Everything you should know about feeding cats!

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1.  It will provide cover and protection for their food bowls.  A cat's food/water quality will be affected by both the hot sun as well as rain/snow.  In addition, high winds can lead to bowl blow-over which disrupts their feeding altogether.  Having an enclosure for their food & water helps guard against that.  It will also offer some protection from ants and flying insects.  However, additional measures may need to be taken there.  Finally, it's important to prepare for colder months when food and water may freeze.  You may want to look into a heated water bowl or one that works for both water & food.  Click the link here for some ideas:  FOOD & WATER BOWLS.

2.  A second good reason for offering a cat a feed shelter is that it helps protect them during this vulnerable time.  Feeding is a time when a cat will put their guard down, momentarily.  A feed shelter will help give them just enough protection to keep them out of sight of potential predators or other dominant cats.  It allows them to relax while feeding.   

Below are the TOP ASKED QUESTIONS  on the internet about cat feeding

#1 Can dogs eat cat food? 

#2 Can cats eat dog food? 

#3  What's the best food for kittens? 

#4  Can cats eat tuna?

#5 Can cats eat raw chicken? 

#6 Can cats eat turkey? 

#7 Is cat food bad for dogs? 

#8 When can kittens eat dry food? 

Did you know that cats require meat to survive? Unlike humans who can thrive on a vegetarian diet, cats must have meat in their diet. There are three main types of cat food available: dry, canned, and raw (both home-prepared and commercial). 

Commercial cat food can be found in premium and supermarket forms. Premium brands like Iams and Royal Canin are available through vet clinics and pet stores, while supermarket brands like Whiskas and Dine can be found in dry, canned, or raw form. Additionally, there are prescription diets that are exclusively available from veterinarians to manage conditions like kidney failure and hyperthyroidism. 

Personally, I prefer to mix it up for my cat and not feed them the same food every day to prevent fussiness. While a homemade raw diet can be an option, it's essential to have experience with feline nutrition to ensure it's safe. Dry and canned foods offer the benefit of being commercially prepared with all the necessary nutrients your cat requires.

Cat food packets have feeding instructions on the back that you should follow. I give my adult cat 1/3 of a 400g can per meal, twice a day. Store the rest in an airtight container in the fridge. Warm up the food in the microwave for 30 seconds before serving the next meal since cats like warm food.

It is recommended to feed adult cats twice a day, once in the morning and once at night, to maintain a consistent routine. However, kittens, pregnant and lactating cats may require several meals a day to fulfill their increased nutritional demands. It is important to modify their diets based on their stage in life. Young cats and those who are pregnant or lactating have high nutritional needs, but as cats age and slow down, they require slightly less food.

There is a debate about what cats should eat. Some people worry that dry food can cause a health problem called urolithiasis. Cats like canned food, but it doesn't help their teeth stay healthy. Raw food is good for teeth, but you need to be careful where you get it. It's best to feed cats a mix of raw, canned, and dry food. I suggest giving cats a small amount of canned or raw food in the morning and evening, and leaving dry food out all day for them to eat.

The cost of cat food depends on the type of diet you choose. Prescription diets may be more expensive than regular supermarket brands but they are essential for managing your cat's medical condition. Premium and prescription diets are known for their superior quality, containing fewer fillers which means that you can feed your cat less, ultimately reducing the cost per serving.  It's fortunate that cats don't require large amounts of food.  On average, to feed a single cat, you can expect to spend anywhere from $1 to $1.50 per day. 

• Table scraps
• Tuna (human grade)
• A vegetarian or vegan diet
• Dog food

Fresh water should be available to your cat 24 hours a day.