When your cat reaches maturity, by its first birthday, it’s important to set up a regular feeding routine. Cats like to eat little and often, so ideally feed your pet several small meals a day. But if you’re feeding them wet food, two meals a day works well for most cats.
There are plenty of automatic pet feeders on the market which have four separate trays for food and are programmable for up to four different feeding times. This means you can stick to the little-and-often routine that works well for most cats, and maintain a regular eating schedule. Some automatic feeders have an ice chamber to keep the food fresh and they can take disposable food pouches as well as dry food.
Feeding a cat at the same time and place is ideal, with the bowl placed in a quiet area where it can eat at leisure and well away from its litter tray. It’s best if the floor surface you choose is easy to clean, and you can also use a cat-feeding mat. There are plenty of fun mats to choose from, with cartoon characters, cat motifs and a range of eye-catching designs and colours that will complement the interior design of your home.
Always use a ceramic, plastic or metal bowl that is freshly washed. Some feeding bowls are made from stoneware to ensure durability and to stop the bowl from tipping over. Look out for a bowl with thick sides to prevent chipping. Also, you can experiment with a number of cat bowls to see which one your cat prefers. Some like a flat bowl or saucer. There is also a new type of bowl with lower sides on it, specially designed for more mature cats.
Today, there’s a growing range of ecoproducts. Some are made from water plant materials, which are biodegradable, so you don’t have to worry about adding to landfill when you eventually throw them away. If your cat is a particularly energetic feeder, choose a bowl with a natural rubber base to stop it from slipping across the floor.
If you have two or more cats, make sure their feeding bowls are a good distance apart to prevent fighting or distress at meal times. If feeding time becomes a source of conflict for your cats, then you can have feeding areas in different rooms.
Your cat needs to stay hydrated, which is just as important as feeding them the correct, nutritionally balanced food – especially if your pet is on dry foods. Access to clean water is essential for your cat at all times so place a clean bowl of water in favourite places around your home and garden.
You can also buy drinking fountains for cats which circulate water through a filter to ensure that it is fresh, well-oxygenated and pure. Cats love to play with water and this is a great way of making sure your pet has a continuous and hygienic supply of water. Failing that, you could try them on running tap water.
Remember that it’s best not to put food and water bowls in the same place. Cats may be put off water when there’s smelly food nearby.
Register for Gourmet’s “Very Important Cat Club” and you’ll receive great offers including free goodies, the chance to win tickets to the BBC Good Food Show and voucher discounts for Gourmet products.
Simply sign up on the Gourmet website and you’ll get £1 off your next Gourmet multipack purchase when you register. And you’ll be kept up to date with exclusive recipe offers and the latest news to keep the feline in your life fit and healthy.
