Healthy cat nutrition: find out everything in this guide

Healthy food for kittens

Due to the rapid growth phase they are going through, kittens have high energy needs. An 8-week-old kitten uses four times more energy than an adult catwhich is equivalent to 250 kcal per kilogram of body weight.

Being still fragile, he needs foods rich in fats and proteins to grow healthy, have the necessary energy, get used to digesting something other than breast milk and develop a good immune system.

Choose dry food (like croquettes) or wet food (like pâté) suitable for kittens. If you prepare your kitten’s food at home, it is better consult your vet or an animal nutritionist, to make sure the food you give him meets his specific needs.

Find out what Meal frequency for a young cat:

• four times a dayfor a cat with less than 3 months;
• three times a dayfor a cat between 3 and 6 months;
• twice a dayfor a cat older than 6 months.

Feed him at the same time every dayto create a feeding rhythm.
Finally, get ready adapted portions grow old and weight of the cat.

Dangerous foods for cats

To prevent your cat from getting sick, it is advisable to avoid certain foods:

❌ Milk and dairy products – After weaning, most cats develop lactose intolerance and may have diarrhea if they consume dairy products;

❌Chocolate – cats (and dogs) are unable to assimilate the theobromine contained in chocolate. Depending on the concentration, this molecule can even be fatal for your cat;

❌ Tea and coffee – these drinks also contain theobromine. Therefore, they are poisonous to your pet;

❌Alcoholic drinks – the ethanol they contain can make your cat aggressive and cause heart and nervous system dysfunction;

❌ Onion, garlic, leek, shallot and chives
– these foods from Alliaceae destroy your pet’s red blood cells, causing anemia and digestive and respiratory problems;

❌Avocado – In addition to being difficult to digest because it is very fatty, this fruit can be fatal for your feline due to persin, a fungicidal toxin with very serious effects on animal health;

❌ Fatty foods
– the cat cannot digest them, causing gastric disorders. Therefore avoid ham and sausages, even if he loves them;

❌ Raw potatoes – cause painful urinary stones and digestive problems;

❌Egg white – contains avidin which prevents the assimilation of some nutrients, such as vitamin B8, essential for the correct functioning of your cat’s metabolism;

❌ Fruit with stones and seedslike grapes – your cat could choke on the seeds. And, most importantly: the pits in question contain potentially deadly toxins that can produce cyanide;

❌ Walnuts – they contain phosphorus, which makes them indigestible and toxic to cats;

❌Mushrooms – As is the case with humans, some mushrooms are toxic and can be fatal;

❌ Raw fish – In addition to bones and parasites, raw fish contains thiaminase, an enzyme that prevents the assimilation of certain nutrients. In large quantities it can cause a vitamin B1 deficiency, which can lead to serious neurological disorders and even coma;

❌ Sal
– excessively salty foods, such as canned tuna, should be avoided because they can cause kidney problems;

❌ Sugar – the cat’s digestive system is not adapted to sugar and its long-term consumption can have harmful effects on its health, with risk of tooth decay, overweight or obesity and diabetes;

❌ Bones – Avoid giving bones to your feline, as they can damage the palate and digestive system.

Avoid giving treats to your catas these can be the origin of addictive behaviors. If you use them as a reward, they should not exceed 10% of the total calorie intake, otherwise you risk disturbing the cat’s nutritional balance.

Are there special diets for cats with health problems or sterilized cats?

Below we share some tips for feeding your cat correctly, depending on its health status.

My cat is allergic. How should I feed him?

Does your cat suffer from diarrhea, vomiting, itching and hair loss? It is possible that you have food allergies. Start by making an appointment with your vet identify the factor that triggers the allergyestablishing an exclusion diet for your cat for 12 weeks.

The goal is to eliminate the proteins that most often cause allergic reactions (such as fish, beef, chicken, dairy or wheat) from your cat’s diet by giving him foods he has never eaten before.

After 12 weeks, the foods from the old diet will be reintroduced one by one, in order to identify the «culprit» food when the symptoms reappear.

​To feed your allergic cat, you have a wide range of quality sensitive cat foods available, which exclude allergenic ingredients, such as gluten or cereals. Once you find the best cat food, do not switch to another without veterinary advice.

What food should I give my neutered cat?

As a general rule, neutering changes your cat’s behavior. You may become less active, sleep more, and reduce physical activity. Therefore, you need to adapt your diet to avoid gaining weight.

In shops or at the vet, Are there any cat foods?designed specifically for nutritional needs of sterilized cats. If you prefer to cook, consult an animal health professional to help you prepare the correct menus.

​The amount of food depends on the weight and lifestyle of the animal. For example, in the European common cat, the female should weigh 3 kg, and the male 3.5 kg. In this case, 50 g of good quality dry food per day is recommended, or 40 g of wet food and 25 g of dry food.

What diet should I follow for my cat suffering from kidney failure?

Kidney failure is one of the most common causes of death in cats over 5 years of age. If your cat suffers from kidney dysfunction, A proper diet will help extend your life expectancy. To do this it is essential to ask your vet for advice.

To facilitate kidney function, here are the basics of a healthy diet for cats, adapted for kidney failure:

• Rich in water – Your cat should have constant access to fresh water to help his kidneys function. Encourage the intake of wet cat food;
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• Sufficient protein – provide him with excellent quality proteins, in moderate quantities;
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• Rich in soluble fibre – these restore and maintain the good health of the intestinal microbiota, thus promoting the health of the digestive system;
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• Low phosphorus content – it will limit hyperphosphatemia, one of the complications of renal failure, which leads to a high concentration of phosphorus in the blood, which the kidneys are no longer able to eliminate;
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• Low sodium content
  – to prevent hypertension;
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• Rich in antioxidants, B vitamins and omega 3.

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