It's often believed that domestic cats, like big cats (lions, tigers, etc.), tend to eat large meals irregularly. However, a domestic cat needs to consume approximately 12 mice, and therefore 12 meals, to meet its daily nutritional requirements. When cats are given commercial food free-choice, they tend to eat 10 to 20 meals, evenly distributed between day and night. The meals are slightly larger each time the food is replenished. When food access is limited in duration, cats adapt quickly and consume larger meals.

A cat will stop eating to kill a rat. Its predatory behavior thus takes precedence over its feeding behavior.

Generally, cats enjoy a variety of tastes. However, when stressed, they tend to reject new things. This should be taken into account whenever a cat is put in a stressful situation (for example, the arrival of a new cat, boarding, or a change of residence). A sudden change in diet can also be stressful and should be introduced gradually.

Cats prefer to eat in a quiet, clean place. The food bowl should be kept away from the litter box. If, in a cattery, the animals are not housed individually, it is best to distribute the food in several bowls to avoid hierarchy conflicts.

Palatability factors in cats include protein digests, meat extracts, amino acids, and animal fats. Natural flavorings are used as coatings on kibble or mixed into cans to stimulate cats' appetites. Unlike dogs, cats are not sensitive to sweet tastes.

The smell of food is very important to cats, and they spend a lot of time sniffing their food before eating it. Nasal congestion during a cold can explain a significant decrease in consumption. The texture (hardness, crunchiness, etc.) of the food is also important to cats. Unlike dogs, cats tend to chew their food rather than gulp it down. Cats are indifferent to the color of their food.

Kittens' eating habits are influenced by their mother through imitation. It is during weaning that kittens develop preferences for certain tastes, smells, and textures. Therefore, it is important to expose kittens to the types of food they will be eating in the future, starting as soon as they are weaned.

Food refusal

If the cat refuses the food, the problem may be:

1. The cat itself: difficult cat, illness, stress (new home, arrival of another cat...)

2. The environment: too noisy, too hot, too dirty, bad smells

3. The food: oxidized (rancid) food, mold, as well as texture, variety, taste to which the cat is not used.

Using home-cooked food is always possible, provided a rigorous approach is followed.

As we saw earlier, all cats need diets rich in high-quality protein, preferably animal protein, and all other nutrients (fats, minerals, vitamins, trace elements) in balanced proportions. The main difference lies in the energy content, and therefore the fat content, since the more energy-dense a food is, the more concentrated its nutrients will be. Using "high-nutrition" foods guarantees optimal nutrient absorption and the quality of the raw materials.

Animals for maintenance

For cats in good condition, it is recommended to offer a moderately high-energy, and therefore moderately fat (12-14% fat) "high-nutrition" dry food to avoid excessive calorie consumption and obesity. For cats in good condition who are prone to weight gain, and particularly neutered cats, it is recommended to offer a reduced-fat (around 10% fat) and fiber-enriched "high-nutrition" dry food to satisfy the animal's appetite while minimizing calorie consumption.

For cats with thin skin, fussy eaters, or sensitive digestive systems, it is recommended to offer a "high-nutrition" dry food with a higher fat content (approximately 20-25%). This food is also perfectly suited for preparing cats for shows thanks to its higher concentration of essential fatty acids and the use of other vegetable oils, such as borage oil. For optimal results on the coat, the food should be introduced 3 to 4 weeks before the show. It is important to carefully adjust the portion size of this food to the animal's body condition to prevent obesity.

For all cats at maintenance, it is recommended to offer a food that promotes acidic urine and contains moderate concentrations of magnesium to minimize the risk of struvite urinary stones (see Feline Urological Syndrome at the end of this chapter).

Homemade ration for a 3kg adult, unneutered, moderately active cat.

- 70g of red meat with 5% fat or white meat or lean fish (cod, whiting)

- 30g of green vegetables (green beans, carrots)

- 70g of very well-cooked white rice

- 1 teaspoon of soybean oil every other day

- 3 g, or one small teaspoon of A.M.V (A.M.V. (mineral and vitamin-rich food)

Ca/p = 2 containing 15.5% Ca

This ration must be mixed in such a way as to avoid sorting.

Female cat in reproduction

Breeding cats have very high energy and nutrient requirements, especially during lactation. It is therefore recommended to feed them a diet rich in fat (at least 20% fat and 4,200 kcal/kg) and nutrients from the beginning of gestation. Studies have shown that this diet improves female fertility, results in stronger kittens at birth, and lower neonatal mortality. The nutrient requirements of pregnant and lactating cats are similar to those recommended for growth.Foods formulated for growth are therefore perfectly suited to pregnant and lactating cats.

Household rations for a pregnant/lactating cat

Until the 5th week of gestation, the cat's diet remains the same as that of an adult cat at maintenance. Appetite may be slightly increased.

Towards the end of gestation, the cat's nutritional needs increase (up to 100 kcalEM/kg of body weight), while her appetite is increasingly reduced due to the space occupied by the uterus, which compresses the abdomen and therefore the stomach.

She must then receive an energy-dense food, so that she has to consume less of it in quantity, rich in protein (protein-to-calorie ratio). > 80g protein/McalEM) and essential fatty acids, and balanced in minerals and vitamins.

Commercial cat food offers ease of distribution and guaranteed nutritional intake. However, for those who prefer homemade food, or for cats that will not accept any other type of food, it is possible to provide a balanced ration, provided that it is ensured that it is consumed entirely, without selective feeding.

Example of a daily ration for a 4 kg cat, at the end of gestation, to be divided into 3 meals.

150g of meat with 15% fat content, or of oily fish (salmon)

50g of green vegetables (green beans, carrots)

50g of very well-cooked white rice

1 teaspoon of soybean oil

4 g, or one teaspoon of A.M.V. *

presenting a Ca/P ratio of 2, containing 15.5% Ca

During lactation, a cat's nutritional needs are even greater, particularly her energy requirements, which are so high that she cannot consume enough, at least at the beginning of lactation, and will therefore lose weight, using up the reserves built up during gestation. A homemade diet is nevertheless possible, provided, once again, that the balance of the ration is carefully maintained. The food should be well mixed, or even pureed, so that the cat, even if she doesn't eat it all, consumes a balanced diet.

Example of a daily ration for a 3kg lactating cat, to be divided into at least 3 meals.

1 cooked egg white

300g of meat with 15% fat content, or oily fish (salmon)

40g of green vegetables (green beans, carrots)

40g of very cooked white rice

2 teaspoons of A.M.V. * exhibiting a Ca/P ratio of 2, containing 15.5% Ca

Kitten

The feeding of kittens from birth to weaning is discussed in detail in the section on raising them. A "high-nutrition" dry food, specially formulated for growth, containing at least 20% fat and providing all the necessary nutrients, is recommended during the first year of life to ensure harmonious development. The size of the kibble and its ability to rehydrate are also important to facilitate feeding by kittens.