What should I feed my pregnant or nursing cat?

Cats should be fed a complete, balanced, good quality meat-

based food; they cannot be vegetarians. There are a multitude

of different brands of cat food on the market, but there are

two main types to choose from; wet and dry.

Fresh wet food should be replaced at least twice daily and

dry food at least once daily. Do follow the manufacturer’s

instructions and recommended amounts. Once neutered, cats

typically have reduced energy needs, so consider reducing

their daily amount accordingly.

Food should be placed in an area where the cat feels safe and

away from their water bowl and litter tray. If your cat eats

dry food, using feeding balls to give some, or all, of your cat’s

daily food ration can help to lessen boredom and provides

some exercise.

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When adopting a cat, you should initially follow the diet that

your cat has been fed previously. Before you take them home,

find out what they have been eating and at what times. If you

do wish to change your cat’s food, it is important to introduce

the new food very gradually over a period of a week or more

to avoid an upset stomach.

It is best not to feed your cat cow’s milk as some cats can

not tolerate the lactose in it – always have a supply of fresh

water available.

More information about feeding cats and kittens,

including what to do if your cat stops eating, is available

in Cats Protection’s

Essential Guides: Feeding and obesity

and

Caring for your kitten

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