Like humans, cats are natural predators. Their wild instincts mean they have high metabolic rates and need a lot of calories to fuel these activities. In order to help your cat maintain its hunting instincts while also keeping it healthy, it’s important to feed it a balanced diet that contains the appropriate nutrients needed to thrive. Unfortunately, many commercial cat foods are formulated with cheap fillers and added preservatives that make them largely inedible for your feline friend. That’s why it’s so important to feed your cat healthy home-cooked meals instead of turning to other options such as dry kibble or canned food. In this blog post we explore how you can encourage your cat to eat healthier foods so it gains weight and stays healthy throughout its life.
What does your cat need to gain weight?
You’ve probably come into contact with a lot of myths about weight gain and diet while researching what makes a healthy diet for your cat. You may have even heard that you need to feed your cat certain kinds of food to make it gain weight. Actually, dietary recommendations for cats are similar to recommendations for other pets – they are a breeding ground for misunderstanding. The most important thing you can do to help your cat gain weight is to feed it a balanced diet. Overweight cats aren’t fed more calories than their less-active counterparts. Instead, they simply have too little activity and exercise to burn all of the calories provided in their daily meals.
Give your cat a little taste of everything
As a predator, cats are naturally curious and will try anything new if given the chance. That’s why it’s important to feed your cat a varied diet that contains a mix of proteins, carbohydrates, and fats. Include real meat in your cat’s diet, but avoid feeding it only dry food that’s high in carbohydrates. You can also add canned or homecooked recipes featuring non-meat ingredients like fish or low-fat dairy products. For example, if you have a feline friend that loves mackerel, you could mash up a few cans and mix them with other ingredients to create a healthy mackerel recipe that can be served as a meal or a snack.
Feed your cat twice a day
While many people feed their cats a single meal a day, this can lead to poor nutrition and weight loss. Cats that eat too infrequently tend to get bored and anxious, which can cause them to eat more than they should in order to feel calm. Instead, feed your cat twice a day. This will help ensure that it receives nutrition from all food groups, gets enough exercise, and has a constant supply of fresh water. Make sure to feed your cat at least 12 hours before bedtime and at least 14 hours after it wakes up to give it enough time to digest its meal before resting again.
Combine meat and fibre in one meal
Dietary fibre, including oat and barley flakes, is a great way to improve your cat’s digestion. This means that your cat will be less prone to getting sick as it ages. Experiments have shown that cats that get regular additions of dietary fibre have increased longevity and have a reduced risk of developing certain medical conditions. Adding some dietary fibre to your cat’s meals can improve its digestion and greatly increase their lifespan. Combine high-quality meat sources with high-fibre ingredients like oat or barley flakes and your cat will be receiving all of the nutrition it needs in one go.
Make sure you’re serving the right type of food at the right time
Keep in mind that cats shouldn’t be fed a diet that’s high in protein, fat, and calories when they’re young and growing. Instead, feed your cat a diet that’s low in protein when it’s at rest, and high in protein when it’s active. This will make sure that your cat’s body has the building blocks it needs to turn food into energy. To make sure that you’re feeding your cat the right type of food at the right time, feed a high-protein food at night and a low-protein food during the day.
Bottom line
If you want your cat to gain weight, feed it a balanced diet that is high in vegetables and low in fat. If your cat is old or has a medical condition, consult your veterinarian to figure out if there are any other dietary restrictions that need to be adhered to. When it comes to feeding your cat, don’t let urban myths and dietary myths influence your decisions. Instead, follow these healthy tips and your feline friend will be well-fed and happy.
