Cat Owner Tips & Cat Advice from IAMS

shutterstock_761749777_520%C3%97280px.png

TIPS FOR SUCCESSFULLY CHANGING YOUR CAT’S DIET

Introduce the new food gradually. This is the most successful way to ease your cat into the diet change. Start by mixing 25% new food with 75% current food.

/sites/g/files/fnmzdf4376/files/2023-10/shutterstock_440645713_520%25C3%2597280px.png

Your Cat's Health from 1 to 8 Years

Your adult cat is a perfect specimen of mobility, speed, acuity, and grace. She is in her prime. She shines in her gleaming coat and her eyes are bright. Jumping, twisting, and landing, her skeleton bears strain our own bodies could never endure. Her muscles are highly flexible. Her movements are lightning fast and her senses highly tuned.Between ages 1 and 8, your cat will experience the equivalent of a human's journey from teenager to late middle age. As caretaker, you are responsible for good adult cat health and lifestyle in these years and beyond.It can be difficult to keep such an adventurous creature indoors. But to do so is proven to extend a cat's life, because it limits exposure to predators, cars, fleas, and other cats that may have diseases such as feline leukemia or feline immunodeficiency virus (FIV). Keep your cat duly entertained indoors by providing toys, structures to climb on, spots near windows to watch the action outdoors, or–if she responds to them–TV and special videos.One potential side effect of being a pampered, indoor cat is obesity. If your cat starts to gain weight, limit or change her diet and encourage more exercise. Make time for play with your cat each day.An adult cat should visit the vet annually. Dental and gum disease, diabetes, hyperthyroidism, and other medical problems can present themselves in adulthood to middle age. Early detection is essential to successful treatment and extended life.As your cat nears 8 years old, be sure to watch for signs of other age-related illnesses such as weight loss, decreased appetite, neglect of grooming, increased thirst and urination, and retreating from the household.Both you and your cat will enjoy these peak years. They will be filled with acrobatic antics and lithe poses you can't help photographing. If you take the appropriate precautions, you can extend the health and fun for many years.

/sites/g/files/fnmzdf4376/files/2023-10/shutterstock_605469404_520%25C3%2597280px.png

Kitten Basics: Kitten Feeding Tips

Smart kitten feeding tips go way beyond just putting fresh food in a clean bowl. Kittens’ nutritional needs change as their bodies rapidly develop through adolescence. Proper nutrition during these critical growth periods helps kittens mature into strong, healthy adult cats. The following are the essential kitten feeding tips you need to know through your kitten’s first year.Rapid Growth Stage—2 to 6 MonthsAfter kittens are weaned, they enter a stage of rapid growth, which lasts through the sixth month of life. They need a balanced diet to deliver the nutrients and energy to sustain such rapid development.Kittens have twice the energy needs of adult cats on a pound-per-pound basis. But their smaller mouths, teeth, and stomachs limit the amount of food they can digest during a single meal. Therefore, it may be best to divide their daily amount to be fed into three or four meals.Because every bite must be packed with nutrition, kittens require a diet that is specifically formulated for growth. The best choice is a food with animal-based proteins that is highly digestible, nutrient dense, and designed to meet kittens’ unique nutritional needs.Adolescence Stage—6 to 12 MonthsAs kittens approach adult size, their nutritional requirements begin to change again. The rate of growth begins to slow, activity levels may decline, and they can eat fewer and larger meals each day. During this stage, kittens begin to look like adults, but they are still growing and need the special nutrition found in kitten food.The adolescent growth stage is a time when many cat owners are tempted to change a kitten’s food for variety. But cats do not get bored with a consistent diet of high-quality dry food, which can be supplemented with a nutrient-dense canned food for a nutritious change of pace.Transitioning from Kitten to Adult Cat FoodWhen your cat is about 12 months of age, it’s time to switch to a maintenance formula adult cat food. At this age, cats no longer need the extra calories and nutrients for growth supplied by kitten food. Remember to make this change, like any other change in a cat’s diet, a gradual one over a period of several days.Monitor the cat’s weight and body condition during the transition, and adjust feeding portions if necessary. Because cats generally eat only what they need, free-choice feeding is adequate for most cats. However, some indoor cats that don’t exercise much may overeat if fed free choice. In this situation, portion-controlled feeding twice a day is a good alternative.Avoid Feeding Human FoodsGiving a kitten “human food” and table scraps can lead to undesirable behaviors, such as begging or stealing food. Feeding homemade diets or food formulated for adult cats (especially those designed for weight loss) or supplementing a complete and balanced diet with vitamins could cause nutritional disorders.What Every Kitten NeedsKittens and cats are strict carnivores and need the nutrients found in meat. For example, sufficient amounts of taurine (an essential amino acid provided naturally through meat) help cats maintain healthy eyes, heart, and reproduction. All IAMS kitten and cat food formulas have optimal levels of taurine for every life stage.In addition, kittens and cats must have plenty of fresh, clean water available at all times. Regular visits to the veterinarian help keep kittens and cats happy and healthy.