Nutrition
Mouse here, cookie there
A cat has a small stomach, often smaller than a ping-pong ball. In the wild, cats like eating small animals like mice. Wild cats can eat fifteen to twenty times a day but small portions at a time. At home you don’t give your cat a live mouse, but dry cookies and canned food. Cat food you can buy at the pet shop, the vets or in the supermarket.
Cat food
Make sure you buy high quality cat food. This way your cat will stay strong, fit and healthy. You can give your cat dry food, canned food and a piece of fish once in a while. There are several different kinds of cat food. In the pet store or at the vet’s ask for the food that is best for your cat and the amount they should be given.
Prevent your cat from getting hungry
Feed your cat small portions several times a day. Giving your cat dry food around fifteen times a day is better than giving it one or two large portions a day. This way you will be certain your cat won't get hungry between meals. Your cat's stomach is empty within a couple of hours. Make sure that there is always a bowl of water and some dry food. This way your cat can eat and drink whenever it wants.
Turn it into a game
Does your cat eat its dry food all at once? Be aware of the fact that it’s better to give it small portions at a time. Every once in a while hide some dry food in different spots in your house or let the cat run and hunt its dry food when you throw it. Turn it into a game! This way your cat can track the dry food down and enjoy its little treat. You can buy special food balls in which you can hide some dry food. Let your cat play with it. Every once in a while some dry food will fall out and your cat will eat it.
More bowls of water
Cats have to drink well. If your cat often runs across a bowl of water in your house, it will automatically drink some water. This is why you should put bowls of water in different spots in your house. Preferably use big bowls. The water will stay cleaner this way. Refresh the water every day. Cats do not like it when their whiskers touch the sides of the bowls while they are drinking. This is why big bowls are so important. You can buy a special drinking fountain with a filter. A lot of cats take extra pleasure in drinking from a fountain!