Cats are interesting animals and even though your pet is domesticated they still have a particular way of eating food and drinking their water. You may find it difficult to understand your cat at times especially when they refuse to eat their food or drink water out of their bowls.
Have you experienced this?
You’re not alone. Many cat owners scratch their heads trying to figure out why their cats eating and drinking habits. So we’re here to help you understand your feline friend better. Keep reading to find out more.
Eating Habits of a Cat
Unlike dogs and humans, cats don’t gorge themselves on meat. Sometimes when you place a bowl of food in front of your cat they won’t eat the entire meal in one sitting. Cats tend to nibble on their food. So they’ll take a few mouthfuls of food and then they’ll go play outside and then come back for more when they’re ready.
On the other hand, some cats will scoff down their food in one sitting but this behaviour isn’t natural and leads to your cat being overweight. Furthermore, if you have more than one cat they tend to gobble down their kitty food quicker for fear of not getting enough.
If you do have more than one cat it’s best to give them separate bowls to eat out of. You also want to put the bowls in different locations so your cats don’t have to eat together.
What You Should Feed Your Cat
To keep your cat healthy you need to feed your furry friend foods that are high in protein and fat with certain animal nutrients. With that being said, cats cannot be vegan or vegetarians because they require meat to stay healthy.
For a treat you can feed your cat the following:
- Chunks of cooked chicken
- Beef
- Turkey
- Lean deli meats
However, if you’re feeding your cat tinned food, sachets or pellets then they must contain the following:
- Taurin: This is an amino acid that’s found in meat such as fish or chicken. Taurin prevents heart disease, promotes healthy eyesight and reproduction.
- Animal protein: Cats need protein to strengthen their muscles, anti-bodies and vital organs.
- Vitamins and minerals: Your cat’s food must contain vitamin A and E because it supports their immune systems.
- Fatty acids: Promotes a healthy shiny coat and skin.
- Fibre: To assist with proper digestion.
You may need to feed your cat a special diet if your feline friend is pregnant and lactating. Speak to your vet about the best foods on the market to keep your fur baby healthy.
Your Cat’s Drinking Habits
Cats should drink 50ml per kg of body weight daily. For example, if your cat weighs 5kg then he or she should drink 250ml of water a day. But this water can be taken in through foods or free water.
You may have noticed that your cat doesn’t drink as often. Cats are particular about where they drink their water and when they drink it. One aspect to remember is that cats generally don’t like having their water close to their food.
In the wild, cats kill their prey far from their water source because their prey can contaminate their water and make them sick. So, it’s built into their natural instincts to not drink water that’s close to their food.
To get your cat to drink water, place the bowl of water away from its food. You can also leave bowls of water for them outside.
How to Get Your Feline Friend to Drink More Water
Cats generally don’t drink that much water but other felines may need to drink more liquids for health reasons. To get your cat to drink more water you can flavour the liquid with frozen tuna water. Make sure you use plain tuna water that’s not salty or oily.
Another way to increase your cat’s water intake is by feeding them wet food because it contains 70% water. Lastly, you can get electrolytes and flavoured jellies from your vet that will provide important nutrients to keep your cat healthy.
Final Thoughts and Tips
One reason your cat may stop eating or drinking is that you’re using the incorrect bowls. Cats generally don’t like it when their whiskers get wet or touch the sides of their bowl. Choose bowls that are wide and fill them to the top with food and water to protect their whiskers.
Don’t forget to keep your cat’s eating and drinking area clean to prevent pests from invading their bowls. Simply remove the bowls from the area, spray pet friendly Zoflora onto the area and wipe clean.
Follow the steps in this article to keep your feline friend happy and healthy!
These are some really great tips! I always use Zoflora to clean the kitties, eating area and litter box areas.