The Best Diet for Your Cat: Complete Guide

Translated by Nick R

Don’t you know how to feed your cat to provide him with the necessary nutrients? Don’t worry because you’ve come to the right place. Let me show you all the factors to take into account when feeding your cat and the different types of diets.

What must be considered when feeding your cat? 

Several factors determine your cat’s diet, so here I’ll show you which ones you should take into account when it comes to its nutritional requirements.

Food intolerance 

Intolerance is an abnormal response to a food, which is not caused by the immune system but affects mainly the digestive system through gastric and stomach discomfort.

It occurs because the cat cannot process certain components or additives in some foods such as, for example, lactose or histamine (chemical substance) in a fish that is in bad condition.

Symptoms:

• Nausea
• Diarrhea
• Abdominal pain
• Flatulence

Any food allergy 

A food allergy is caused by food that causes the immune system to react to it. As they are not so common, the cat needs to be repeatedly exposed to that allergen in order to show signs of allergy.

The cat’s body response is to fight the microorganism in the food which is taken as an invader into the body, and the allergy is the immune system’s response to counteract it.

Symptoms:

• Loss of appetite
• Itchy skin
• Hair loss
• Reddening of the skin
• Swollen skin
• Vomiting and diarrhea

Causes of food intolerances and food allergies 

Foods: the most common to produce these two problems in cats and the main foods to generate such reactions are beef, fish, and dairy products.

Cat’s internal damage: if the cat has had surgery, inflammation, infection, or has been taking medication, the cat may develop allergies or intolerances.

Breed: cats can develop these problems at any time, but breeds such as Siamese are more prone to these problems.

*Age doesn’t interfere since at any stage the cat can have a food intolerance or allergy.

Classification according to their diet 

Given their anatomy, cats are classified as strict carnivores. This means that they feed only meat or their main dietary basis is meat. However, cats can also consume foods that are derived from other animals and plant-based foods.

It should be kept in mind that vegetables are not essential to their diet nor do they have to become the dietary basis of it. On the other hand, a cat’s dietary needs do require a generous amount of animal protein.

Age 

Kittens 

The first food that newborn kittens receive is their mother’s milk or colostrum during their first four weeks of life. Between the 5 and 6 weeks, the kitten should begin to bite a little piece of dry food suitable for his stage so that he can recognize the food and then he will be able to eat it in the form of porridge in order to start the weaning.

The weaning process starts between 4 and 6 weeks and ends between 8 and 10 weeks. Separating the kitten from his mother for a few hours will help him not to depend on his mother’s milk and, at the same time, on her company.

On the other hand, when the kittens start to eat, before doing so some of them will want to play with the food out of curiosity, but don’t worry, after a while they will know that they should eat it. It’s important to leave the food with them at all times so they can eat right away when they feel hungry. Water should be left all day long since hydration is very important.

• The cat is a puppy until his first birthday

Adult cat 

At this stage, cats should eat enough food to nourish them and above all meet their energy and protein needs depending on their size and level of daily activity.

Adult cats require taurine, which is a very important amino acid for healthy and normal functioning of the heart, reproduction, and vision. It’s important that they are fed animal proteins (meat-based diet) as these contain this amino acid.

The recommended portion indicated in the cat food table should be divided into two portions to be given twice a day with a difference of 8 to 12 hours. For example, if the cat ate at 9 am, the next serving could be at 5 pm or 9 pm.

• The cat is a young adult from one year to three years of age.
• They are full adults from 3 to 7 years of age.

Senior cat 

Cats in an advanced age will experience metabolic, immunological, and body composition changes due to the natural wear and tear of age. At this stage, feeding should be stricter to provide the nutrients that the cat needs the most.

This is so that they can maintain healthy body weight and contribute to their wellbeing, given that at this stage they develop some chronic diseases or conditions that must be kept under control.

The diet helps them to improve the state of their coat, maintain a normal level of muscle mass and strengthen their immune system as these are the most common problems and signs of aging.

If your cat is healthy, he can eat twice a day, otherwise, your veterinarian will tell you what diet and how often he should eat.

• The cat enters a pre-senior stage between 8 and 10 years of age.
• A senior cat is between 12 and 14 years of age
• From 18 to 20 years of age, the cat is geriatric.

Pregnant cat or cat in process of breeding 

If your cat is pregnant or starting to feed her kittens, it’s important that you add extra nutrients to her diet with protein-rich baby cat food. There is no set portion size, the cat can eat as much as she needs and must drink plenty of water.

Normally at this stage, cats may eat double or triple their normal daily portion to provide the necessary nutrients and protein to the kittens.

Cats with medical conditions 

The diet of these cats depends mainly on the health problem they have developed, such as obesity, kidney disease, skin problems, diabetes or castration. Your veterinarian will determine a special diet and portion size to help your cat better control the disease.

Breed 

Just like dogs, cats are prone to certain health problems just because of their breed. Some food brands develop food exclusively for certain breeds of cats with specific health problems. Some breeds that require special diets are:

• Maine Coon: is one of the largest cat breeds and has thick and long fur. These cats need joint supplements in the diet due to their weight as they are more prone to develop arthritis or other related diseases. They require L-tyrosine and fish oils to help strengthen and maintain a healthy and shiny coat.
• Persians: Persian cats, being long-haired, also need fish oils and L-tyrosine for the health of their coat. The Persian is a brachycephalic (flat-faced) breed and because of their condition, they are susceptible to dental problems and require small-size kibble made for good dental health. They can develop bladder stones so they should avoid foods that can affect this organ.
• Siamese: their diet needs a high content of L-carnitine and protein to maintain that characteristic slender figure of the breed. On the other hand, the shape of their kibbles is special for them to eat more slowly because these cats eat fast and that makes them prone to regurgitating food.

Types of cat diets 

There are 6 types of diets you can choose for your cat, some are not more recommended and are safer than others.

Dry diet 

Dry food contains between 6% and 10% water in its composition. This type of cat food can have:

• Meat and/or meat by-products.
• Poultry and/or poultry by-products
• Fish meal
• Dairy products
• Cereals and/or cereal by-products
• Fiber sources
• Vitamin and mineral supplements

These dry food pieces are usually coated with flavor enhancers to make the kibble more appetizing to the cat.

Pros 

• More economical than wet food
• Longer lasting
• Can be easily stored in a cool, dry, well-sealed place.

Cons 

• The quality of the ingredients is sometimes not good
• Less digestible
• Not as appetizing as wet food
• If stored for a long time, the food loses vitamins and makes the fats rancid

Wet diet 

Also known as canned food, it contains 75% water, which makes it an excellent dietary source of water for the cat. These canned foods can be made of:

• Meat such as kidney or liver
• Whole meat by-products

Pros 

• Being wet, the water intake is higher and helps to reduce or prevent urinary problems.
• It is a good source of hydration for managing weight loss in cats with this problem.
• It is more appetizing for cats (especially for picky cats).
• Its caloric content doesn’t increase even if the cat is given a larger portion
• Helps to combat constipation

Cons 

• More expensive
• Requires more care for the preservation
• Yields less
• Check the label to see if the nutritional value is correct.

Semi-moist diet 

It’s so-called because it contains 35% water in its composition. The difference with wet feed is that it needs other added components to complete the main feed which is meat and/or meat by-products such as:

• Soy flour
• Preservatives
• Cereals
• Grain by-products

Pros 

• More economical than wet food
• More palatable than dry food
• Yields slightly more than wet feed

Cons 

• Preservation is difficult because it dries out once the package is opened.
• Loses properties and becomes rancid

BARF or raw diet 

It basically consists of raw food without any chemical processes. It includes:

• Meat such as offal, chicken, turkey, neck, beef, and lamb.
• Meaty bones
• Vegetables such as carrots and pumpkin
• Egg
• Broccoli

The proportion of this one should be 95% to 100% animal protein and 5% vegetables.

Pros 

• Natural ingredients
• Provides the nutrients necessary for you
• No harm from processed foods

Cons 

• Cats are more likely to develop a condition from the bacteria that the raw food may contain
• If not made according to the cat’s nutritional needs, it can affect its health.
• Bones in the food can be dangerous, causing an organ to be torn or the animal to choke
• It may be more expensive

Vegetarian or vegan diet 

This diet contains no percentage of meat in its composition so it’s difficult for the cat to have a nutritional balance with only vegetables. For that reason this diet is not recommended to be given to any cat. It contains:

• Carrots
• Broccoli
• Peas
• Spinach
• Corn
• Squash
• Zucchini

Cons 

It does not provide the necessary nutritional content as an animal protein-based diet would.

Homemade diet 

This consists of you preparing your cat’s food yourself at home, so you must buy foods that provide nutrients for your cat. The foods are the same as those included in the BARF and vegan diets.

Pros 

• You can check and control the caloric and nutritional content your cat needs.

Cons 

• Preparation can be difficult and time-consuming
• If you don’t know your cat’s nutritional needs, it can affect its health.
• You need a veterinarian’s approval if it is a safe recipe for your cat
• Usually more expensive

How to feed your cat during the day? 

There are two ways your cat can eat.

Portion-controlled feeding 

This is where you feed at a specific time (as in the example above: 9 am and 5 pm), with no opportunity to increase the portions already stipulated.

Pros 

• You monitor your cat’s food intake.
• You can know if your cat has a poor appetite.

Cons 

• Your cat doesn’t control what it eats
• You have to prevent your cat from begging for more food outside of mealtime

Free feeding 

As the name says, food is free and available at all times for the cat and dry food (kibble) is the only food suitable for this.

Pros 

• The cat will control its appetite by eating small amounts throughout the day.

Cons

• You cannot monitor what your cat eats on a daily basis
• You won’t know if your cat has an appetite or not (for owners who only put new food when the bowl is empty after days)
• This way can lead him to develop obesity
• He may have an overfeeding of dry food

Now that you know all about feeding your cat correctly, what type of diet would you choose for your feline? I’ll leave you with a comparison chart so you can make your choice.

DIETS	PROS	CONS
Dry	Longer lasting, and contains animal protein, cereals, and diaries.	It only contains 10% water, contains flavor enhancers, is difficult to digest, and is not as appetizing.
Wet	It contains 75% water, it’s more appetizing, contains animal protein, and fights constipation.	Difficult conservation yields less and is more expensive.
Semi wet	It contains 35% water and it’s cheaper than wet food.	Difficult conservation and loss of nutritional properties over time.
BARF	Natural feeding with no chemical risk due to additives	More expensive, raw meats can contain bacteria and the bones are dangerous to digest.
Vegetarian	________________________	It has no animal protein. It’s low in nutrients.
Homemade	You can control the nutritional content.	More expensive and time-consuming to do. You need the approval of a professional.