If you thought feeding your cat was just slapping down a bowl of dry kibble, think again…

Seasoned pet parents know the ins and outs of feeding their cats, but for first-time cat moms and dads… some are clueless.

It’s okay! Our ideas of how to properly feed our cats can be different, but there are a few ground rules.

Feeding Your Cat 101

For those who are just bringing their new kitty home, you should start by requesting the type of food they were eating at their previous home.

Going “cold turkey” and starting them on a new food right away will upset their little stomachs, especially if you’re switching them to a raw diet. When feeding your cat new food:

• Gradually switch over to the new food over a period of 7+ days
• Start with 1/4 new food and 3/4 old food
• Switch to 1/2 new food after two or three days
• Switch to 3/4 new food after five or six days
• By the seventh day, you can start to feed them only the new food

This slow change allows time for your cat’s stomach to adjust to a different food. If you like the food they were being fed before, you can always stick to that. However, both shops and shelters alike typically feed cats with low budget foods.

Wet Food vs. Dry Food

So, which should you feed your cat – wet food or dry food?

Personally, I like a bit of both. Your average cat will do well on a 1/2 wet food, 1/2 dry food diet. On the other hand, if your cats are like mine and require a special diet, you may have to adjust the ratio.

Cats with urinary tract problems or dental problems do best on a wet food diet. Dry food can be difficult to chew for cats with sore gums, gingivitis or minimal to no teeth. It can also lead to health problems like diabetes, obesity and blocked urinary tracts.

Given that both Misha and Tippy have had gingivitis and urinary tract problems, I feed them 3/4 wet food and 1/4 grain-free dry food. The only dry food I’ve found that I would recommend is Orijen Pet Food. It comes in three flavors:

• Six Fish
• Fit & Trim
• Regional Red

It’s expensive as hell, but one bag (15 lb) has lasted me nearly four months, and there’s not a single bad ingredient (no junk fillers whatsoever!). You can buy 12-ounce trial sizes or 5-pound bags for a decent price. This food is totally worth it.

Kitty Dinnerware

Did you know that porcelain and plastic can trap bacteria? This is because the material is porous, and even with regular washing, it can still cause health problems for your cat.

Stainless steel is the way to go. It lasts longer, and it doesn’t trap bacteria like plastic and porcelain do. However, glass is good for storing refrigerated foods. Glass is okay for feeding dry or wet food, but despite being known as non-porous, raw food served on glass can still trap bacteria. Use glass plates with caution.

Any canned foods should be used up in 3 days or less after being stored in the fridge. Dry food should be kept in its original bag. You should never store wet cat food in plastic containers (with the exception of certain raw foods!) or in an opened can.

Fun fact: some bowl designs can be uncomfortable for a kitty’s whiskers. There’s a bowl called Dr. Catsby’s Whisker Relief that eliminates this problem. 

How Many Meals Should I Feed My Cat Per Day?

First off, those recommended portion sizes are there for a reason. Many cat owners and pet parents overfeed because they play a guessing game at mealtime or they just let them free-feed.

Always check the feeding guide on your pet’s food for recommended portion sizes. Unless your kitty has special diet instructions from his or her vet, stick to those portions.

As far as the number of meals is concerned, feeding your cat four times a day is best. Unfortunately, work schedules make that impossible for most pet owners. You should, at the very least, divide your cat’s food into two meals (three if you can make it home for lunch!).

Then again, if you want to get really fancy, you could buy the Catspad Smart Food and Water Dispenser for Cats… as long as you’re willing to spend $179 (ouch!).

Where To Feed Your Cat

I know what you’re thinking… something along the lines of: “Oh, you’ve got to be kidding me!”.

Yes, there are right and wrong places to feed your cat. Feeding your cat in a highly-trafficked area, for example, doesn’t give them enough space and privacy. Cats are very possessive of their food, and some get quite skittish at mealtime.

You should place your cat’s food in a quiet area away from loud noises, frequent activity and strong odors. That means away from the litter box. You wouldn’t believe how many pet owners try to cram their cat’s food and water dishes in a tiny room with their litter box. Would you want to eat in the bathroom every day? We didn’t think so.

Keeping your cat’s food and water dishes near the litter box also puts them at risk for illness. Bacteria from the litter box can easily be tracked into food and water dishes. Even when you keep their dishes away from germ-filled areas, make sure you clean them after each meal.

We’ve taken to keeping a stack of spare dishes for Misha and Tippy so we don’t have to wash them after every meal, but for the budget-strapped pet parent, you’ll just have to break out the dish soap.

Hungry for more great cat care tips? Check out the links below! Make sure to like The Meow Place on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram.

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