Feeding basics for dogs and cats: what to feed, how often, and what to avoid

Good nutrition is the foundation of a long, healthy life for your pet. It affects growth, immunity, skin and coat, teeth and even behaviour. No single food is perfect for every animal, but some general rules help you choose well — and your vet completes the picture for your pet's age and health.

Choose a complete, balanced food

• Pick a commercial food labelled complete and balanced for the right life stage: young, adult or senior.
• Large-breed puppies usually need a food made for them, because growing too fast can harm the joints.
• If you want to cook at home, get a recipe from a vet or veterinary nutritionist. Improvised home diets are often short of calcium, vitamins and minerals.
• Table scraps — especially fatty, salty or spiced food — are not suitable as the main diet.

Cats are not small dogs

Cats are obligate carnivores: their bodies need nutrients found mainly in animal protein, such as taurine. A lack of taurine can cause heart and eye disease.

• Don't feed a cat dog food long term.
• Vegetarian diets are not suitable for cats.
• Wet food helps cats take in more water, which is good for the kidneys and urinary tract.

How many meals a day?

Start with the amount on the pack for your pet's weight, then adjust for activity and body shape. The numbers on the pack are only a starting point.

Water matters more than food

• Provide clean water at all times and change it at least daily.
• In summer, put out more than one bowl in shady places.
• Some cats prefer wide bowls or water fountains, and drink more when water is placed away from food.
• A clear increase in thirst deserves a vet check.

How to switch foods without trouble

A sudden change often causes diarrhoea or vomiting. Switch gradually over 7–10 days:

1. Days 1–3: a quarter new food, three quarters old.
2. Days 4–6: half and half.
3. Days 7–9: three quarters new, a quarter old.
4. Day 10: all new food.

Treats and human food

• Keep treats to about 10% of the day's food.
• Small pieces of plain boiled chicken, without skin, bones or seasoning, make a suitable treat for most pets.
• Cooked bones can splinter and cause injuries or a blocked gut — don't give them.
• Milk gives many adult cats and dogs diarrhoea because they don't digest lactose well.
• Some foods are toxic, such as chocolate, grapes, onion and garlic. Read the list of toxic foods and household poisons.

Is your pet a healthy weight?

Obesity is one of the most common health problems in pets. It raises the risk of joint disease and diabetes, and shortens life.

• Ideal weight: you can feel the ribs easily under a thin layer of fat, see a clear waist from above, and the belly tucks up slightly from the side.
• Overweight: the ribs are hard to feel and there is no waist.
• Underweight: the ribs and hip bones stick out clearly.

Weigh your pet monthly if you can, and ask your vet for its ideal weight.

Frequently asked questions