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How can you make sure you’re feeding your cat the right food at the right time and in the right quantities? If you’re choosing new cat food, deciding on a feeding schedule, concerned about a food-related health condition, or wondering about supplements or treats, check out our feeding guidelines for cats.
Cats are obligate carnivores, and this means that they cannot survive solely on a plant-based diet as they won’t get all the required nutrients from it. To stay healthy and survive, cats require at least 70% of the nutrients found in animal meat. So, your cat’s diet and choice of food should be prepared accordingly. To start off, you can begin by making a feeding plan for your cats to ensure they get the nutrition they require.
You can divide your cat’s daily diet into two main meals which are spaced no more than 12 hours apart. Alternatively, you can divide the food into multiple meals such as breakfast, lunch, and dinner. However, do ensure that these meals provide the cat with enough calories and other nutrients - not more or less than recommended.
Once your cats are set on a regular feeding schedule, you will slowly begin noticing their usual feeding habits. Habits such as playing with their food, eating alone, and hoarding food are quite normal for cats. So, if you notice any of these, you don’t have to be worried. A few habits that you may have to be mindful of are:
If you notice your cat showing either of these habits, book an appointment with your vet as soon as possible.
Before making a meal plan for your cat, it is important to understand which pet food is right for them. This is because there are a few factors upon which your cat’s basic calorie and nutrient intake depend. While a vet can help you with a detailed cat feeding guide, here is a quick look at factors that you need to keep in mind.
Life stage refers to the cat’s age - is your pet a kitten, an adult or a senior cat? Cats need the most amount of calorie intake when they are young kittens for proper growth. After 10 months of age, cats can be switched to a diet consisting of adult cat food. This diet can be continued even after your feline friend crosses 11 years of age, which is when cats begin to be considered seniors.
Lifestyle refers to how active your cat normally is. Cats who stay active and agile need more calories than cats who prefer to be idle.
Life stage refers to the cat’s age - is your pet a kitten, an adult or a senior cat? Cats need the most amount of calorie intake when they are young kittens for proper growth. After 10 months of age, cats can be switched to a diet consisting of adult cat food. This diet can be continued even after your feline friend crosses 11 years of age, which is when cats begin to be considered seniors.
Body condition concerns the animal’s overall health and body weight. For a cat who is overweight, you need to prepare a diet that is low on calories. With regards to the overall health condition, if your cat is facing any kind of ailments, their food intake may change or need to be changed. Your vet will advise you on what foods your pet may need to consume or avoid. They may also suggest changes in the cat’s feeding guidelines per the animal’s unique health requirements.
Cats that are naturally larger in size need more calories than their smaller counterparts.
Spayed and neutered cats usually have reduced metabolic rates and, hence, require fewer calories. Pregnant cats will naturally need more food than other cats.
A practical guideline to follow is that kittens should be fed three times a day from weaning (three to six weeks) right up to four months of age. After four months, they should be fed twice a day. Most cats should continue to be fed twice a day throughout their life, although some pets do well with one feeding.
The amount to feed your cat depends on your pet’s age, size and activity level. Feeding guidelines, which list the daily-recommended portion, are included on all IAMS™ packages. Start feeding with this amount and adjust according to your pet’s needs. Remember to divide the portion accordingly if you feed more than once a day.
When changing your cat’s diet, it’s important to introduce the new food slowly. Start by offering your cat’s daily portion in a ratio of 25% new food to 75% old food. During the next three days, gradually increase the amount of new food and decrease the amount of old.
Once you have understood your own cats’ feeding guide based on age and other factors, it is important to figure out what kind of food to pick - wet or dry. Both these types of foods have their unique benefits, and each one can prove necessary for different stages of a cat’s life to fulfil nutritional requirements. Since each of these types of food finds its place in a cat’s feeding guidelines, let’s take a closer look.
Wet food is an excellent treat that can be fed alone or mixed with dry food. Wet food is good for cats for the following reasons:
Dry food comprises kibbles made with ingredients that are generally preferred by cats. Dry food is easier to use to feed cats and can be given with a food dispenser. This type of food also has a longer shelf life. Here are some more benefits of dry food for your feline friend.
Although our wet cat foods are nutritionally complete and balanced for a cat’s diet, it is not necessary to offer wet food at every feeding. Our dry foods are formulated with high-quality protein sources such as chicken, lamb or fish and contain all the essential nutrients pets need.
You can also consult your vet regarding your cat’s feeding guidelines, and they will make changes if necessary. Also, it is best to consult your vet before making any major changes in your cat’s meals, like adding or switching to raw food diet for cats. Your vet may conduct a nutritional evaluation of your cat to determine what food they require.
No — boredom with food is a human trait. Cats are creatures of habit and usually are content with just one food. Cats generally eat to meet their energy or nutritional needs. They have very short digestive systems, and if their diet is abruptly or constantly changed, digestive disturbances can occur. Also, constant changes can make your pet a finicky eater.
Adding water will not change the nutritional value of dry cat food. However, once moisture is added the food should be eaten relatively soon, and any uneaten portion should be discarded to avoid spoilage. Feeding your cat dry food is usually encouraged because of the benefit to your cat’s dental health.
Cats and dogs have different nutritional requirements and should not eat each other’s food. For example, cats require a much higher level of taurine in their diet. An occasional venture into each other’s bowls will not be harmful but is not recommended on a regular basis.
Our foods are nutritionally complete and balanced. Adding vitamins, minerals or oils can offset the balance the food provides. One of the benefits of feeding a high-quality product is that it has been carefully balanced in proper ratios to provide optimal nutrition, so nothing needs to be added.
Contact the IAMS Pet Care and Nutrition Specialists toll-free at 1-800-675-3849.
A cat should be fed at least two meals a day. However, do ensure that you don’t wait for more than 12 hours to feed your cat, or they might suffer from acid reflux and hunger.
A cat’s daily food requirement depends upon these factors - their age, size, activity level, body condition, health status, reproductive status, and if they prefer being indoors or outdoors. Based on these factors, you can prepare a feeding chart for your cats. You can also consult your vet for your cat’s nutritional evaluation and feeding chart.
The amount of wet food your cats should eat also depends upon their age, size, reproductive state, and activity level. An adult average-sized cat can be fed one 3-ounce can of wet food for every 3 - 3.5 pounds of their body weight, on a daily basis.
Yes, cats need to be fed daily. They can eat one large meal or a few smaller meals per day, depending upon their activity level, age, and their body type. If your cat suffers from an ailment, your vet may suggest changes in their daily feeding schedule.
A hungry cat may start meowing at a high pitch, try to lead you towards their food bowl, or sit by their food bowl and claw at it.
If you have a cat at home, you have probably seen it vomit every now and then. Cats throwing up is something common but healthy cats should not be throwing up too often. If you notice that your cat is puking frequently, it could be because of several reasons. It is best to take your cat to the vet and schedule regular checkups to make sure that any underlying causes are treated in time.
That being said, you do not have to rush your cat to the doctor when and if it vomits. Occasional vomiting is not a cause of concern, steps for treatment should be taken only when your cat starts to vomit after every meal or every day. Keep reading to know more about why your cat’s throwing up and what you should do to look after it.
Just like us humans, cats can vomit because of various reasons. A cat can vomit if it is exposed to a toxic ingredient. For example, being exposed to a toxic plant that makes your cat vomit can be a reason for chronic vomiting. Cats have a habit of playing with strings and if they ingest any of these toxic bodies, they can stay in its system and cause chronic vomiting.
Vomiting is such a common occurrence in cats that it cannot point out a particular illness or infection. Almost all feline diseases result in vomiting and to find out the actual cause, you will have to take your cat to a vet. It can be for reasons ranging from intestinal issues, organ dysfunction, gastric issues, diet, infections, cancer, and more.
Here are a few reasons why your cat’s throwing up:
Cats love self-grooming and you will always find them licking themselves. This causes their rough tongue to pull out loose hair out of their coat and swallow it. When a large amount of coat hair accumulates in the stomach and is not easily digested, it leads to your cat throwing up a hairball. Cat hairball vomit is extremely normal and there is nothing to worry about. However, if you notice that your cat is throwing up hairballs too often, it could be a sign of gastrointestinal problems. Get it checked by your vet to be on the safer side.
Gastroenteritis is just a fancy term for an upset tummy. This can be caused due to medication side effects, dietary problems, toxins, and more. Most of the time, symptoms of gastroenteritis are mild and resolve on their own while others can be chronic and will need a professional’s attention.
Foreign bodies or obstructions: If your cat has a habit of eating or chewing on the toys it plays with, its GI tract can get blocked and can result in bouts of vomit. When vomiting is induced by a foreign material in your cat’s body, urgent help is required. It’s best to take your cat to the vet immediately and get it looked at.
Food allergies and Inflammatory Bowel Disease: Food cat allergies are not common, but some can cause your cat to vomit. If your cat eats a trigger food, it will immediately start throwing up because of the inflammation in their digestive tract. Sometimes, food allergies can also cause chronic diarrhoea.
Systemic Illnesses: Many chronic illnesses such as pancreatitis, hyperthyroidism, kidney diseases, and more can cause your cat to feel nauseous and throw up. If you notice that your cat is throwing up too much, it is best to get it looked at, so the diagnosis of the above-mentioned diseases is not delayed.
Parasites: Parasites usually cause vomiting in kittens, but it can happen to cats of all ages. Check your cat's vomit for live worms. The only good news about parasite-induced vomiting is that it is 100% curable.
Cancer: Digestive tract cancer is very common in cats. Cancer in other parts of the body can also lead to vomiting.
Cats vomit because of many reasons and the appearance of their vomit can help us get an idea about what’s bothering them. It is best to observe or take a look at your cat’s vomit so you can tell your vet about it. This will help them find out the underlying cause and treat your cat accordingly. Here are some common types of cat vomit:
Yellow vomit | If your cat is throwing up yellow vomit, it could be because of partially digested food or bile in its stomach. |
Clear vomit | Clear vomit can occur due to an empty stomach or due to the regurgitation of saliva from the oesophagus. |
White, foamy vomit | Hairball-induced vomit on an empty stomach can cause your cat’s vomit to appear white and foamy. |
Bloody vomit | Bloody vomit can be caused due to inflammation in the stomach, oesophagus, or in the upper intestines. |
Brown and smelly vomit | Brown and smelly vomit can be a sign of bleeding in your cat’s digestive tract. It could also indicate an issue with your cat’s kidney or liver. |
There are a lot of things that you can do to prevent your cat from vomiting. The best way to rule out any common causes of cats throwing up is to take care of their diet. If your feline suffers from cat allergies, ask your vet for a special diet. This can help your kitty keep chronic vomiting at bay.
Make sure that you are feeding your cat a balanced and nutritious meal and not giving it too many table scraps. Keep an eye on your cat when it is playing and do not let it eat any of its toys. Rubber, strings, and more can cause your cat to vomit. Lastly, consider over-the-counter cat hairball vomit remedies. If your cat’s coat has long hair, ask your veterinarian to prescribe some products that can help reduce or prevent hairball vomiting.
Many cat parents try to find products that they can give their cats to prevent or stop vomiting. Since there are so many reasons that can cause your cat to throw up, picking a product based on a single issue is extremely difficult. If your cat is throwing up because of organ diseases or cancer, treating the disease should be a priority. If your cat has a mild case of vomiting, your vet may prescribe antiemetic medications or antacids. For gastrointestinal issues, your cat may need to switch to a more gut-friendly diet.
Your veterinarian will decide what tests and treatments are necessary for your cat based on these aspects:
Whether it has fever, is lethargic, or is depressed?
Whether it has a good appetite or lost any weight?
Is it throwing up blood?
Is your cat in pain or is experiencing abdominal discomfort?
Are your cat’s bowels affected?
Is it vomiting too many times in a day or just right after a meal?
Does the vomit stink or have a particular colour?
Did you recently change your cat’s diet or put it on supplements?
Is your cat chewing on any toys or is it eating any other foods?
Are other cats in your house also affected?
If your cat is vomiting too much and some serious symptoms of underlying diseases are suspected, your veterinarian may suggest more tests and suggest more aggressive treatments. If your cat has lost a lot of blood or electrolytes by vomiting frequently, you may need to get it hospitalised.
Before you go on to treating your furry friend, you must know the different cat vomiting reasons:
Ingestion of a toxin from the fur is the most common cause of cat vomiting.
Cats have a proclivity for chewing on attractive house plants, which can lead to plant poisoning.
If the cat is present when its parent cleans its living space with a high-fume chemical agent, the inhalation of toxic chemicals - such as cleaning agents - can cause poisoning in cats.
If your cat skips a meal or eats later than usual, it may regurgitate the undigested food.
Another reason why cats vomit frequently is their rapid change of food. It is recommended that you transition your cat to a new diet slowly over a one to two-week period, gradually reducing the amount of current cat food while gradually increasing the quantity of new cat food.
Dietary indiscretion, pollutants, or medication side effects might cause gastric problems such as an upset stomach.
Some cases are minor and can go away on their own, but others can be serious and require medical attention from a veterinarian.
Ingestion of a foreign object, such as a string or a small toy that becomes lodged in the stomach or intestines, is a common cause of intestinal blockages in cats.
An intestinal blockage is a highly serious ailment that requires immediate attention. It can be caused by underlying health concerns such as a tumour or difficulty with intestinal movements.
Some of the common signs include your cat puking frequently or its inability to keep down water or food.
Prolonged disorders such as pancreatitis, kidney disease, and hyperthyroidism can all cause nausea and chronic vomiting in cats for numerous reasons.
Identification of the underlying ailment is required to address many causes of cat vomiting with many of these conditions requiring lifelong therapy.
One of the most prevalent feline endocrine illnesses is hyperthyroidism (sometimes known as an overworked thyroid).
Thyroid overactivity is caused by a tumour (usually benign) in the thyroid gland that pumps too much thyroid hormone into the bloodstream.
This increase in your cat's metabolism can result in your cat throwing up.
Repeated cat vomiting should never be ignored because it can lead to dehydration. But because vomiting is common in cats, how do you know what’s normal? “A general guideline is that if the cat is vomiting one to three times a month, we consider this normal,” says Dr Folger.
He considers it serious if the vomiting occurs twice daily for two or three days. If your cat stops eating, seems to have stomach pain, or retches continuously, or if the vomit is mixed with blood, take it to a veterinarian. And as always, if you’re suspicious that a lingering problem could be harmful to your pet, call your veterinarian. A visit to the office can help relieve your cat’s discomfort and your worries as well.
