Feeding & Nutrition

A lot of us will slip their cat a tasty morsel of what we’re eating, but have you ever stopped to think “what human foods can cats eat?” Find out what’s safe for your feline to chow down on with this guide. A lot of people think that begging at the dinner table is behaviour that only dogs exhibit, but it’s actually very common for your feline to put on the kitty cat eyes too! If you’re tucking into a tasty tuna sandwich or enjoying bowl of ice cream, it’s highly likely your cat will be expecting you to slip a tasty morsel their way too. But it’s important to remember that just because a food is OK for us to eat, doesn’t automatically make it OK for them too. We’ve put together this guide to tell you what human food cats can eat so you know what foods you can share, and what you shouldn’t! What can cats eat? Generally, your cat should get everything they need from a 100% complete and balanced cat food. There’s no need to add extra ingredients to your pets’ diet, but there are certain human foods you can give them as an occasional treat. Here are a few human foods your cat can eat: Meats Cooked, lean meats such as beef, chicken, turkey, liver and lamb are all ok for you cat to eat. However, it’s important that you take great care when serving to make sure the meat’s cooked through – never give cats raw meat – and remove all skin and bones before feeding your cat. Fish Cats are widely known for their love of fish and most types are actually fine for your cat to eat! They contain omega-3 fatty acids which is good for their overall health and may also be beneficial for cats with arthritis and kidney disease. As with meats, make sure the fish is properly cooked and all the bones are removed, and never give your cat raw fish. Whole grains Whole grains such as oats, corn, brown rice and even couscous all contain lots of protein and are all human foods your cat can eat.

Once your cat has reached their first birthday, it’s time to think about a regular cat feeding routine. As they change from a playful kitten to a full-grown adult cat, it’s important to make sure they have all the right nutrients they need to stay happy and healthy. To keep in tip-top condition, your cat’s diet needs the right balance of proteins, fats and oils, minerals, vitamins and carbohydrates. It might sound a bit complicated, but good-quality complete feline food should provide everything your furry friend needs, and unless advised to by your vet, a well-balanced diet means your cat won’t need any other diet supplements. Find out how much and what to feed cats for their health and happiness with tips from the Pet Care team below. What to feed cats It might seem like there’s a huge amount of choice out there. Answering ‘what is the best food for cats?’ seems impossible. The good news is that whatever your cat’s lifestyle, condition or age, there’s a food that’s right for them. Ultimately, unless influenced by a medical condition, deciding whether to give your cat wet or dry cat food is completely up to you (and your cat of course)! Some owners serve a mixture of dry and wet foods - some cats prefer wet food in the morning and to have dry food left out during the day to graze on. Try your cat with both to see which they prefer. Find out more about feeding your cat and the benefits of wet and dry food in our guide.

From around the age of seven you’ll notice that your older cat starts taking life a bit easier - and who can blame them! A senior cat may start to become less active, spend more time indoors and have a slower metabolism. These can all add up to them putting on weight. Equally, as they reach their geriatric years, illness and a reduction in their sense of taste and smell can affect their appetites, which will have an impact on their body condition. As felines get older, their nutritional requirements start to change. And as your cat will spend roughly 40% of their life as a senior, it's important that you give them the right food to stay in good shape. In their senior years, more than ever, your cat should eat a high quality, tasty diet with easy-to-digest protein and a careful balance of key nutrients. A good senior cat diet provides concentrated high quality protein, controlled levels of fat, and easy-to-digest carbohydrates for energy. Key minerals support ageing joints, and vitamins, along with proteins, help support the ageing immune system.

Your cat’s sense of exploration is one of the things that makes them so precious to you, but it sometimes means you have to keep an eye out for things that can harm them, too. There are many harmful substances and poisonous foods for cats that your feline friend might come across in their lifetime, so it’s important that you know which to keep out of their reach in the home. Your cat’s natural curiosity leads them to explore non-stop; whether they’re roaming the great outdoors or climbing into all the nooks and crannies of your house, there’s no knowing what they’ll find on their next adventure. Around the home and in the garden there are poisonous foods for cats and non-food substances, including plants, which could be potentially dangerous to your feline friend. Some of these are obvious, but others look completely innocent. For example, your cat might like the look of the snack you just ate or the medicine you take, but these things – while causing no harm to us – might be poisonous foods for cats, and in some case they could be life-threatening. Many chemicals that are routinely used around the house, such as bathroom cleaners, can also be harmful if your curious cat gets their paws on a bottle.

As a cat-lover, you’ll know how tempting it can be to give your furry friend treats and titbits to eat alongside their main meals. Scraps from the table or food fed by hand are, for lots of people, a way of showing affection to your cat. As lovely as it is getting your dear feline’s attention and having them eating out of your hand, literally, cat treats are best used sporadically and within certain limits. Here is how to get treat time right, how many treats a day to feed your pet and what to avoid. Which cat treats to choose? When it comes to treats for cats, your intentions may be good, but the fact is that human foods can be very high in calories and salt, and often lack many of the essential nutrients your cat needs. What this means is that you run the risk of overfeeding and/or upsetting the balance of your cat’s diet. The good news is that many manufactured cat treats are also available - these may be designed to support digestive or dental health, or as an extra special treat or reward for your feline friend. How many cat treats a day? Cat treats contain calories and are usually not complete and balanced. They’re meant to given just as an occasional treat. It’s therefore important that whenever you give cat snacks to your pet, you reduce their main meal by an equivalent calorific amount. You should also limit feline treats to no more than 10% of their total daily calorie intake, so that you don’t unbalance your cat’s overall diet.

When it comes to choosing wet or dry cat food, the information can be overwhelming. Conflicting information and the sheer amount of choice on offer can all make choosing your cat’s diet seem difficult. Go back to the basics with your cat’s diet in this article to learn all about the benefits and drawbacks of both wet or dry cat food, so you can make the right choice for your pet. What do cats need in their diet? Every cat requires a total of 41 essential micronutrients from their food each day – whether it be from wet or dry cat food. These micronutrients are ‘essential’ because they cannot be manufactured in the body, and they are necessary for normal, healthy function. Cats are obligate carnivores who need to eat meat, and as such they can’t be fed a vegetarian diet without developing malnutrition problems. A proportion of their daily nutrients must come from animal sources, specifically the amino acids taurine and arginine, the fatty acid arachidonic acid, and pre-formed vitamin A. What do cats like in their food? Just like humans, when it comes to food, cats enjoy something tasty! Although they have far fewer taste buds than other animals—a mere 475 to dogs’ 1,700—they do have some interesting appetite quirks. A cat’s sensitivity to bitter tastes is 400 times greater than that of a dog’s, but they lack the taste buds to be able to enjoy sweet flavours. Texture and the shape are also important factors for cats when it comes to their kibble. Cats’ sense of smell is superb, and is an essential part of appealing to their appetite. Food odours give pleasure, enhance enjoyment of food, and provide your cat with their own sense of nutritional information.