How to Feed Your Adult Cat

A while back you brought home an adorable, fluffy kitten that required special food and special treatment to make sure they grew up happy and healthy. Now, you have an adult cat with special nutritional needs for maintenance. Make sure you’re fulfilling your adult cat’s nutritional needs to keep them feeling and looking their best now and for years to come.

Check out these adult cat nutrition facts to learn the best way to nourish your feline friend.

What Should I Feed My Adult Cat?

So your cat is growing out of kittenhood: Their fur is getting sleeker, their balance is getting better and their body is getting bigger. You’re starting to think that it’s time to switch them from kitten food to adult food, but you’re not sure where to start. Talk with your veterinarian about when is the right time to change cat food formulas. Typically, your cat’s doctor will recommend switching your young cat to adult food after they’ve been neutered or once they’re a year old, whichever comes first.

There are an overwhelming number of cat food formulas available, but not all adult cat foods are created equal. When looking at your options, choose a formula that is designed specifically for adult cats. This is because adult cat food formulas contain the proper amount of nutrients and calories your feline friend needs for maintenance. Kitten food, on the other hand, is specifically formulated for growth and play, and is too calorie dense for indoor adult cats.

Look for Protein

Pay close attention to the amount of protein in your cat’s food. Cats are carnivores by nature, and they are capable of subsisting on meat alone. The best cat foods will contain more protein and fewer grains. Often, wet cat foods have a higher concentration of proteins in the formula.

It’s also important to ensure that your cat is getting the correct types of protein. For example, taurine – which is critical for normal vision, normal digestion, normal muscle function, healthy immune system and more – is exclusively found in animal-based proteins, such as chicken and fish.

Consider Dental Health

Dry cat food has a place in your cat’s diet as well. It can help keep your cat’s teeth healthy, as crunchy kitty kibble helps naturally clean their pearly whites as they chew. Cats that eat exclusively raw or wet diets can suffer from dental problems. A balance between the two is the best, either mixed or alternated.

Nourish Their Skin and Coat

Just like humans, what our cats eat affects their skin and coat health. If your cat is battling dry skin or has patchy fur, it could mean they are not getting the right types of fatty acids. Omega-6 and omega-3 fatty acids are essential for maintaining healthy skin and a soft, shiny coat in cats.

Certain cat food ingredients contain higher levels of these omega fatty acids, including salmon and other types of fish. These types of good fats can also be found in both animal-based and plant-based ingredients, although it is recommended to feed your cat as close to 100% animal protein as possible.

Note: A cat’s coat is made up almost entirely of protein. If your cat’s diet doesn’t contain an adequate amount of quality protein, the hair can become weak, dry and brittle and even begin to fall out.

How Much Should I Feed My Cat?

The amount of food that your cat needs depends on their age, size and level of activity. On average, most adult cats require about 2/3 cup of food each day, including wet food and dry food if you mix the two. If you feed your cat twice a day, break the amount into two equal portions.

Some pet owners choose to open-feed their cats, meaning they put out a portion of food and allow their cat to eat whenever they’re hungry. If this is the case, keep in mind the freshness of the food. It is recommended that you not leave out more than three days of food in advance. Keep in mind that you can only open-feed with dry food, as wet food will spoil quickly and should only be left out for around 20 minutes.

Cats are creatures of habit. Establish a feeding routine that fits both of your schedules to ensure optimal happiness and health for your feline friend.

Tip: When cats are sick, often their appetites diminish. It will be easier to observe your cat’s eating habits if you feed them at intervals instead of open-feeding.

Don’t Forget to Hydrate

Cats have a tendency to avoid drinking as much water as they should, as thirst is significantly diminished in cats, meaning they don’t feel thirsty like humans do. To make sure your adult cat is getting enough water, place multiple water bowls around the house. This gives your cat options, and allows them to choose their preferred watering hole. You can also try using a fountain, since some cats might prefer drinking from a moving water source. To find out if your cat prefers to drink moving water, monitor their behavior when you turn on the faucet.

Tip: If your cat’s drinking water has particles and debris, or if the dish has an odor, it might dissuade your cat from drinking. Keep their water dish clean and full at all times to keep them interested.

Preventing Hairballs With a Nutritional, Healthy Diet

All cat owners have experienced their cat coughing up a hairball. The sound of gagging, retching, and hacking is unpleasant at best, but the infrequent hairball is usually not a cause for concern. However, if your cat has more than one or two hairballs each month, consult your veterinarian. He or she might recommend changing your cat’s food to help reduce hairballs.

Here are some facts on hairballs and tips for preventing them.

Why Do Cats Get Hairballs?

Hairballs are a result of your cat’s grooming habit. As they lick their hair, the small, hook-like projections on their tongue pull hair out of their coat, which they subsequently swallow. Most times, the hair is digested and passes easily through the gastrointestinal system. Occasionally, hair gets caught in their digestive tract and forms a ball or tubular-like structure. If the fur ball irritates your cat’s stomach, your cat will vomit to remove it from its system.

While kittens are unlikely to develop hairballs, adult and senior felines with long hair or cats that groom themselves more frequently are more prone to hairballs. It’s important to pay attention to your cat’s habits, as over-grooming can be a sign of irritation from fleas, ticks, mites, anxiety or a skin infection.

When to Be Concerned About Hairballs

Hairballs are one of the top concerns for cat owners. A cat that produces fur balls more than a couple times a month might have an underlying issue with their digestive system. If your cat coughs or attempts to vomit, but doesn’t produce a hairball, you should make an appointment with your veterinarian. Additionally, if you notice that your cat is not eating normally after repeated hairball episodes, it could signal an obstruction or a potentially serious condition.

For healthy cats, brushing can help reduce the amount of hair that is ingested. A special diet can also help decrease the likelihood of hairball formation.

What to Look for in a Nutritional Hairball Cat Food

A specialized cat food with a high-fiber content can help ingested hair pass more easily through the digestive tract. You will want to look for a cat food formula with a fiber system to help promote good digestive health.

Your cat’s diet should also include high-quality, proteins and fats to help boost skin and coat health. This can help reduce excessive shedding and hair ingestion from grooming.

In addition to their diet, cat owners can also give their feline companions flavored oral laxatives or add fiber supplements to their current food to encourage hair to move through the digestive system. Always consult your veterinarian before changing your cat’s formula or adding supplements to their diet.

Benefits of Adding Wet Food to Your Cat’s Diet

Benefits of Adding Wet Food to Your Cat’s Diet

Some cat owners prefer to exclusively feed their cat wet food, while others are dedicated to dry cat food. According to The Waltham Centre for Pet Nutrition, both types of food offer great benefits. In fact, mixing wet and dry food together could be the most beneficial for your cat’s diet, particularly if you have an indoor cat.

Because indoor cats generally expend less energy, they need more protein and fewer calories. Indoor cats also need to have a healthy water intake to stay hydrated. Beyond providing fresh, clean water for your feline friend, mixing wet cat food with their kibble can help your indoor cat stay hydrated and get the proper nutrients for maintenance.

Wet Cat Food Hydrates to Promote Urinary Tract Health

If your cat doesn’t get enough water each day, they will not urinate frequently. Infrequent urination can lead to the formation of mineral crystals or urinary stones, causing your cat a great deal of pain and potentially blocking their urethra. Urethra obstruction is a serious medical issue that requires immediate medical attention in order to prevent serious issues for your cat. Signs of urinary blockage include straining to pee, producing little to no urine and/or expressing pain while trying to urinate. If you notice your cat exhibiting any of these behaviors, contact your veterinarian immediately.

To help supplement their water intake, wet food also has a great deal of water in the formula. Having one meal of wet food a day, or combining canned cat food in with your cat’s dry food, will help them urinate more frequently, preventing the buildup of minerals and urinary stones.

Adding Wet Cat Food Can Help You Manage Their Weight

Dry cat food typically has a higher concentration of carbohydrate, and, of course, less moisture which makes it more calorie-dense. Adding wet food into your cat’s diet will give them more protein to balance out the carbohydrates. Studies from The Waltham Centre for Pet Nutrition have also shown that when cats are fed a moisture-high diet, they tend to eat less food, which can help them lose weight and encourage them to become more active. This is especially important for indoor cats, who are often less active than their outdoor cats.

Because wet cat food provides more protein and, fat than carbs, it can better satisfy a cat’s instinctive feeding behavior and can help them maintain a healthy metabolism. Mixing canned and dry food in your cat’s diet will give them all of the nutrients they need to live a happy, healthy life.

Wet Cat Food Adds Extra Enjoyment

Typically, when given a choice, most cats will prefer to eat a mixture of wet and dry food as opposed to dry food alone. Wet cat food can add extra enjoyment to mealtime because it adds flavor and a variety of protein sources and textures. Especially if your cat is a picky or finicky eater, mixing wet cat food and dry cat food can give them the variety they desire.

Why Does My Cat Meow, and What Does It Mean?

Why Does My Cat Meow, and What Does It Mean?

Do you ever wish you could have communication with your cat, or at least understand what they’re trying to tell you when they meow? If you’ve spent any amount of time around cats, you’ve probably noticed that not all meows sound the same. From the long, drawn-out meeeeow to short little chirps, cats have a range of vocal signals.

Check out this list of common reasons why cats and kittens meow and what they might mean.

Why Kittens Meow
Just like human babies cry to tell their parents what they need, kittens meow to communicate with their mothers. When kittens meow, they might be hungry, cold or scared. Newly adopted kittens might also meow or cry upon moving into a new home. This change can be distressing to a kitten, so take steps to comfort them, such as holding or petting. The crying will usually subside as your new kitten becomes used to their new environment.

Cats Don’t Meow at Each Other
Did you know that once a kitten grows up and is weaned from its mother, it no longer meows at other cats? Grown cats use different vocal expressions besides meowing to communicate with each other, including scent, body language, facial expressions, and touch. Cats may growl, hiss or yowl at each other to communicate, but meowing is a signal reserved only for humans.

Do Certain Cats Meow More Than Others?
The amount a cat meows can depend on its breed, age, and environment. Siamese cats, in particular, are known for being “talkative.” Older cats may meow more than they did in their younger years, and cats in multi-pet households may meow to get attention.

What Does My Cat’s Meow Mean?
Your cat’s meow can mean a variety of things, from a simple greeting to letting you know they don’t feel well. With a little patient observation, you can learn to identify what your cat is trying to tell you when it meows.

• Saying Hello – Often cats will greet their owners when they come home or even when they come across each other in the house. A normal “all-purpose” meow when your cat encounters you can simply be its way of saying hi.
• Asking for Attention – If your cat is feeling lonely or left out, you may notice it meowing more than usual. Your cat might also become clingy, following you around and not leaving you alone. If your cat is acting this way, try spending more time with them. Contrary to popular belief, cats are social creatures and do not enjoy being left alone for long periods of time. Playing, grooming and petting are all ways you can show your cat the attention it needs.
• Contentment – Cats often make small, soft meows when they’re being petted or held. This is usually a sign they’re content. Additionally, if your cat pushes their body up into your hand during petting, this is a sign they’re enjoying the contact with you and inviting more.
• They’re Hungry – Cats meow at their owners when they’re hungry or when their humans enter the kitchen. While your cat may indeed be asking for food, feeding a meal or treats in response to the meowing might encourage your cat to make this behavior a habit. Try feeding your cat after it quiets down or from an automatic feeder that dispenses food at certain times. When your cat chirps at you instead of meowing, it may be trying to lead you to its food bowl.
• Watching Other Animals – Have you ever noticed your cat making a mix of chirping, chattering growls and meows when it looks outside? Chances are they’re watching a bird, squirrel or other animals. The noises are a signal that your cat is excited or interested in the “prey” outside.
• Anxiety/Stress – If a major change has occurred in the household (e.g., a new baby in the home, you’ve moved to a new house, another pet or family member has passed away, etc.), your cat might make longer, sad meows. This is an indication your cat senses a change and is experiencing anxiety or stress. Spending more time with your cat, comforting and playing with them, even treating them occasionally can help put your cat at ease and relieve this type of meowing.
• Looking for a Mate – If your cat has not been spayed or neutered, you will likely find them exerting long, low yowls during mating season. Female cats yowl when in heat, and male cats do the same when they smell a female in heat. This type of behavior can be very disruptive, so it’s best to have your cats spayed or neutered to avoid the issue.
• On the Prowl – If you have an outdoor cat, you may hear it growling or letting out long, low meows. This sound may mean your cat is hunting or has captured prey. If your cat is coming up to you with chirping noises, it may be trying to lead you to its catch.
• Aging – As cats get older, they may suffer from cognitive dysfunction, which can cause them anxiety and stress, resulting in increased meowing. If you feel like your cat is suffering from disorientation or an underlying medical issue, make an appointment with your veterinarian.
• Illness – Similar to aging cats, sick cats can meow to let their owners know they’re not feeling well. If you notice your cat exhibiting unusual meowing and behavior, schedule an appointment with your local veterinarian. Conditions such as overactive thyroid or kidney disease, usually found in older cats, can cause increased meowing.

Paying attention to your cat to learn their different forms of meows and vocal signals can be a rewarding experience for a pet parent. In doing so, you might get to know your cat better and experience a deeper level of connection and bonding to your feline friend. You’ll also be more attuned to how your cat is feeling and can get help sooner if you notice any unusual behavior or sounds.Cats meow to communicate with humans, and just like we use different words to share thoughts and feelings, cats create different sounds to communicate different things. Keep reading to learn what different types of cat meows mean and how best to respond to them.

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1. Avoiding the Litterbox
2. Urine Marking or Spraying
3. Scratching
4. Playing Rough
5. Compulsive Behaviors
6. Hyper Nights
7. Lots of Meowing
8. Separation Anxiety
9. Obsessive Grooming
10. Aggression