What to Feed Your Brand New Cat
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I just adopted a new cat!
Our old girl, Victoria, died a few months ago. Truth be told, I was enjoying life without litterboxes and did not feel in need of a new feline friend. But what was I to do when the “perfect” cat for my family needed a home?
Minerva (named after Minerva McGonagall, the professor from Harry Potter who routinely morphs into a cat) had been hanging out around a friend’s house for several weeks. My 2-year-old son and I were visiting one day when she approached us. After enjoying several minutes of head butts and ridiculously loud purring, I thought, “What a sweetie! How many cats actually seem to enjoy the company of a 2-year-old?”
To make a long story short, my friend eventually started fostering Minerva, had her scanned for a microchip (none present), kept an eye out for “Lost Cat” signs, and then began asking around to see if anyone was interested in adopting her. The rest, as they say, is history.
Before I brought Minerva home I made a trip to the nearest pet supply store –
- Litterbox… check
- Litter… check
- Scratching post… check
- Toys… check
- Bowls… check
- Food… Oh no! What was I going to feed her?
Initially, I took the easy way out. I knew what my friend had been feeding Minerva so I decided to stick with that, at least during her transition to our house. A change in diet is the last thing a cat needs to deal with when her whole life is in upheaval.
Now that she’s settled in nicely and her first bag of kibble is about to run out, I’m faced with the question every new cat owner must answer: “What type of food should I buy?”
I believe that feeding a diet of primarily canned food is best for many cats. The higher moisture content and protein level and lower carbohydrate percentage may be associated with a reduced incidence of obesity, diabetes mellitus, and several diseases of the urinary tract. That said, I’ve known many a cat who has lived a long and healthy life while eating only dry cat food. I sure hope Minerva turns out to be one of them because I’ve decided that to avoid throwing the family schedule into turmoil, we’re going to have to feed her dry food and leave it out all day long.
But I’ve come up with a plan to offset some of the problems that can be associated with feeding cats in this way:
- The diet that I have chosen for her is very high in protein and low in carbohydrates.
- I’ve purchased a puzzle feeder. She is going to have to work for her food, which should lead to her eating multiple, small meals throughout the day.
- I’ve put her puzzle feeder in an out of the way location that forces her to go up and down stairs and get some exercise.
- She has ready access to fresh, clean water at all times.
Finally, if I ever get the feeling that her health would be significantly improved by switching her to a canned diet, I’ll do just that.
Dr. Jennifer Coates writing for PetMD
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A varied diet with ‘wet’ food included is, in my experience, far better than a diet of dry food only?
When we both worked we would give ‘wet’ food in the mornings and evenings and leave biscuits out with lots of water during the day.
Mind you I’m just a bloke who has had cats so I’d be taking your advice rather than t’other way around 🙂
Love n hugs to Minerva – I think she’s well landed on her feet!