Feeding Guidelines for Your Cat

Life stage, lifestyle, and overall condition are the three factors to take into account when deciding which pet food is right for your cat. Life stage refers to whether your pet is a kitten, adult, or senior. Lifestyle refers to how active or inactive your cat normally is. Condition refers to the cat's overall health and body weight.

A practical guideline is that kittens should be fed three times a day from weaning (3 to 6 weeks) to 4 months of age. After 4 months, they should be fed twice a day. Most cats should continue to be fed twice a day throughout their life, although some pets do well with one feeding.

The amount to feed depends on the age, size, and activity level of the cat. Feeding guidelines, which list the daily recommended portion, are included on all IAMS™ packages. Start feeding with this amount and adjust according to your pet's needs. Remember to divide the portion accordingly if you feed more than once a day.

It's important when changing a cat's diet to introduce the new food slowly. Start by offering the cat's daily portion in a ratio of 25% new food to 75% old food. During the next three days, gradually increase the amount of new food and decrease the amount of old.

Wet food is an excellent treat that can be fed by itself or mixed with dry food. Although our wet cat foods are nutritionally complete and balanced, it is not necessary to offer wet food at every feeding. Our dry foods are formulated with high-quality protein sources such as chicken, lamb, or fish and contain all of the essential nutrients pets need. The crunchy texture of dry food also promotes healthy teeth and gums, and provides overall good oral hygiene.

No—boredom with food is a human trait. Cats are creatures of habit and usually are happy with just one food. Cats generally eat to meet their energy or nutritional needs. They have very short digestive systems, and, if their diet is abruptly or constantly changed, digestive disturbances can occur. Also, constant changes can make your pet a finicky eater.

Adding water will not change the nutritional value of dry cat food. However, once moisture is added the food should be eaten relatively soon, and any uneaten portion should be discarded to avoid spoilage. Dry feeding our cat foods is usually encouraged because of the benefit to the cat's dental health.

Cats and dogs have different nutritional requirements and really should not eat each other's food. For example, cats require a much higher level of taurine in their diet. An occasional venture into each other's bowls will not be harmful but is not recommended on a regular basis.

Our foods are nutritionally complete and balanced. Adding vitamins, minerals, or oils can offset the balance the food provides. One of the benefits of feeding a high-quality product is that it has been carefully balanced in proper ratios to provide optimal nutrition so nothing needs to be added.

Contact the IAMS Pet Care and Nutrition Specialists toll-free at 1-800-675-3849.