Food & Diet

Visit our "Shop & Support" page to purchase our suggested food & supplies while supporting our rescue.

 

Current Diet at the Cat Cottage and for fosters:

Kittens (up to 1 year or fully grown):

• Wet food: 1/2 of 3.5 oz can twice a day of Fancy Feast – Tender Turkey Feast Kitten 

• Dry food: 1/8 cup (after wet food meal) of Purina Kitten Chow – Nurture

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Adults:

• Wet Food: 1/2 of 3.5 oz can twice a day of Fancy Feast Classic Pate – Chicken, Liver & Chicken, or Turkey & Giblets

• Dry food: 1/8 cup (after wet food meal) of Purina Pro Plan - Indoor Care Turkey & Rice Formula

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If on a prescription diet, prescription for current brand and type will be provided.

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Diet at home: ​

If you decide to transition to another brand of food after adoption, make sure to do it gradually over a week time span to prevent any gastrointestinal issues.

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Brands we recommend: Purina Pro Plan, Fancy Feast [wet], Friskies [wet], Wellness, Hills Science Diet, Iams, Royal Canin

Brands we avoid: Meow Mix, 9lives, Blue Buffalo, Rachel Ray Nutrish, Simply Nourish

• Including wet food in your cat’s diet is very important to their overall health as most of their water intake comes from wet food. Even if you think your cat drinks a lot of water on their own, wet food is vital. It is suggested to feed wet food before dry, as this encourages them to have the wet food as their primary food intake. Dry only/mainly dry diets can cause:

  • Deadly urinary blockages

  • Diabetes

  • Early kidney disease

  • Gastrointestinal issues

  • Obesity

• Feeding only dry food is cheaper and convenient, but will cost you more in vet bills later.

• Every cat is different, but leaving out an endless amount of dry food 24/7 for your cat can lead to overeating and obesity for some cats. If your cat is an endless eater, a measured amount of dry food in addition to their wet food meals is better.

• Feeding an entirely wet diet is healthy as long as the daily caloric requirements for your cat are met. Talk to your vet about an appropriate caloric intake for your cat to maintain a healthy weight.

• If your cat will eat it, adding extra water to their wet food is a great way for them to get extra hydration.

• Avoid frequently feeding fish flavors or flavors where fish is listed as a main ingredient. Too much fish can cause high levels of toxins, vitamin deficiencies, digestion issues, etc.

• Always have clean water readily available. Fountains can be a big hit for cats and can increase their water intake which leads to a healthier pet. Make sure you clean their fully take apart and clean their plastic motors every other day - they will grow biofilm or mold and then your cats will not drink from them.

• Metal bowls are preferred as they hold less bacteria which can help to prevent  skin dermatitis or acne that can show around the animal’s chin.

• Microchip feeders can help address issues in multi-cat households such as different diets or cats who eat another cat’s food.

• We advise against feeding raw diets by recommendation of our veterinarians.