Mary Allen
When it comes to choosing food, cat owners face many decisions: Do I serve wet or dry food? Or should I feed my cat raw meat, i.e. baref? Many lovers of velvet paws ask themselves another question: How should one adapt the cat’s diet for all ages? We give tips!
High Quality From the Very Beginning: Find the Right Kitten Food
When do kittens start getting kitten food?
In the first three to four weeks of life, kittens drink their mother’s milk, which provides them with everything they need. An alternative for found kittens is rearing milk.
When the little ones are around a month old, they can nibble on kitten food. Compared to regular cat food, it contains more energy, vitamins, and minerals to support growth. Since cat mothers can also benefit from cat nutrition for kittens for a few weeks, the kittens are free to steal it from their mother’s bowl.
In the following weeks, they receive more and more solid feed and less milk – by around three months they are weaned.
Offer different feed variants
Up to this point, it is best to have tasted different types of food and are used to both wet and dry food. Because before the twelfth week, the imprinting takes place on the lining. If the velvet paw doesn’t get to know a lot during this time, it later becomes uncomfortable or refuses to eat unfamiliar food.
Even if you have already decided to only feed wet food, it can be beneficial for your cat to learn about dry food. So you are on the safe side when it comes to cat nutrition.
In addition, dry food is well suited for practicing small tricks, search games, or intelligence toys. You can also choose dry food for kittens and combine it with wet food for adult cats. So you have more choice in the wet food area and the plus of energy, minerals, and vitamins in the small kitten croquettes.
The cat should be given at least four rations a day for the following months. Because the mouse hunters prefer as many small portions as possible. So what is the right food for kittens? You have the choice between many different variants! However, pay attention to the quality of the food from the kitten age – more on that in a moment!
The Right One for Food for Cats From One Year Old
Even if some cat breeds, such as the Norwegian Forest Cat, take a little longer to reach adulthood: From the age of one year you can completely switch to food for adult cats. If you buy dry food in large containers, you can take the changeover slowly: Mix the new food with the one you already know and increase the proportion of the food for adult cats.
The transition is particularly easy if you choose food for adult cats that the kitten is already familiar with. However, this is not a must. Most important is the quality of the cat food.
Composition of natural cat food
Natural cat food in the form of prey consists of 50 to 60 percent protein, up to 30 percent fat, and a maximum of eight percent carbohydrates. Another six to eight percent consist of minerals. Cats prefer food that conforms to this “prey scheme”.
For good reason, because the carnivores depend on a lot of animal protein. So what does this mean for the optimal feed? Here are some of the hallmarks of good quality food for every cat age:
- Meat comes first in the declaration;
- “Animal by-products” are broken down;
- “Vegetable by-products” are not included or broken down;
- It contains neither sugar nor flavor enhancers/aromas;
- Your cat likes to eat it.
How to Find Good Food for Senior Cats
Elderly Cat Nutrition: When Should You Start?
When is a cat a senior? The information on this fluctuates – and rightly so! Because like us humans, some cats age more slowly, others faster.
Some velvet paws show their first niggles and signs of age from the age of seven or eight. These include more pounds on the ribs as the cats move less, dental problems that make chewing difficult, joint problems, or poor hearing and vision. Still, other cats lose weight. However, many fur-noses are still agile after they are well over ten years old.
In general: Before you blame age for changes, you should consult a veterinarian in the case of the changes mentioned. He puts the cat through its paces because the risk of chronic diseases increases with age. Dental problems should be professionally eliminated as they can cause great pain. If the velvet paw loses weight, it could be due to kidney disease or diabetes.
What role does the right diet play for senior cats?
Good quality nutrition, a healthy weight, and plenty of exercise and activity can slow the cat’s aging process. In this way, you can prevent many complaints.
As with food for adult cats, the same applies: Quality is crucial – don’t make any compromises! A special feed may be necessary for some diseases. However, older cats in particular often refuse new types of food. For example, it can help to warm up new wet food so that the velvet paw can perceive the smell more intensely despite the poor olfactory performance.
In principle, wet food is easier to digest for older cats and provides the four-legged friend with moisture at the same time. In addition, even the grain-free versions of dry food usually contain more than 50 percent carbohydrates. This makes it more difficult to use and can also have a negative impact on the blood sugar level of older cats.
Coordinated amounts of energy when feeding senior cats
When feeding senior cats, you need to pay attention to the amount of energy. Senior food contains coordinated amounts of energy – take a look at this in comparison to previous cat food and think about what suits your cat better. Some varieties contain more fat and energy, other senior foods are similar to a light cat food variant. They are not suitable for velvet paws that get thinner with age.
Even if your cat does not show any age problems, you can keep an eye on the age when you buy food from the age of ten.
Weigh your cat once a month to be aware of any changes in weight. For outdoor enthusiasts, however, it is common for many to weigh a few grams more in winter. If the cat puts on bacon, reduce the rations, reduce the treats and encourage them to play.
If you want to continue to give the well-known feed, you can look around in the area of dietary supplements. There is a lot here that suits older cats. For example, powder or tablets with seaweed flour for the joints, special vitamin compositions, or dental care products.
All of this can alleviate or prevent the discomfort but does not replace a visit to the vet if problems already exist. Especially with vitamin products, you should not exceed the recommended consumption, because too much can be harmful.
The perfect cat food for all ages – does it even exist?
If the quality is right, you don’t have to choose “one” food. Mixed feeding between wet and dry feed is also possible. However, it is best to feed wet and dry food in separate meals, as digestion takes different times.
Switching between different varieties – that is, “lamb and chicken” as well as “beef and duck” of one brand – is usually not a problem. But if you also change brands, they should all meet the same quality standards. Otherwise, cats may react with diarrhea or vomiting. Variety has the advantage that the velvet paw remains more flexible. If a manufacturer changes a recipe, you have enough alternatives.
Basically, however, a cat does not need a varied menu on menu. It is best to choose between three different forages of comparable quality. Kitten and senior foods ensure the nutritional requirements in special phases of life and are therefore recommended. You can combine them with food for adult cats, which especially makes the transition times easier.
An Overview of Cat Nutrition for All Ages
At what age should I start feeding?
Kitten food – 1 month;
Food for adult cats – 1 year;
Senior feed – 7 to 8 years.
These details are guidelines. The aging process varies from cat to cat. If you are unsure, you can always consult your trusted veterinarian.