Nutrition
Food must be provided in sufficient quantity and nutritional quality; it must be feline appropriate and scientifically balanced to meet the daily requirements for the condition and size of the animal.
Minimum quantity and nutritional quality of feed must be detailed within the health management plan developed in conjunction with, and signed off by a veterinary practitioner for each classification of cat in the business.
Cats must be fed at least once a day. However, it is recommended that cats are fed twice daily (to avoid over-feeding, divide the daily feed into two smaller meals) as cat’s feeding habits are more for small frequent meals rather than one large meal.
Diets composed entirely of vegetable matter are not nutritionally adequate for cats, even if such diets are sufficiently palatable to be readily eaten. Nor should cats be fed a diet solely of fresh muscle meat (including fish) as the required minerals and other nutrients provided by edible bone and organ meats will not be provided.
A balanced diet is important as cats have specific nutrient requirements and sensitivities; for example, excess feeding of liver will cause Vitamin A toxicity problems. If you are not feeding a commercial cat food to your cat, seek advice from breeders/veterinarian to ensure a properly balanced diet is being provided for your cat.
Cats have differing nutritional requirements depending on their stage of life, amount of exercise and physiological needs, such as growing kittens, pregnancy, lactation (kittens suckling) old age and cold weather. They may require food of differing nutritional value rather than just a greater or lesser volume. As a guide, the feeding instructions on the can, sachet or pack can be followed.
Kittens have special feeding requirements and require more food (per kilogram of body weight) because in addition to requiring energy for maintenance and activity they need extra nutrients for growth.
A number of small meals need to be provided daily as their daily requirements of food is greater than their stomach can accept.
Ideally>
Kittens up to 12 weeks of age should be fed 3-4 meals a day.
Kittens from 12 weeks to 6 months should be fed 2-3 meals a day.
Kittens from 6 months should be fed 1-2 meals a day.
Kittens should be fed on a commercial kitten food or a balanced diet specially formulated and discussed with breeders/veterinarian to ensure all nutrient requirements are being met. Poor nutrition during this growth state can create health and skeletal problems later in life.
*Cats, especially kittens can be lactose intolerant so feeding cow’s milk is not recommended. If giving milk, it should be lactose free and designed for cats.*
*Cats should be provided with raw bones regularly for good dental health. For example, raw chicken wings, lamb off cuts.*
*NOTE: Cooked bones should not be fed as they are likely to splinter and may lodge in the cat’s throat or intestine causing serious health problems. If cats have trouble with bones they may need to be provided with an alternative chewing item in order to maintain good dental health.
If cats are being fed raw offal, it must be part to the business’s/ breeder’s health management plan to be in conjunction with a complete worming program.
*Feeding raw offal to cats is not recommended as it is a zoonosis risk to humans.
An adequate number of food bowls need to be provided to enable each cat to eat freely without intimidation.
* All bowls must be washed after each meal.
Water
All cats must have access in their housing area, at all times, to a permanent supply of fresh clean water daily. The recommended volume of water required daily is approximately 50 millilitres of water per one kilogram of body weight. This amount may vary depending on a number of factors including health status, environmental temperature, amount of exercise, lactation, and the water content of the diet.
Water should be provided in a container that is not easily tipped over. The container should be large enough or refilled often enough to provide cats access to water twenty-four hours a day. Water containers should be of a design that is easily cleaned and does not cause injury to the cat. If kittens are present, the container should not be so large or deep that they can fall in and drown
Food must be provided in sufficient quantity and nutritional quality; it must be feline appropriate and scientifically balanced to meet the daily requirements for the condition and size of the animal.
Minimum quantity and nutritional quality of feed must be detailed within the health management plan developed in conjunction with, and signed off by a veterinary practitioner for each classification of cat in the business.
Cats must be fed at least once a day. However, it is recommended that cats are fed twice daily (to avoid over-feeding, divide the daily feed into two smaller meals) as cat’s feeding habits are more for small frequent meals rather than one large meal.
Diets composed entirely of vegetable matter are not nutritionally adequate for cats, even if such diets are sufficiently palatable to be readily eaten. Nor should cats be fed a diet solely of fresh muscle meat (including fish) as the required minerals and other nutrients provided by edible bone and organ meats will not be provided.
A balanced diet is important as cats have specific nutrient requirements and sensitivities; for example, excess feeding of liver will cause Vitamin A toxicity problems. If you are not feeding a commercial cat food to your cat, seek advice from breeders/veterinarian to ensure a properly balanced diet is being provided for your cat.
Cats have differing nutritional requirements depending on their stage of life, amount of exercise and physiological needs, such as growing kittens, pregnancy, lactation (kittens suckling) old age and cold weather. They may require food of differing nutritional value rather than just a greater or lesser volume. As a guide, the feeding instructions on the can, sachet or pack can be followed.
Kittens have special feeding requirements and require more food (per kilogram of body weight) because in addition to requiring energy for maintenance and activity they need extra nutrients for growth.
A number of small meals need to be provided daily as their daily requirements of food is greater than their stomach can accept.
Ideally>
Kittens up to 12 weeks of age should be fed 3-4 meals a day.
Kittens from 12 weeks to 6 months should be fed 2-3 meals a day.
Kittens from 6 months should be fed 1-2 meals a day.
Kittens should be fed on a commercial kitten food or a balanced diet specially formulated and discussed with breeders/veterinarian to ensure all nutrient requirements are being met. Poor nutrition during this growth state can create health and skeletal problems later in life.
*Cats, especially kittens can be lactose intolerant so feeding cow’s milk is not recommended. If giving milk, it should be lactose free and designed for cats.*
*Cats should be provided with raw bones regularly for good dental health. For example, raw chicken wings, lamb off cuts.*
*NOTE: Cooked bones should not be fed as they are likely to splinter and may lodge in the cat’s throat or intestine causing serious health problems. If cats have trouble with bones they may need to be provided with an alternative chewing item in order to maintain good dental health.
If cats are being fed raw offal, it must be part to the business’s/ breeder’s health management plan to be in conjunction with a complete worming program.
*Feeding raw offal to cats is not recommended as it is a zoonosis risk to humans.
An adequate number of food bowls need to be provided to enable each cat to eat freely without intimidation.
* All bowls must be washed after each meal.
Water
All cats must have access in their housing area, at all times, to a permanent supply of fresh clean water daily. The recommended volume of water required daily is approximately 50 millilitres of water per one kilogram of body weight. This amount may vary depending on a number of factors including health status, environmental temperature, amount of exercise, lactation, and the water content of the diet.
Water should be provided in a container that is not easily tipped over. The container should be large enough or refilled often enough to provide cats access to water twenty-four hours a day. Water containers should be of a design that is easily cleaned and does not cause injury to the cat. If kittens are present, the container should not be so large or deep that they can fall in and drown
