Kittens should be completely weaned by six to eight weeks and be accustomed to a regular diet of a complete and balanced growth-type food for kittens. Kittens require higher levels of protein than puppies, and also have a unique requirement for the free amino acid taurine. Lack of sufficient taurine in a kitten's diet could result in impaired vision. They also need essential fatty acids such as linoleic and araquidonic acids. For these and other reasons, it is recommended that kittens be fed only foods developed for kittens. When a nutritionally complete and balanced food is offered to a normal, healthy kitten, supplementing the diet with vitamins and minerals is not necessary. Supplementation may upset the nutrient balance of the food and too much may be harmful.

It is recommended that kittens be fed two to three times a day during this period of rapid growth, and many owners make food available at all times along with a source of fresh, clean water. From six months to one year, kittens should be fed twice a day if they are fed a canned, soft-moist, or moistened dry food. Dry food can be fed freely, filling the bowl with a sufficient quantity of food once each day.

Overfeeding should be avoided. Kittens should be fed as individuals, and amounts to feed will depend upon activity and body condition. It's a good idea to start with amounts recommended on the package label, and to use this information as a guide. Adjust the amount fed to obtain a healthy body condition.

Active cats, or cats exposed to the outdoors, may require more food in order to maintain a good body condition. If a cat becomes overweight, its food intake should be lowered. A veterinarian can help the owner assess the cat's body condition and, if necessary, help plan an appropriate weight reduction program.

Cats, like people, have individual food preferences. Kittens from the same litter may acquire different tastes and eating habits. However, the cat's reputation for being a finicky eater is usually the result of feeding practices established by the owner. The more variety a cat is offered, the more variety it will expect. With the wide choice of commercial cat foods, it is easy to provide a nutritionally complete and balanced diet that a cat will eat.

If you feed your cat a complete, well-balanced diet, he or she will have all the ingredients necessary to be healthy and will not need additional supplements.

Dry food can be moistened with warm water to help soften the food and make it easier to eat. Moistened dry food or canned food left at room temperature can become unpalatable and may even spoil if left out for several hours. Uneaten portions should be removed and discarded after one hour. As with other animals, any diet changes should be made gradually over a 7 to 10 day period to avoid causing digestive upsets.

Kittens tend to be "occasional" eaters as they take a large number of small meals throughout the day. Normally the kitten approaches the food, sniffs it quickly and then starts to eat. After consuming a small portion of the food, the kitten leaves and returns at various intervals to eat. This behaviour should not be confused with a reluctance or refusal to eat. Too much noise, new surroundings, the cleanliness of food/water dishes may all be factors to consider if a kitten refuses to eat. If food refusal is prolonged and/or the kitten shows signs of illness such as listlessness, diarrhea, repeated vomiting, discharge from the eyes or nose, straining to urinate or constipation, or unusual hiding in dark places, a veterinarian should be consulted at once.

Because cats tend to be nibblers or "occasional" eaters, they should have access to their food for several hours each day. And as with other animals, an available source of clean, fresh water is important for virtually all body functions, such as digestion, absorption, circulation, transporting nutrients, building tissues and helping to regulate body temperature.

Cats require a higher level of dietary protein and a different nutrient balance than dogs. Like kittens, mature cats require the addition of taurine to their diet while dogs do not. These unique dietary requirements are met by providing cats with complete and balanced cat foods, and for these reasons it is recommended that adult cats not be fed dog food. A cat can be fed a maintenance diet after it is one year of age. Maintenance diets are not appropriate for kittens, or pregnant or nursing females.

The average seven-to nine-pound cat (3.2 - 4.1 kg) requires about three ounces (85 g) of dry food or semi-moist food, or 6 to 8 ounces (170 g - 227 g) of canned food per day. Even when all factors are the same, two cats of similar size, age, and activity may need different amounts of food simply because they have different metabolism rates. A cat's appetite and total food consumption will vary from day to day.

The best determinant of the amount of food to feed is the cat himself. Cats should be fed according to their individual needs and the factors that influence the amount of food a typical adult cat requires to maintain good body condition, such as activity level, temperature, and body metabolism, should be watched. A good body condition is one in which the animal is well proportioned, with an observable waist behind the ribcage, and ribs that can be felt with a slight fat covering over them.

Food intake in all animals is governed principally by energy requirements. When cats are successfully fed freely, it is the need for energy that determines the amount of food that is needed. When cats are fed on a portion-controlled basis, owners should select a quantity of food based primarily on the pet's weight and body condition. If the cat gains too much weight (energy surplus), the amount should be decreased. Conversely, if weight is lost, an increased amount of food should be provided.

Commercial pet foods that are sold for particular life stages or lifestyles are formulated to contain the proper amount of essential nutrients that meets the cat's energy requirement when a quantity is fed.

Loss of appetite or reluctance to eat are not problems in adult cats unless they persist for several days or the cat shows symptoms of illness. If this happens, the cat should be examined by a veterinarian.

Dry adult cat foods contain 26% or more protein, 9% or more fat, less than 12% moisture and have 3 250 to 4 500 metabolizable kilocalories (kcal) per kilogram of diet.

These diets offer high palatability and a high cost per serving when compared to the dry and soft-moist products. In addition, canned products are less convenient to serve than other product types. Once a can is opened, unused food should be stored in the refrigerator. Total food consumption is high because of the low caloric content.