Use our Animal Care Library for quick, easy access to our most common animal care problems. Use our Animal Care Library for quick, easy access to our most common animal care problems. Use our Animal Care Library for quick, easy access to our most common animal care problems.
Your cat has specific nutritional requirements and depends on you to provide a complete and balanced diet for a long and healthy life. Cats have different nutritional requirements to dogs and should not be fed dog food.
The key nutrients in a diet are fats, proteins, carbohydrates, vitamins and minerals and these must be present in the correct amounts and proportions for a diet to be nutritionally complete and balanced.
Cats are strict carnivores and require food of an animal origin to survive. Cats are unique in that they need specific nutrients which they cannot manufacture in their body, unlike dogs, and are not present in foods of plant origin. These essential nutrients found in animal tissues must be supplied in the cat's diet and include vitamin A, taurine and certain fatty acids.
However, meat alone does not supply all these essential nutrients and cats cannot survive on an all-meat diet. In the wild the cat would consume its entire kill, including bones, organs, tendons, skin and muscle to provide the correct balance of protein, fat, vitamins and minerals. Meat is low in vitamins and also has an imbalance of calcium and phosphorus, which can affect bone growth. Cats also require a higher level of protein and fat in their diet than dogs and a lower level of carbohydrates. From this you can see that dog food is not a suitable diet for your cat.
Nutritional requirements of cats change according to their age, level of acvtivity, reproductive status and health. Premium pet foods made from high quality ingredients are designed to consistently provide a complete and balanced diet for all life stages of your cat. They are available in dry or canned (wet) forms and being complete mean that supplements are not required. Home-prepared diets require special care to be well balanced and are best designed in conjunction with your vet's advice.
Animals will usually eat enough to satisfy their energy needs. Use the recommendations on the product label as a giudeline to ensure you are not under or over-feeding your cat. Kittens less than three months of age should be fed four times a day, then gradually reduce the feeds to twice a day by twelve months of age. Adult cats are usually fed morning and night while some like to have lunchtime feed as well. Cats have a relatively small stomach and naturally prefer smaller meals more often. Some cats are prone to obesity and you may need to reduce their intake or change the type of food you are using to a light formula or one designed specifically for weight loss. Don't forget your cat needs exercise too and plenty of fresh water.
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Vet Cross Bundaberg Hospital
2 Inglis Court
Svensson Heights 4670
(07) 4151 5044
info@vetcross.com.au
Mon-Fri: 8am - 6pm
Saturday: 9am - 3pm
Available for emergencies 24/7
Vet Cross Gin Gin
48 Mulgrave Street
Gin Gin 4671
(07) 4157 3991
gingin@vetcross.com.au
Mon-Fri: 9am - 5pm
Sat: 9am - 12pm (nurse only)
Vet Cross Bargara
Bargara Central Shopping Centre,
Shop 19/699 Bargara Rd
Bargara 4670
(07) 4130 5003
bargara@vetcross.com.au
Mon-Fri: 9am - 5pm
Sat: 9am - 12pm (nurse only)
Vet Cross Pet Store
Shop 2/2 Inglis Court
Svensson Heights 4670
(07) 4152 5939
petstore@vetcross.com.au
Mon-Fri: 8am - 5:30pm
Saturday: 9am - 3pm