FAQ: Food for cats

It depends on the cat's weight, activity and the calorie content of the food, so the feeding table on the pack gives the exact amount. It is calculated for an average cat, so treat it as a starting point and adjust depending on whether the cat stays at a healthy weight.

Foods differ in calorie content, so a cat of the same weight may need 50 g of one dry food and 70 g of another per day. When you change food, recalculate the portion from the new pack's table.

Split the daily allowance: for example, the cat gets half its calories from wet food and half from dry. The amounts on both packs are for the whole day's diet, so you need proportionally less of each.

Yes, but mixed food spoils as fast as wet food, so leftovers must be thrown away after about half an hour. It is often easier to give wet food separately, for example morning and evening, with dry food in between.

Yes, as long as both are complete and suit the cat's age. What matters is the total calories and how well the cat tolerates them; for cats with sensitive digestion, introduce new foods one at a time.

Rotating flavours suits many cats and keeps them from getting fixated on one. But for cats with sensitive digestion frequent changes can cause stomach upsets, so they are better off sticking to one well-tolerated food.

A cat eating dog food now and then will not be harmed, but it must not be fed on it regularly. Dog food has too little protein, taurine, arachidonic acid and vitamin A for a cat, which can lead to serious health problems over time.

No. Cats are obligate carnivores: they need nutrients that naturally occur in abundance only in animal foods, such as taurine, vitamin A and arachidonic acid. Vets do not recommend vegetarian diets for cats.

A common figure is about 40–60 ml per kilogram of body weight per day, including the water in food. A cat fed wet food drinks far less from the bowl because it gets much of its fluid from its meals.

Cats descend from desert-dwelling ancestors that got most of their fluid from prey, so their thirst drive is weak. That is why cats fed only dry food sometimes do not get enough fluid.

Several water bowls placed away from food and litter, wide bowls so the whiskers do not touch the sides, and fresh water every day all help. Many cats prefer running water from a fountain.

Yes, a spoonful or two of warm water in wet food is an easy way to increase fluid intake. Start with a small amount so the cat does not notice the change in texture and refuse the food.

Yes, especially for kittens, older cats or cats with dental problems. Softened food spoils like wet food, so it should be eaten within about half an hour and leftovers thrown away.

No. Most adult cats are lactose intolerant, so milk can cause bloating and diarrhoea. There is special lactose-free cat milk, but it is a treat, not a substitute for water.

If the tap water is safe for people to drink, it is usually fine for a cat too. The main thing is that the water is fresh, so wash and refill the bowl at least once a day.

Increased thirst can be linked to switching to dry food or hot weather, but it is also a sign of kidney disease, diabetes or thyroid problems. If your cat suddenly drinks and urinates much more, see a vet.

Broths or drinks made for cats can encourage drinking, but broth made for people should not be given. It contains a lot of salt and sometimes onion or garlic, which are toxic to cats.

It is best kept in its original bag, tightly closed, in a cool, dry place. The original bag protects against light and air and keeps the batch number and expiry date with the food.

It is best to put the whole original bag inside an airtight container rather than pouring the kibble out. Poured kibble leaves fat on the walls that goes rancid, so the container must be washed and dried before adding new food.

Opened dry food should ideally be used within about 4–6 weeks, because over time the fats oxidise and the food loses its smell. That is why the biggest bag is not always the most practical for one cat.