How to Feed Your Cat is Just as Important as What You Feed

We often do not put enough thought into how we feed our cats. Naturally, cats would hunt and forage for food and then eat alone. They'd do this frequently throughout the day, not just twice. Feeding them in a more natural way can help to reduce stress around food.

Luke eating on a counter, his preferred spot.

There's always a lot of discussion over WHAT to feed cats, but how you feed your cat is just as important.

What to Feed

Although this post is primary about how to feed, it's important to note that cats are obligate carnivores. That means they need a diet high in animal protein. If you're only feeding kibble, or you're feeding a lot of kibble, you're likely feeding your cat too many carbohydrates and not enough animal protein. If you're wondering what I feed my crew, I feed them a variety of food high in animal protein which is great for optimal nutrition, enrichment and preventing finickiness. If you're feeding a lot of kibble, consider working toward a goal of transitioning away from primarily kibble to a high animal moisture rich diet which is more appropriate for their species.

Considerations for Feeding Your Cat

Clean Dishes after Each Meal

Just like you would not eat off one dish all week without cleaning it, your cat doesn't want to either but they often don't have a choice. Please clean your cat's dish after each meal.

To make my life easier, I have two sets of dishes per cat. I've always got a clean set ready to go. To clean the dishes easily, I let the dishes soak in the sink with Dawn dish soap and hot water for 5 minutes and then cleaning them is really easy. I have a designated sponge for the cat dishes (in the shape of a cat face, of course).

Provide Fresh Water Daily 

The water dish should be cleaned daily too. And consider where it's located. Cats prefer multiple sources of water bowls, located away from their food dish. You don't need a fancy fountain, but a few water bowls that are not made of plastic and cleaned daily are great for most cats. My cats prefer filtered water.

Small Frequent Meals

A cat's body is designed to consume mice throughout the day. The size of a cat's stomach is small, approximately the size of a ping pong ball. When we feed cats only twice per day, they are so hungry at those meals that they can overeat which then causes vomiting because their stomach cannot handle all that food.

A cat would hunt a dozen or more mice in one day. That's multiple small meals at 30 calories each meal. Instead of feeding your cat 10 times per day, try something like 3 to 5 times each day. The more, the better. Give your cat enough time to digest food from the previous meal, at least 3 hours. This can help a lot with maintaining a healthy weight since cats feel satiated instead of excessively hungry, which can lead to overeating and weight gain.

Here's a sample schedule:

Breakfast, late afternoon (or your dinner time), and before bedtime at a minimum. I like to do snacks between meals. My cats eat 5 times per day which works really well for them.

Location

Test out different spots to find your cat's preferences, including vertical spaces. The kitchen is a place we often think of, but in busy homes, your cat may not be comfortable eating with people walking behind them or the dishwasher on. Find a quiet, out of the way spot for your cat's feeding station.

Multiple Cats? Each cat needs their own feeding station. Ideally, it would be out of sight from the other cat(s). Vertical space, around a corner, different rooms are all things to try. Separating cats for mealtimes helps to reduce stress and can drastically reduce tension in the home. It can even help weight loss since cats don't feel like they need to gobble up all the food when another cat is standing right next to them eating.

I have 5 cats in a 2 bedroom apartment. We have roughly a dozen feeding spots. I let the cats lead, within reason, where they want to eat. Maya likes to eat on cat trees, either in the bedroom or living room. Sometimes there's another cat on a shelf below her. Sometimes they may be at the bottom of the cat tree. Luke likes to eat on the kitchen counter, which works for me. Josh's new favorite spot is on our side table next to the couch. Oscar likes to eat in the bedroom near our laundry bin. Lily often eats her food from a dish at the base of a scratching post that is just outside our kitchen. None of my cats have to look over their shoulder wondering if another cat is coming to take their food.

Working For Food, if it's Fun

Trying to replicate hunting a dozen mice per day is challenging in homes, even if you're playing with your cat frequently throughout the day. Providing hard food snacks in food puzzles or hiding food is an easy way to give your cat a fun and productive activity. It's easy enrichment.

We've been using food puzzles for years. I also alternate with hiding food around our apartment, creating a scavenger hunt. I hide food in easy places such as windowsills but I also hide food behind doors, under my dresser and in the closet. I only use a small amount of food that I know they will find and eat the same day. My cats love using their nose to find food. It's been a really fun game and I always find new spots to hide the food.

One thing to note is that this should be a fun activity - using a food puzzle or searching for food. If you cat seems desperate, they are too hungry for this activity. Consider the recommendation for small frequent meals and ensure your cat is getting enough calories to feel satiated.

Also, start easy with a food puzzle or scavenger hunt so your cat doesn't get frustrated.

Adjust based on their puzzle solving ability. Some cats pick it up quickly and may require more challenging puzzles. Others are slower and need the activity to be made easier.

Shallow dishes are best

You may have heard of whisker fatigue. Cats whiskers are really sensitive. If their dish is small and deep, their whiskers will be pressed up against their face in order to eat. This may not be comfortable for them. Shallow dishes are going to be a more pleasant experience.

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About the author: Jennifer Van de Kieft, CAFTP, FFCP, PNCC is located in Brooklyn, NY. She is certified in feline behavior and pet nutrition. She owns Cat Advocate, a feline behavior consulting company. She provides cat guardians with the strategies, tools and knowledge needed to address their cat's behavior issues. Jennifer provides virtual consultations throughout the United States.