HOW DO YOU KNOW IF YOUR CAT IS HEALTHY?
To help keep them independent and wonderfully uncooperative, remember to check your C.A.T.S.
SIGNS OF A HEALTHY APPETITE
GRAZING
Most cats like to graze on small, frequent meals because it mimics their natural hunting behavior - especially cats eating a dry food diet (opens in new window) .
FAVORITES
Your cat may develop a taste (opens in new window) for specific textures, shapes, odors, temperatures, and food flavors, but they are not typically "picky" eaters and don’t often change their minds suddenly.
NO
SURPRISES
As we better understand cats, vomiting and frequent hairballs are considered abnormal and may be signs of underlying GI issues.
CHECKING YOUR C.A.T.S.?
Watch your cat’s bowl explain signs of a healthy appetite.
“Cats often walk up to their bowl, stare at their food, then walk away, which tricks their owners into thinking they’ve eaten when they haven’t.”
— Angela Hughes, Global Science Advocacy Senior Manager at Mars Petcare
YOUR CAT’S APPETITE IS UNIQUE
You know your cat best. If you think something seems odd, bring it up to your veterinarian.
If your cat isn’t eating, it’s not personal. They aren’t trying to spite you or go on a "hunger strike."
A diet consisting of both wet and dry cat food gives your cat the benefit of more moisture in their diet, while helping to maintain their teeth and gums.
If you have multiple cats (opens in new window) in your home, you may have to be clever with where you place food bowls. It's not unusual for a heavier cat to bully smaller ones out of meals.
INFORMATION PROVIDED BY
DR. ANGELA HUGHES, GLOBAL SCIENCE ADVOCACY SENIOR MANAGER AT MARS PETCARE
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As a professional researcher and veterinary geneticist, Dr. Hughes has spent her career sharing her expertise on pet health. Her work has been featured in the Journal of the American Veterinary Medical Association, PLOS One, PLOS Genetics and Large Animal Internal Medicine.
IAMS HELPS SUPPORT YOUR CAT'S HEALTHY APPETITE
CONSULT AN EXPERT
Interested in contacting a veterinarian or learning more about the health of your cat? Banfield Pet Hospital can help.
Checking your C.A.T.S. can help you discover the early warning signs of something that’s not quite right with your cat, in addition to yearly wellness exams for adult cats under 10-years old and twice a year for cats over 10.