Knowing When and What to Feed Your Feline Friend

We may never know what Sigmund Freud, the most famous figure in psychology, meant when he said, 'Time spent with cats is never wasted.' There have been many attempts to explain that quote, many of which are probably true. However, only Mr. Freud knew what he meant when he said that. If you take his words literally, though, the only way to interpret it is that a time spent with felines is time well spent.

Why do many people love cats? Cats are the one of the most beloved pets in the world. In the United States alone, 30.4% of households own at least one cat based on a survey conducted in 2012. Without a doubt, their playfulness is one of the things people love about them. From the time they are kittens until they become full-grown adults, they are perennially playful.

With the amount of activity they do on a day-to-day basis, they need lots of energy to sustain it. This is why, needless to say, feeding them with the right food is one of the major responsibilities of any cat owner. And in terms of feeding, it's not only about what you feed your cat that matters; how often you feed it is just as important.

So, how often should you feed your furry friend? The first factor to consider is its age. Kittens need more food per pound of their body weight to support their growth compared to their adult counterparts; hence, they should be fed with more frequency throughout each day. Kittens that are six months of age or younger may require three meals daily. After six months, most cats will be fine when fed only twice daily.

Your cat's health is also a significant factor when feeding it. Believe it or not, cats can also suffer from diabetes. Your feeding frequency may also have to depend on the number of times it is administered insulin. Felines that have hyperthyroidism (having overactive thyroid) have the urge to eat all the time, so you may have to feed with increased frequency. However, it is important that you talk to a veterinarian and ask him what ideal amount of food you should give your pet cat if the feeding frequency is increased. When they eat more, they can become obese. And we all know that, just like with humans, being obese can bring about certain health risks.

As for the type of food to feed them, putting only dry food in their bowl is fine, as long as it is balanced and contains all the nutrients the animal needs. If they have a dry diet, though, make sure you provide them with fresh water every time they eat - and lots of it. If you give your pet cat canned food, it's all good as well. Canned cat food is about 70 to 80 percent water. Still, be sure to have fresh water available even if they feed on canned food. You may also combine dry food with the canned food for variety.

Being a responsible cat owner means knowing exactly what to feed your cat and how often you should feed it. Choose only the best cat food to make sure it gets all the nutrients it needs for its active lifestyle.