How does nutrition relate to emotional wellbeing? 

As well as providing complete and balanced nutrition that cats need to physically thrive, feeding plays an important role in delivering enjoyment and pleasure. Food can help you reinforce desirable behaviours, encourage the expression of natural behaviours, provide a source of mental stimulation and strengthen the bond between you and your cat. There are so many ways in which thoughtful feeding can help nourish your cat’s emotional wellbeing, as well as their physical health. 

Intro

child-training-cat-shine shine image

In this section

You will learn more about:

  1. Understanding your cat's natural diet and feeding behaviour
  2. Diets for changing life stages and lifestyles
  3. Training your cat
  4. Key Points

Key terminology

The process of providing and obtaining the nutrients necessary for the health and growth of animals.1 For optimal emotional wellbeing of your cat, nutrition should also provide enjoyment and be delivered in a manner that encourages mental stimulation and the expression of natural behaviours

The food and drink that is regularly consumed by an individual.2 Diet is how a cat gets the nutrition that they need. There are seven main different categories which go into a diet3,4  

A diet that has been carefully formulated and balanced to provide all the nutrients required by a healthy cat, at the right ratios for a particular life stage (kitten, adult, pregnancy/lactation).

Foods that can be given in addition to a complete and balanced diet (e.g., as a treat or topper) but do not meet all of your cat’s nutritional requirements and therefore should not be fed continuously or as their sole diet.

Foods that contain a high moisture content (usually 70-80%) and are sealed and cooked at a specific temperature for sterilisation, such as tinned or canned cat foods, sachets, or pouches. Wet foods are available in a variety of textures such as chunks with gravy, pates, jellies, and casseroles. 

Foods that have a lower moisture content and are typically baked/extruded, such as traditional cat kibble.  

Feeding a combination of both wet and dry cat foods. 

Commercial raw diets are typically made from meat and edible bone that has been minced and frozen at low temperatures (often combined with vegetables, fruit, and herbs). They may be complete or complementary and are usually available frozen or freeze-dried.  

Foods typically given to your cat as a reward or snack, that aren’t usually intended to provide a complete and balanced diet. 

A method of evaluating body composition using a visual and feel-based assessment of the cat’s abdomen and body overall.5  

Using food to encourage cats to perform natural feeding behaviours such as the predatory sequence and chewing, providing mental stimulation and opportunities to exercise control or choice.6,5 Using food for training or in puzzle games are examples of nutritional enrichment.  

 See Introduction, Health, Nutrition, and Environment for more information about the other types of enrichment.  

Understanding cats’ natural diet and feeding behaviour 

Understanding a little about natural feline feeding habits and their unique digestive system can help you make the right feeding choices for your cat’s physical, mental and emotional wellbeing. 

Cats are classified as obligate carnivores (order Carnivora) so not only are they well-adapted for eating meat, they need meat in their diet to stay healthy. Free-ranging cats are also natural hunters7 and spend up to 50% of their day acquiring and eating small rodents and other prey in the wild8. By making feeding time more mentally stimulating for your cat, you can help provide an outlet for this natural behaviour and improve their emotional wellbeing.

Intro

Infographic: A cat's digestive system
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What is the right diet for my cat?

The best diet for your cat should not only meet their nutritional needs but enhance health and wellness throughout every stage of their life. The right food will address their individual needs and preferences, be highly palatable and enjoyable to eat, accommodate any dietary sensitivities and keep your cat in good physical health throughout their life. A type of food could be safe and nutritionally complete and still not be the best diet for your cat – just like humans, not all cats will thrive on the same diet.  

Because cats are obligate carnivores, they should never be fed a vegetarian or vegan diet, even if this is a lifestyle choice adopted by their owner. Conversely, feeding an ‘all-meat diet’ isn’t necessarily the answer.  

What is the right diet for my cat

To help you decide on the best diet for your cat’s individual needs, we’ve put together this useful guide which you can download below. It covers lots of topics like: 

•  The challenge of making complete and balanced pet food at home 

•  All the things you need to think about when you’re choosing the right food for your cat

Intro

Guide: What's the best diet for your cat?

Diets for changing life stages and lifestyles

The diet of a cat and it's nutritional requirements changes throughout their life as they grow from kitten through to senior. These requirements may also vary depending on breed, neuter status, lifestyle, and any underlying medical conditions. Tailoring your cat's nutrition to their unique requirements is not only important for physical health but can also improve their long-term quality of life and emotional wellbeing. Life stage-specific diets formulated to take into account factors such as palatability and texture can enhance your cat’s enjoyment of their food. And a diet that closely meets your cat’s changing nutritional needs can enhance the satisfaction they gain from eating. 

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Life stages of the cat

Kittens have different nutritional requirements than adult cats, which is perhaps not surprising as kittens are undergoing a period of rapid growth and development. To support the unique requirements of a growing kitten, it’s important to feed a nutritionally complete and balanced diet formulated specifically for their life stage. Kittens will need feeding multiple times a day for a certain period too to ensure they have adequate energy to learn, play, and interact with their surroundings. Most cats are considered fully grown by one year of age, with little variation between breeds.6  

Providing your kitten with high-quality nutrition from a young age can also play a significant role in their physical health and emotional wellbeing as an adult. A long-term study from the University of Bristol18, revealed that kittens that were fed a diet that did not meet the nutrition recommendations set by the World Small Animal Veterinary Association (WSAVA) were more likely to visit a vet for gastrointestinal symptoms when they were older.19,20  

generally, need fewer calories as their energy requirements reduce. Weight gain will make it especially difficult for a senior cat to continue to enjoy an active lifestyle. They may also require a diet that has been specifically formulated to support health issues. For example, a cat diagnosed with kidney disease (one of the most common problems affecting senior cats) can benefit from a diet low in phosphorus with a moderate amount of high-quality protein. Find out more about how phosphorus levels can affect your cat’s kidney health long term here.  

Senior cats are also thought to be more picky or fussy with their food preferences. Indeed, a recent study showed that temperature may play a significant role in the choice of food by senior cats. When food was offered to older cats at different temperatures, most preferred and ate more of the food that was warmed up to 37°C, rather than food offered at room temperature or straight from the fridge.21 This may help to improve your senior cat’s nutritional intake, by tapping into their individual preferences (see Individuality). Find out more about feeding fussy eaters here.

Pregnant and lactating queens have very specific nutritional requirements, needing a special diet to stay in good health and maintain the energy required to produce and nurture healthy offspring. In fact, research suggests that better maternal care may lead to positive behaviours in kittens that benefit their emotional wellbeing, such as increased confidence, improved sociability, and willingness to explore (for more information see Socialisation).22,23 On the other hand, studies in other species show that malnutrition during pregnancy can have serious long-term consequences on the offspring including altered brain development and increased sensitivity to stress in adulthood.24 

Cats that live outdoors or spend the majority of their time outdoors are much less likely to be overweight than indoor cats.25 This is likely due to an increase in physical activity provided by an outdoor environment. As a result, owners with indoor cats may need to consider a ‘lighter’, calorie-reduced diet. Indoor male cats are also more likely to be diagnosed with lower urinary tract issues, such as Feline Idiopathic Cystitis (FIC),26 and may benefit from a veterinary or clinical diet to help prevent or manage the condition (for more information see Health).  

Always be guided by your veterinarian in choosing and changing your cat’s diet.  

Any change in diet should ideally be done gradually over 7-10 days, by adding increasing amounts of the new food to their current diet, up to their daily calorie requirement.  

Intro

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Clinical and veterinary diets

Nutrition can be a useful tool in helping manage medical conditions. And when used appropriately, clinical diets can improve quality of life, improve emotional wellbeing, and even contribute to an extended lifespan.  

There are many mechanisms by which these diets can improve physical and emotional wellbeing. They may reduce the clinical signs of disease, slow down disease progression, increase the amount of physical activity a cat is capable of, or reduce the amount of other medication needed to manage the condition. Improvements in physical health is also likely to have a knock-on effect and improve mental and emotional health.   

Examples of diseases that are often responsive to clinical diets include IBD (inflammatory bowel disease), food allergies, certain types of bladder stones and diabetes. Conditions like obesit...

Nutrition can be a useful tool in helping manage medical conditions. And when used appropriately, clinical diets can improve quality of life, improve emotional wellbeing, and even contribute to an extended lifespan.  

There are many mechanisms by which these diets can improve physical and emotional wellbeing. They may reduce the clinical signs of disease, slow down disease progression, increase the amount of physical activity a cat is capable of, or reduce the amount of other medication needed to manage the condition. Improvements in physical health is also likely to have a knock-on effect and improve mental and emotional health.   

Examples of diseases that are often responsive to clinical diets include IBD (inflammatory bowel disease), food allergies, certain types of bladder stones and diabetes. Conditions like obesity, joint disease, lower urinary tract disease, dental disease, kidney disease and heart disease may also warrant a specially formulated, veterinary diet. Certain breeds may benefit from a special diet too – such as long-haired cats that may be more prone to developing hairballs than other cats. More information on breed-specific nutrition can be found here. 

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How can science improve the management of Chronic Kidney Disease (CKD) in cats?

Chronic kidney disease (CKD), affects up to 40% of cats over 10 years of age and is usually only diagnosed once permanent damage to the kidneys has occurred.27 But the development of a new diagnostic tool, RenalTech®, has been proven to predict the onset of CKD up to two years earlier than traditional testing methods in 95% of cats.  

This breakthrough technology means that veterinarians can manage cats with CKD earlier and more effectively (including starting them on a clinical diet) to improve their quality of life and emotional wellbeing. To find out more follow this link.     

It’s important to remember that many of these diets need to be prescribed by a veterinarian or a specialist in veterinary nutrition after a diagnosis has been confirmed. However, there are also some readily available diets for cats need...

Chronic kidney disease (CKD), affects up to 40% of cats over 10 years of age and is usually only diagnosed once permanent damage to the kidneys has occurred.27 But the development of a new diagnostic tool, RenalTech®, has been proven to predict the onset of CKD up to two years earlier than traditional testing methods in 95% of cats.  

This breakthrough technology means that veterinarians can manage cats with CKD earlier and more effectively (including starting them on a clinical diet) to improve their quality of life and emotional wellbeing. To find out more follow this link.     

It’s important to remember that many of these diets need to be prescribed by a veterinarian or a specialist in veterinary nutrition after a diagnosis has been confirmed. However, there are also some readily available diets for cats needing support in these areas that don’t require a veterinary prescription. It’s still best to ask your veterinarian which might suit your cat best. 

For more information about how your cat’s physical health can affect their mental health and emotional wellbeing, see Health.  

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Download your detailed cat diet guide here

To help you understand even more about this fascinating topic, we’ve created a complete guide which you can download below 

You’ll find lots of important information on: 

•   Maintaining a healthy weight for emotional wellness 
•   Obesity – a growing problem 
•   Tailoring diet to your cat’s individual needs 
•   Is your feeding routine right for your cat? 
•   Food as enrichment: Understanding how you feed your cat matters,  
as well as what you feed and when

Intro

Guide: Maintaining a healthy weight for emotional wellness

Can I train my cat?

Food is often used as a successful training aid and to reward good behaviour. Cats are often thought of as ‘untrainable’ but are perfectly capable of learning (e.g., sitting, coming, lifting a paw)., the trick is to find the right treat to reward the behaviour! Training is an excellent source of mental stimulation and helps strengthen the unique bond with your cat. Training should always be kept short and fun to create a positive association and keep your cat interested5.

When using food for enrichment activities, try to use a portion of your cat’s daily food allowance rather than too many treats. The energy consumption from treats contributes to a pet’s daily energy intake and therefore must be accounted for within the daily calorie intake. Yet, snacks and treats also don’t deliver all of the essential nutrients your cat requires. 

Intro

TOP TIPS

Key points

Intro

01

Thoughtful feeding and nutrition help your cat physically thrive AND play an important role in delivering enjoyment and pleasure, supporting emotional wellbeing.

02

Food can help you reinforce desirable behaviours, satisfy natural instincts, and provide a source of mental stimulation. 

03

Your cat’s diet should meet their unique needs including life stage, breed, health status, lifestyle, and individual preferences for optimal emotional wellbeing.

04

Feeding a high-quality complete and balanced commercial cat food is an easy and effective way to meet these complex requirements.

05

Nutrition plays a key role in maintaining a healthy bodyweight and preventing obesity.

06

Being overweight or underweight significantly affects how a cat feels, how they look, behave, and how active and physically healthy they are.

07

How and when you feed is as important as what you feed. Enriched feeding encourages natural behaviour, mental stimulation and physical activity.

08

Treats should be fed with care at no more than 10% of your cat’s daily calorie intake to help prevent obesity.

 

References

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  27.   Lund, HS, Bente, KS, Finstad, ØW, et al., 2015, Risk factors for idiopathic cystitis in Norwegian cats: a matched case-control study, Journal of Feline Medicine and Surgery, doi.org/10.1177/1098612X15587955, Accessed 12 January 2022
  28. Bradley, R, Tagkopoulos, I, Kim, M, et al., 2019, Predicting early risk of chronic kidney disease in cats using routine clinical laboratory tests and machine learning, Journal of Veterinary Internal Medicine, Vol 33(6), pp. 2644-2656
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  35. Delgado, M, & Dantas, LMS, 2020, Feeding Cats For Optimal Mental and Behavioral Well-Being, The Veterinary Clinics of North America. Small Animal Practice, Vol 50(5), pp. 939-953
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  37.   Linder, DE, 2021, Treat Options for Dogs and Cats Without Unbalancing Their Diet, Available at: https://vetnutrition.tufts.edu/2021/10/treat-options-for-dogs-and-cats-without-unbalancing-their-diet/, Accessed 07 February 2022