It is no secret that felines are picky eaters. They seem to love certain food items one day and then refuse to eat them the next day. Unfortunately, such habits can end up compromising your feline’s nutritional needs.
A good diet will make your feline more active, improve their overall health and mood, keep them safe from diseases and even prolong their life. Naturally, your feline needs the best feeding constantly to be the bundle of joy that they are.
So, if you are looking to make healthy changes to your feline’s diet, read on!
Feed Them Canned Food Instead of Kibble
The simplest and most impactful way to improve your feline’s diet is by replacing kibble or cat food with canned foods like chicken and tuna.
You may think that a diet based on kibble is well suited to your cat’s nutritional needs. But kibble alone is insufficient as it is low in animal protein and water.
Additionally, as cats are carnivorous, you must incorporate canned foods into their diet. Canned food is a much more nutritious choice and has fewer carbohydrates than dry foods.
1. Make Sure Your Feline Is Hydrated
Perhaps the easiest and most overlooked aspect of any feline’s (or even our own) diet is making sure that they are hydrated well. Cats are not used to seeking out water on their own. Their water intake requirements used to be satisfied by eating the food they hunted.
So, you will need to take measures to ensure that they remain hydrated. Additionally, feeding them canned foods over dried ones is an excellent way to increase their water intake.
2. Feed Them A Balanced Diet
It is vital to ensure that your feline has a well-rounded, nutritious diet. Good nutrition acts as a deterrent for any potential diseases and deficiencies.
A good way to ensure that your cat meets their nutritional requirements is by giving them balanced foods. Learn how to read labels on the food you buy for your cat.
This way, you can become mindful of what nutrients are incorporated into your feline’s diet, like fiber. Also, you need to stay aware of which ones you need to include more often.
3. Be Mindful Of Specific Nutritional Needs
Along with giving your feline a balanced diet with a good portion of nutrients, you should also note which food suits them and which doesn’t.
If there are certain foods that your feline eats and feels ill afterward, make a note of them and avoid them. You should also be mindful of certain foods that your cat dislikes intensely, as they may be allergic to them.
4. Be Conscious With Homemade Food
Only feeding homemade food to your feline may seem like a healthy choice, but it can get dangerous if you are not particular about feeding your cat.
Feeding homemade food to your cat is not a matter of concern if you do it occasionally. However, if you are opting for a completely homemade diet, you will need to ensure that the diet is nutritious and balanced.
It is advisable to consult your vet before choosing a homemade diet for your feline to ensure whether the diet will be healthy and a better choice than store-bought food.
5. Ensure That The Food Is Safe For Felines
Although you may think you know what foods you shouldn’t feed your cat, it will not hurt to stay cautious. Hence, ensure you check the labels and ingredients of the canned and dry food you buy for your feline.
Additionally, be wary of the ingredients of the food that you prepare for them yourself. For example, you may be feeding your cat foods that are toxic for them or cause allergies.
If you have any doubts about what foods are harmful to your feline, it is best to confirm with your vet.
6. Set A Time And Frequency For Feeding
Setting a particular time and frequency for feeding your cat will not only make things easier for you but will also drastically improve your feline’s diet and activity levels.
You should feed your feline multiple small meals throughout the day instead of fewer large ones. Additionally, the amount of food you feed your feline depends on their activity levels, age, weight, etc.
It is very important to ensure that the amount of food you feed your cat is consistent. It is best to consult your vet instead of making assumptions. You should not be overfeeding your cat one day and then compensate by reducing the quantity on the next day.
7. Make Slow Transitions
While making any changes in your cat’s diet, make sure that you don’t make any drastic changes. This includes going from one diet to a completely different one or significantly reducing or increasing the quantity within a short time.
Not making a proper transition can cause problems like upset stomach, diarrhea, vomiting, etc. Therefore, it is best to make a slow transition to bring about a change in your feline’s diet.
8. Take Note Of Your Cat’s Weight
Overfeeding and obesity can have consequences like the risk of cancer, diabetes, heart disease, high blood pressure, joint disease, etc. But, on the other hand, you do not want to underfeed and malnutrition your feline.
The quality of nutrition and the frequency of feeding are vital for your feline’s health. Keeping these two factors in mind will mean that your cat will remain at a healthy weight.
Final Thoughts
Taking care of your feline’s diet is the first step to keeping your cat healthy and happy. So, if you’re not focusing on their meal, it’s time to consider enhancing it with more nourishing nutrients.
Hopefully, this article helps you in enriching your feline’s diet with the right tips.
