Frequently Asked Questions about the Feeding Behavior of the Cat

Q

A

Do cats need to have several different flavors?

No, as long as they have a well-balanced diet, cats do not need flavor variety from day to day.

Why are cats fussier than dogs?

In fact, cats are not fussier than dogs. This commonly held belief is untrue. A poorly reared dog may be very hard to please. For some dogs, refusing food is a way of asserting their position in the family. Cats on the other hand, attribute no "social" value to food. If they refuse to eat, it’s either because they’re sick or because they have a genuine dislike of the food.

The competition that exists in a pack always lead dogs to gulp down a maximum amount of food in the shortest possible time, i.e., dogs display "gluttonous" behavior. Cats, as solitary hunters, can take their time to dissect and savor their prey. Their behavior can be described as “tasting”.

"Are cats sensitive to sweet and salty taste? "

Cats are different from dogs and humans. Cats have no preference for sweet tasting foods. This is due to their strictly carnivorous nature. Cats are also less sensitive to salt and have a higher NaCl or KCl detection threshold. Since salt is found naturally in their prey, cats have not been selected for this gustatory capacity present in other mammals, especially herbivores.

"Every time I go to the kitchen my cat follows me and cries, what does he want? "

Often the most frequent location and time for the cat to interact with the owner is around feeding so they may also choose that location or time to solicit attention. If the cat has been fed and consumed the proper amount to meet their nutritional needs, then they should not be fed when they vocalize. Feeding the cat every time it vocalizes will be seen by the cat as a reward for their behavior and therefore vocalization will increase. Try substituting play, grooming or social interaction rather than feeding the cat when it is not feeding time.

"I have two cats and one is overweight and one is not. How can I provide an appropriate diet for each cat? "

Each cat may need a different diet to meet their nutritional needs. One solution is to use timed meal feeding. Several times a day each cat is provided their diet and given a certain amount of time to consume their food. To facilitate each cat eating the appropriate food, the cats should be separated during feeding time. Once feeding time is over, the bowls should be put away until the next feeding session. In other situations, the thinner cat may be more agile than the larger cat and can have their food bowl in an elevated location that the heavier cat cannot access.

"How should I react when my cat refuses to eat the prescription diet?”"

Transitions to a new diet are best done slowly. The new diet can be offered next to the old diet to help the cat become familiar with the new food. In some cases it might help to mix the food together. If the texture of the two foods (old and new) are very different, this may be a problem for some cats. Using a similar texture food if possible may help the transition.

"How can I prevent my cat from hunting birds? "

Although unwanted by humans, predatory behavior is a normal cat behavior. Keeping the cat indoors will prevent predation. If that is not possible, some cats will be deterred by wearing a quick release cat collar that is equipped with large bells to warn the birds of their impending approach. Naturally, removing temptation in the form of bird feeders and bird houses is prudent.

"I need to increase the amount of liquid (water) that my cat ingests every day. How can I do that?"

Water consumption will vary according to the food type provided. Cats on dry kibble diets will drink more water than cats on moist, canned food. Water consumption can be increased by adding water to the canned food or providing water that has been enhanced with fish flavoring. Some cats prefer water that is fresh and aerated and will drink more water if provided water from a running faucet or a pet drinking fountain.