Medical disclaimer: this guide is general information, not veterinary advice. Every cat is different. Talk to your vet before changing your cat's diet, especially if your cat is a kitten, pregnant, senior or has a health condition.
Cats are obligate carnivores
A cat is not a small dog. Dogs can adapt to a mixed diet, but cats are obligate carnivores: their bodies are built to get most of their nutrition from animal tissue. Several nutrients that cats cannot make well for themselves, such as taurine, arachidonic acid and preformed vitamin A, come from meat and fish.
This is why a vegetarian household cannot simply make its cat vegetarian too. A cat on a plant-only diet can develop serious problems, including heart and eye disease from taurine deficiency. If you are vegetarian yourself, you still need to feed your cat an animal-based, complete diet.
In practice, a cat's diet should be:
- High in animal protein from chicken, fish, egg or other meat.
- Moderate in fat, which supplies energy and essential fatty acids.
- Low in carbohydrate. Cats do not need much, and rice or chapati should never be the bulk of a meal.
- Complete and balanced, meaning it contains all the vitamins and minerals a cat needs.
Wet food, dry food or both?
Each format has strengths, and many cat parents combine them.
Wet food
- Contains a lot of water, which helps hydration and urinary health.
- Is usually higher in protein and lower in carbohydrate than dry food.
- Costs more per day, and an open pouch or can must be refrigerated and used promptly, which matters in Indian summers.
Dry food (kibble)
- Is convenient, keeps well and is easy to portion.
- Contains little water, so cats eating mostly kibble need easy access to fresh drinking water.
- Is calorie-dense, so it is easy to overfeed. Measure portions.
Home-cooked and raw diets
Home cooking can work only when the recipe is balanced by a vet or a veterinary nutritionist. Plain boiled chicken with rice is fine as a short-term bland meal when your vet suggests it, but it is not a complete diet. Raw diets carry a risk of bacteria and parasites for both cats and people, so discuss them with your vet before trying.
Whichever you choose, look for a food labelled complete for your cat's life stage, and change foods gradually over about a week to avoid stomach upsets.
Feeding by life stage
Kittens
Kittens grow fast and need more calories and protein per kilo than adults. Feed a food made for kittens, in several small meals through the day. Weaning from the mother usually happens gradually over several weeks, and your vet can advise on timing and on feeding orphaned kittens, who need a proper kitten milk replacer and not cow's milk.
Adult cats
Most adults do well on two or more measured meals a day, or on carefully portioned amounts of dry food. Watch body condition: you should be able to feel your cat's ribs under a thin layer of fat, and see a waist from above.
Neutered cats
Neutering lowers energy needs and often increases appetite, so weight gain is common. Many vets suggest a food made for neutered cats and a little less than before, plus more play.
Senior cats
Older cats may lose weight, lose muscle or develop kidney, thyroid or dental problems. Weight loss in a senior cat deserves a vet visit, not just a richer diet.
Pregnant and nursing cats
They need more energy and nutrients, and are often fed kitten food. Ask your vet for a plan.
Overweight cats
Do not put a cat on a crash diet. Rapid weight loss can cause a serious liver condition. Work out a gradual plan with your vet.
Foods cats should not eat
Keep these away from your cat, and keep the bins closed:
- Onion and garlic, raw, cooked or powdered. Common in Indian curries, and harmful to a cat's red blood cells. Never share your dal, sabzi or gravy.
- Chocolate and cocoa, which contain theobromine.
- Raw dough, which can swell in the stomach and ferment, producing alcohol.
- Grapes and raisins, linked to kidney damage.
- Alcohol and anything containing it.
- Caffeine, including tea and coffee.
- Xylitol, an artificial sweetener found in some sugar-free sweets and gum.
- Cooked bones, which can splinter, and fish or chicken bones in particular.
- Milk and dairy in quantity. Most adult cats cannot digest lactose well.
- Highly salted or spicy food, including namkeen and fried snacks.
- Dog food as a regular diet. It does not meet a cat's needs.
- Tuna meant for people as the main meal, as it is not balanced and can be high in salt.
Also be careful with lilies and some other houseplants, which are not food but are highly toxic to cats if chewed.
If your cat has eaten something from this list, call your vet straight away. Do not wait for symptoms.
Hydration in India's heat
Cats evolved in dry climates and often drink little. In a hot Indian summer that matters, because dehydration can contribute to urinary and kidney problems. To help:
- Offer fresh water in several places, away from the food and litter box.
- Wash bowls daily. Ceramic or steel bowls are easier to keep clean than plastic.
- Try a pet water fountain, as many cats prefer moving water.
- Include wet food in the diet, which adds water to every meal.
- Keep your cat in a cool, ventilated room during the hottest hours, and never leave a cat in a closed car or a sealed room.
Signs of dehydration include lethargy, sunken eyes, dry gums and skin that is slow to settle when gently lifted. This needs a vet.
Feeding habits that help
- Feed at regular times. Cats like routine.
- Measure portions instead of free-feeding bowls of kibble.
- Keep the food bowl away from the litter box.
- Use treats sparingly; they should be a small part of the day's food.
- Weigh your cat regularly, or have the vet do it at check-ups.
When to see a vet
Contact your vet if your cat:
- stops eating for more than a day (sooner for kittens), or refuses food and seems unwell;
- vomits repeatedly or has diarrhoea lasting more than a day;
- drinks or urinates far more than usual;
- strains in the litter box, or produces little or no urine, which can be an emergency;
- loses or gains weight noticeably;
- has bad breath, drooling or difficulty chewing; or
- has eaten something toxic.
Boarding and your cat's diet
Changes in routine can upset a cat's appetite. If your cat will be boarded, bring written feeding instructions and, if you prefer, your cat's regular food. At the DogsVilla kennel, cat boarding follows a custom diet and feeding schedule per your instructions; see cat boarding for details.