Your cat’s diet depends on its age, health and lifestyle

“I just got a new cat, and I don’t know what to feed it. There are so many cat foods to choose from, how do I know what is the best for my cat?”

As with many questions, the answer is, “It depends.” There are a number of dry and canned products on the market that you can feed your cat.

• Look for a cat food that carries the AAFCO (Association of American Feed Control Officials) label. This will ensure that it is a complete and balanced food.

• Check if the food is specific to a stage in the cat’s life (kitten, adult, older cat, pregnant, etc).

• Some products say they are formulated for “all” life stages. These foods can simplify feeding if you have multiple cats of different ages.

• Cats are not dogs. Dog food does not meet your cat’s nutritional needs, and can be fatal to your cat over time. For example, unlike dogs and other mammals, cats cannot make taurine from other amino acids in the body, so they need taurine from the animal-based protein in their food.

• If you want to feed a homemade diet, consult with your veterinarian to ensure you are your cat is getting a balanced diet.

• Provide your cat with lots of fresh, clean water at all times.

Buy your cat’s food in amounts they can consume within a short period. Store dry cat food in an airtight container, and make sure it is not past the expiration date. Canned cat food is generally more expensive than dry food, but it has a long shelf life when unopened and is highly palatable to most cats. If you only feed partial cans, keep the unused portion in the refrigerator.

How much should you feed? That depends on a number of factors:

• How old is your cat?

• How active is your cat?

• Is your cat an indoor or an outdoor cat?

• Has your cat been spayed or neutered?

Cats generally like to eat small meals all through the day. You can put out half of their food in the morning and half when you get home from work, or you can leave dry food available all day in a self-feeding bowl. It is important to watch your cat and ensure they are not becoming overweight, as this can lead to health problems. If you have questions about your cat’s weight, nutritional needs or condition, please consult with your veterinarian.

You can give your cat the occasional table scrap (cooked meat, eggs or fish), but it should be limited to 5 percent of their daily calories. You can also try feeding small amounts of fresh cantaloupe, steamed broccoli, or mashed potatoes (no butter).

Do not feed:

• Raw meat or raw fish

• Raw eggs

• Dairy (milk, cheese)

• Grapes or raisins

• Onions, chives or garlic

• Chocolate

• Alcohol

Learn more about the Everett Animal Shelter. Plan a visit, follow us on Facebook and Twitter, and check out all of our adoptable pets. And be sure to watch our featured Pet of the Week on the Everett Channel.

Talk to us

> Give us your news tips.

> Send us a letter to the editor.

> More Herald contact information.

More in Life

Brandon Hailey of Cytrus, center, plays the saxophone during a headlining show at Madam Lou’s on Friday, Dec. 29, 2023 in Seattle, Washington. (Olivia Vanni / The Herald)
Lynnwood-based funk octet Cytrus has the juice

Resilience and brotherhood take center stage with ‘friends-first’ band.

FILE - In this April 11, 2014 file photo, Neko Case performs at the Coachella Music and Arts Festival in Indio, Calif. Fire investigators are looking for the cause of a fire on Monday, Sept. 18, 2017, that heavily damaged Case’s 225-year-old Vermont home. There were no injuries, though a barn was destroyed. It took firefighters two hours to extinguish the blaze. (Photo by Scott Roth/Invision/AP, File)
Music, theater and more: What’s happening in Snohomish County

Singer-songwriter Neko Case, an indie music icon from Tacoma, performs Sunday in Edmonds.

Sarah Jean Muncey-Gordon puts on some BITCHSTIX lip oil at Bandbox Beauty Supply on Tuesday, Jan. 9, 2024, in Langley, Washington. (Ryan Berry / The Herald)
Bandbox Beauty was made for Whidbey Island locals, by an island local

Founder Sarah Muncey-Gordon said Langley is in a renaissance, and she’s proud to be a part of it.

Dominic Arizona Bonuccelli
Tangier’s market boasts piles of fruits, veggies, and olives, countless varieties of bread, and nonperishables, like clothing and electronics.
Rick Steves on the cultural kaleidoscope of Tangier in Morocco

Walking through the city, I think to myself, “How could anyone be in southern Spain — so close — and not hop over to experience this wonderland?”

chris elliott.
Vrbo promised to cover her rental bill in Hawaii, so why won’t it?

When Cheryl Mander’s Vrbo rental in Hawaii is uninhabitable, the rental platform agrees to cover her new accommodations. But then it backs out. What happened?

Byrds co-founder Roger McGuinn, seen here in 2013, will perform April 20 in Edmonds. (Associated Press)
Music, theater and more: What’s happening in Snohomish County

R0ck ‘n’ Roll Hall of Famer Roger McGuinn, frontman of The Byrds, plans a gig in Edmonds in April.

Mother giving in to the manipulation her daughter fake crying for candy
Can children be bribed into good behavior?

Only in the short term. What we want to do is promote good habits over the course of the child’s life.

Speech Bubble Puzzle and Discussion
When conflict flares, keep calm and stand your ground

Most adults don’t like dissension. They avoid it, try to get around it, under it, or over it.

The colorful Nyhavn neighborhood is the place to moor on a sunny day in Copenhagen. (Cameron Hewitt)
Rick Steves: Embrace hygge and save cash in Copenhagen

Where else would Hans Christian Andersen, a mermaid statue and lovingly decorated open-face sandwiches be the icons of a major capital?

Last Call is a festured artist at the 2024 DeMiero Jazz Festival: in Edmonds. (Photo provided by DeMiero Jazz Festival)
Music, theater and more: What’s happening in Snohomish County

Jazz ensemble Last Call is one of the featured artists at the DeMiero Jazz Festival on March 7-9 in Edmonds.

Kim Helleren
Local children’s author to read at Edmonds Bookshop

Kim Helleren will read from one of her books for kids at the next monthly Story Time at Edmonds Bookshop on March 29.

Chris Elliott
Lyft surprises traveler with a $150 cleaning charge

Jared Hakimi finds a $150 charge on his credit card after a Lyft ride. Is that allowed? And will the charge stick?

Support local journalism

If you value local news, make a gift now to support the trusted journalism you get in The Daily Herald. Donations processed in this system are not tax deductible.