Feeding your cat: the definitive guide

Feline nutrition is radically different from canine. Cats are not "small dogs" — they are obligate carnivores with specific needs. This guide covers everything you need to know to feed your cat correctly.

Why are cats obligate carnivores?

Domestic cats descend from the African wildcat (Felis silvestris lybica), which eats exclusively small prey. This has shaped their physiology:

• They need taurine (an amino acid present only in meat). Without it: dilated cardiomyopathy + blindness.
• They need preformed vitamin A (they don't synthesise it from beta-carotene like dogs).
• Short digestive system: optimised for animal protein, not for plant fibre.
• They can't taste sweetness: atrophied taste receptors (obligate carnivory).
• Reduced thirst: in the wild they get water from prey → at home, they must drink a lot or eat wet food.

Conclusion: a correct feline diet must be high in animal protein (at least 35%) and animal fat, low in carbohydrates (ideally <15%).

Types of food available

On the UK market:

• Dry food: the most common and economical
• Wet food: in can or pouch, much more palatable
• Semi-moist food: intermediate (not very advisable, usually contains sugar)
• BARF / raw: natural raw diet, requires knowledge
• Freeze-dried: dehydrated raw food, new to the market

Dry food: the most common

Advantages: practical, lasts 1 month once opened, helps somewhat with dental wear, easy to portion, low cost/kg.

Disadvantages:

• Only 10% moisture → your cat must drink more water (a problem with cats that drink little)
• Usually has more carbohydrates (needed to make the pellet) than wet food
• Cheap brands use low-quality meat meals

Recommended dry food: Orijen Cat & Kitten, Acana Indoor Entrée, Applaws Adult, Taste of the Wild Rocky Mountain.

Wet food: highly recommended

The nutritional standard for cats according to many vets. Advantages:

• Hydration: key to feline kidney health (chronic kidney disease affects 1 in 3 cats >10 years)
• Greater palatability: fussy cats eat better
• Better ingredient quality: can use real fresh meat without needing to "build" a pellet
• More protein / fewer carbohydrates than the equivalent dry food

Disadvantages: 3-5x higher cost, shorter shelf life (24h once opened, refrigerated).

Recommended compromise: 70% wet + 30% dry or 50/50. Ensures good hydration + dental help + reasonable budget.

BARF for cats

BARF (Biologically Appropriate Raw Food) for cats is theoretically excellent — it replicates a prey diet. But it requires serious knowledge:

• Correct proportions: 80% meat / 10% meaty bone / 5-10% organs
• Variety of proteins (chicken, rabbit, turkey, fish)
• Taurine supplementation (cats require MORE taurine than dogs)
• Strict hygiene (Salmonella, Listeria)
• NEVER cooked bones

If you want BARF, hire veterinary advice specialised in feline nutrition. NEVER improvise with YouTube videos — a malnourished cat falls ill within weeks.

How to read the food label

Ingredients are listed in order of weight. The first 3-5 ingredients are the most important.

Excellent:

• "Fresh chicken" as the first ingredient
• "Dehydrated chicken meal" (concentrated protein)
• "Fresh salmon" or salmon oil
• "Egg"
• Added taurine (min 0.15%)
• At least 35% crude protein

Red flags:

• "Meat and by-products" (generic low-quality mix)
• "Cereals" unspecified (probably cheap maize/wheat)
• Added sugars
• Colourings
• BHA, BHT, ethoxyquin (problematic preservatives)

Correct amount by weight

General reference (varies by brand):

• 3 kg cat: 50-70 g food/day · or 250 g wet + 20 g dry
• 4 kg cat: 70-90 g/day · or 300 g wet + 25 g dry
• 5 kg cat: 90-110 g/day · or 350 g wet + 30 g dry
• 6 kg cat (overweight): 60-80 g/day (reduce to lose weight)

Split into 2-3 meals. Avoid "free access" in neutered cats or those prone to gaining weight.

The problem of feline obesity

More than 40% of domestic cats in the UK are overweight or obese. Main cause: a combination of neutering + free access to food + a sedentary lifestyle.

How to detect overweight: you should be able to feel their ribs easily without pressing. If you have to press to feel them → overweight. If you can see them clearly → underweight.

Consequences of being overweight: type II diabetes, osteoarthritis, fatty liver, shorter life expectancy (-3 years in obese cats).

Weight loss plan:

• "Light" or "neutered" reduced-fat food
• Reduce the amount by 15-20%
• Weigh precisely, do NOT eyeball it
• Increase exercise with an interactive toy 10-15 min × 2-3 times/day
• Weigh every 2 weeks → target losing 1% of weight/week

Neutered cat: special diet

After neutering, the cat's basal metabolism drops by 20-30%. If you keep giving the same amount, they gain weight.

Solution: switch to "neutered cat" food (less fat, more fibre, similar protein) and reduce the portion by 15%. Brands: Royal Canin Sterilised, Hill's Sterilised Cat, Acana Indoor Entrée.

Kitten, adult and senior

Kitten (0-12 months):

• "Kitten" food up to 12 months
• More protein (38%+), more calories
• 4 meals/day until 4 months, 3 until 6 months, 2 from 6 months

Adult (1-7 years):

• Standard adult food or neutered food if applicable
• 2 meals/day
• Monthly weight check

Senior (10+ years):

• Senior food with high-quality but MODERATE protein (kidney function)
• More moisture (preferably wet food)
• Joint supplements (glucosamine)
• Annual kidney blood test from 8 years old

In summary: cats need meat (obligate carnivores), premium food with a specific fresh meat as the first ingredient, wet food mandatory at least 50% for hydration, amount adjusted to ideal weight (not current), a special diet after neutering, monthly weight monitoring to avoid obesity.