Does your kitty have some cute ways of letting you know she wants dinner right meow? Cats can be finicky, so it can be tricky figuring out what kind of food your feline buddy likes best. A local Oshawa, ON vet offers some advice on this below.
Choosing Foods
One decision new cat owners will need to make is determining whether to offer their furry pals wet or dry food. There are pros and cons to both. Dry food is cheaper, less messy, and lasts longer. It usually contains things like meat and poultry, as well as their byproducts, combined with fish meal, fiber, and vitamins and minerals, all of which is dried and coated in flavor enhancers. Canned food is more expensive, but also has a higher moisture content, and more closely imitates Fluffy’s natural diet. You can go with a mix of both if you like. Ask your vet for specific recommendations.
Portion Sizes
Pay attention to serving sizes. If Fluffy eats just ten extra calories a day, she’ll start to pack on pounds. While cat foods do come with recommended serving sizes, those aren’t necessarily right for every furball. A super-active kitty will burn more calories than one who just sleeps all day. Body type is also something to consider: a Maine Coon may be perfectly healthy at a weight that would make a Munchkin dangerously obese. Ask your vet for specific advice.
Feeding Times
Most kitties should be fed twice a day, in the mornings and evenings. Kittens, however, need more frequent meals. If you feed kibble, you can leave it out all the time. Just don’t get fooled into continuously refilling Fluffy’s bowl every time she meows at you!
Snacks
Fluffy loves being pampered, so it’s no surprise that she enjoys snacks. Store-bought treats are fine. Check the ingredients, though, and avoid things with long lists of ingredients that sound like chemical experiments. You can also offer small amounts of cooked, plain meat, fish, or poultry; canned fish or chicken; or shredded deli meat. Also, stick with safe foods. Some unsafe ones include garlic or onions, grapes or raisins, xylitol, and chocolate. Sugary foods are also off the menu, even if Fluffy really likes donuts. (Cats aren’t even supposed to like sweets, but some of them apparently never got that memo.) Ask your vet for more information.As your local Oshawa, ON pet hospital, we’re here to help! Contact us anytime!
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