Cats are masters of being able to wind their owners around their little claws, and as a result they make us believe they are desperately in need of feeding when in fact, they’re not. Despite what we think, cats have no social aspect to eating. In other words, they don’t love us for it.
Between 25-40% of cats observed by UK vets show signs of being overweight. Overweight cats can be at risk of a number of health problems such as feline diabetes, so it is best to monitor their weight to keep them at a healthy level. Experts often use a body condition score of one to nine, with one being unhealthily thin and nine being obese. A healthy cat should sit at around four or five. Body condition score charts are available online for reference, but do check with your vet.
Portion sizes should be followed according to the type of food you are feeding (most feeds have a guide for portion sizes on the pack, or offer a nutritional advice helpline) and according to the breed, build, age and activity level of your cat. A rough guide would be an urban outdoor cat that weighs about 4kg would need about 300kcal a day. If your cat is an indoor-only animal of about the same weight, this would reduce to 200kcal a day.
Breed feed
The type of cat you have will affect what they need to eat to stay fit and healthy. Long-haired cats benefit from a different food to their shorter haired cousins, while bigger breeds such as Maine coons have a larger skeleton, so benefit from more joint support than others.
The shape of the cat’s jaw can determine how and if they eat a kibble, which is why different breeds benefit from a specific shape. Cat jaws are designed to move up and down, not side to side, so they can tear at food rather than chew – and you’ll find cats eat in one of three different ways:
- Tippers – the cat uses its jaw to tip the kibble into its mouth.
- Scoopers – the cat uses its tongue to scoop it into its mouth.
- Scissors – the cat uses a scissor bite to pick the kibble up.
Cats are very fussy about how food feels in their mouth and texture is very important to cats – more so, in fact, than taste, as they have relatively few taste buds compared with humans. They also need fresh drinking water at all times.
Siamese
These animals are long, lean and athletic, and benefit from a diet to support muscle tone – one that has more protein and less fat. Their jaw is a specific triangular shape, so they need a kibble that works with their natural eating action, encouraging them to crunch their food.
Bengal
An athletic breed that benefits from a higher level of protein but also fat to fuel their activity. A diet that will help maintain its very distinctive coat is also desirable; containing specific amino acids, vitamins and omega fats aimed specifically at skin and coat health.
Maine coon
Maine coon owners should have an awareness of the heart health issues associated with this large, heavy breed. Make sure its diet has the right energy density so that you’re not encouraging weight gain.
Norwegian forest cat
Like other cats with longer coats, the Norwegian forest cat often needs a food that contains specific fibres such as psyllium, which help to naturally move hair swallowed during grooming through the digestive tract – as without the right care and nutrition, hairballs can be an issue.
Sphynx
These hairless cats are covered with a light down, but they can struggle to maintain their body temperature and so benefit from a food with a higher fat content to provide extra energy for their active metabolism. Keeping their skin healthy is also a priority.
Ragdoll
Another long-haired cat with a broad jaw, these benefit from a pyramid-shaped kibble that is easy to grasp and encourage crunching. As with other heavier cats, they benefit from food with additional health nutrients, such as glucosamine and chondroitin to support joint health.
Whatever the breed, Royal Canin offer a wide variety of wet and dry foods tailored to your cat’s individual nutrition needs. Visit royalcanin.co.uk to find out more
