How much have you thought about the eating habits of your cat? Cats don’t get the luxury of choosing what they eat every day in the way that we do as humans. However, like us, their nutritional needs change throughout their lifetime. If you’re just bringing home a new kitten now or are rethinking your cat’s current food, these are some of the things to keep in mind to have a healthy and happy cat.

It’s always important to give a kitten a healthy and wholesome start in life. Feeding them a recipe specifically for kittens helps to ensure that they’re getting the right level of nutrients to fuel them while they’re active and growing. Just like with puppies, kittens often require a higher caloric intake to help them through this stage and ensure that they’re strong and healthy. Typically, this stage of life lasts until they around 10 months of age, depending on the breed of cat that you have and the expected weight of that breed.

Once they reach adulthood then it’s safe to transition your cat over to an adult cat recipe. Giving your cat something that’s age-appropriate will help them to maintain their weight and give them the premium nutrition that they require. Some things to look for when you’re selecting a food for your cat are quality ingredients that you recognize, natural preservatives such as mixed tocopherols and Rosemary extract, excellent sources of Omega-3 and Omega-6 fatty acids such as Flaxseed and Salmon Oil, and high quality protein such as chicken or salmon.  

There will also come a time when your cat needs to switch over to a recipe that’s better suited for senior cats. We know it may be difficult to accept that your cat is aging but when their metabolism and activity level starts to decline, typically at around 7-10 years old depending on their breed and quality of life, then their nutritional requirements change as well. Some cat food recipes are prepared for both adult and senior cats, or for all life stages. These recipes eliminate the need to transition your cat onto a senior-specific recipe.

Age isn’t the only thing that affects what your cat should be eating though! You can also find recipes that promote certain aspects of cat health, for example recipes geared towards cats with sensitive skin, coats and stomachs, weight control, or indoor lifestyle. Search for recipes which include natural ingredients that help to soothe these concerns and maintain their health for a happier cat.

No matter what the reason is that you’re changing your cat’s food, it’s important that you do it slowly over a span of 10 days and watch for the next 30 days as your cat settles into their new diet. Each day of the initial transition period should slowly replace more of the old food with the new food, gradually increasing that amount each day. To help you determine the proper ratios, you can get a custom feeding plan for your cat here.  

Learn more about your pet’s health and transitioning your pet’s food:

• 3 Reasons to Transition Your Pet’s Food
• Tips for Transitioning or Switching Your Pet’s Food