chat with your vet.
How much to feed your cat


If you’d like more information on Feeding Your Cat And Getting The Balance Right or have any other queries, contact our PETCARE EXPERT TEAM