Cats have very specific nutritional requirements and these differ depending on the age, breed and health of your cat or kitten. Therefore, different cats should not be fed exactly the same food, and should certainly never be fed the same food as you are eating yourself. While you might consider that you are giving your cat a treat by giving him or her some of your leftovers or titbits, these can actually be harmful to your pet as cat nutrition is very different to human dietary requirements. A good cat diet can help to extend your cat’s life and keep him or her healthy and choosing the right food is just as important as making sure your cat or kitten gets sufficient veterinary care.
Cat nutrition should consist of four basic elements – protein, taurine, vitamins and minerals, and water. Even though corn and wheat are often used in making cat food, carbohydrates aren’t actually needed as part of a cat diet. Water is essential for both dogs and cats, and if your cat doesn’t appear to be drinking enough water, you should make sure you give him or her plenty of ‘wet food’. Your cat will generally eat as much food as is needed to get the adequate amount of nutrients for their bodies. Therefore, if your cat is eating too much or too little, it might be because you are over-feeding them vitamins and minerals or there is a deficiency. This is often the case with cheaper cat foods, as they are carbohydrate-heavy and don’t have as much of the ingredients that they need.
Hills Pet have worked with vets, PhD nutritionists and food scientists to develop food that is right for your pet. Use their online selector tool to give details about your cat and easily find the food that best meets their requirements.