To feed your cat you leave a full bowl out and let them eat what they want, right? Nah, you know us better than that! Cats do have specific needs regarding how they are fed to keep them happy and healthy.
For starters, cats prefer to eat alone. Eating in close proximity to a cat they would otherwise try to avoid is stressful, and that stress can lead to more serious health conditions. As a general rule, cats should be fed out of eyesight of one another.
Cats also prefer to eat multiple small meals throughout the day. Often with our full days of work and school, we end up giving our pets a big meal in the morning, and another one at night (or just leave a full bowl out all the time). While some cats may pick at the food throughout the course of the day, others may feel the need to eat it all right away, especially if there are other pets in the house. Food puzzles are a great way to slow your cat’s eating, increase their activity, and provide some mental stimulation. This can fulfill their predatory drive as well, as they chase their food toys around the house. There are many of these available online for purchase, and just as many tutorials for how to make your own out of common house hold items. Alternatively, you can do multiple feeding stations around their room or the house, so they can “hunt” for it!
Measure the food! Obviously this helps with weight control, which will help delay or prevent arthritis, heart disease, or diabetes. Your cat will be more playful and feel better at a healthy weight. Measuring food will also help you know right away if your cat’s appetite changes. Since cats are so good at hiding illness, changes in appetite may be the first indication that something is wrong. If they free feed, it could be days or weeks before the change is noticed. With multiple cats it helps to feed them separately, so that you know which cat has the change in appetite, and also so they don’t steal food from each other.
Contact your veterinarian if you have questions about how to feed your own cats. We realize each situation is different and these broad ideas may need to be tweaked to fit your lifestyle.
