If your cat doesn’t appear to have eating problems, there are common mealtime errors that could influence her health or nutrition at some point. Here are some common mistakes:

1.     Feeding dog food to your cat. Feeding dog food on a regular basis to your cat can result in serious and even fatal illness.

2.     Placing food too close to the litter box. A cat’s survival instinct tells her that it’s not safe to eat where she eliminates. If you put the food bowl near the litter, you may drive the cat to seek other locations for elimination.

3.     Feeding cold food. Canned food served right from the refrigerator has little aroma which may discourage kitty from eating. Cold food is harder on the stomach as well. Cats prefer food at room temperature or warmed slightly.

4.     Feeding table scraps or special foods. Supplementing the diet with tidbits of rich foods with high taste appeal can create finicky eating. Your cat may then refuse her regular diet. Supplementing the diet also throws off the nutritional balance. If you’re feeding good quality cat food then it has the balanced nutrition your kitty needs.

5.     Incomplete homemade diet. Unless you’ve received the proper education from your veterinarian and you know exactly what your cat needs in proper proportions, then feeding a homemade diet will put her at risk for serious deficiencies.

6.     Abrupt changes in food. While variety can be helpful in avoiding fixed food preferences, abrupt changes can create food rejection and potential intestinal problems. Transition to new food over several days.

7.     Stressful locations. Don’t place feeding stations in high-traffic areas or where the cat may feel threatened.

For more specifics refer to the book Starting from Scratch.

© 2009 Cat Behavior Associates, LLC