What should cats eat?

Feeding your cat a well-balanced diet will keep your pet healthy and happy. Here's what you need to know about feeding your cat.

Meat-based diet

Cats need a well-balanced, meat-based diet to stay fit and healthy - they can't be vegetarian. You'll need to feed them a diet that's suitable for their age, state of health and lifestyle.

  • No human food: most typical human food won't meet the nutritional needs of cats, and some human foods can even be poisonous to cats, such as onions.
  • Little and often: cats naturally eat several small meals per day. Make sure you feed your cat every day and try to split their daily intake into several small meals (unless your vet advises otherwise).
  • Read the instructions: always read and follow the feeding instructions that relate to the cat food you buy. Why not try McAdams ethical cat food?
  • Feed the right amount: the amount your cat needs to eat depends on their age, lifestyle and health, so adjust the amount of food according to their specific needs. If a cat eats more food than they need, they'll become overweight and may suffer. Equally, if they're eating too little, they'll become underweight. 
  • If you provide a litter tray, position their food and water well away from it. Most cats won't eat if their food is placed too close to their toilet site.

Drinking water

Make sure your cat always has clean drinking water available. They need it to stay healthy and could become severely ill within hours without water. Remember, cow's milk isn't a substitute for water.

Talk to a vet if your cat's eating and drinking habits change - it could be a sign they're ill. 

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