Feeding your cat or kitten is one of the most important parts of ensuring its good health. Just make sure you feed it the right things at the right time.

Remember:

*The first 12 months are the most critical as far as feeding it the right things so it develops best!

*Cats are carnivores... make sure all their food is high in animal proteins.

*Make sure your cat has plenty of fresh water... it's best to change it daily.

*Kittens need kitten food and cats need adult cat food.

*Try to keep your cat's food consistent; don't switch brands if possible.

6 weeks (once it's been weaned): Feed it 4 times a day a mash of dry kitten food and warm water. Reduce the water until the food is just dry by the time they reach 8 weeks.

3 months: Feed it 3 times a day.

6 months: Feed it 2 times a day.

1 year (adulthood): Feed it what it will need for the whole day in one feeding. Allow it to eat whenever it wants by leaving its dish out all day. If there's wet food, throw it out after two hours; if there's still some left in the can, get a plastic can cover from a pet store to seal the food.

7 years (senior): Feed it senior cat food if possible.

How you feed your cat can affect its urinary tract health. This is a sensitive thing, especially for male cats. They can die of a urinary tract infection, so make sure you feed your cat the right foods with proper nutrition.

Try to find cat foods that say "complete care" or something similar; this means it includes all the nutrients necessary for good health. The gourmet foods usually don't have all the right nutrients.

Good: *Chicken meal - it has highly digestible proteins

*Sunflower oils, soybean oils, and poultry fats - good for fatty acids to help give your cat a nice coat of fur.

Bad: *Chicken by-products - ew. Heads and feet and intestines and stuff!

*Human foods - the blend of ingredients is no good and can cause diarrhea, allergic reactions, or too much weight.

*Off-the-shelf additives - only use if your vet sys so. Excessive amounts of vitamins and minerals can be harmful!

For cats with longer hair or cats prone to hairballs:

Try foods that say "hairball management;" the food should have a formula to reduce shedding so less hair is swallowed in bathing. Also find foods with lots of fiber, such as vegetable-based foods, that can help move hair through the digestive system faster.

For overweight cats:

Definitely try weight management foods; these have fewer calories and fat.

For indoor cats:

Indoor kitties have different needs because of indoor temperatures, lighting, and less activity. Find foods specifically for indoor cats because they have special blends of vitamins, minerals, and nutrients. They are also made to help lessen shedding, hairballs, and litter box odor.

For finicky cats:

It's good to get single-serve pouches or cans to try out what a cat likes before getting a whole bag of the brand and type. There are even some cans and pouches of the specialty kinds of foods, like for overweight cats and senior cats.