A Pet Care Guide For Cats

A Pet Care Guide For Cats

Information provided by Hill's Science Diet

At Hill's, we understand the bond you have with your cat. That's why we balance nutrients for your cat's optimal health. We want to help you take care of your adult cat so it will experience a long, happy and healthy life with you and your family.

Special Needs of Adult Cats

A cat between the ages of one and six years is considered an adult cat. These cats need controlled levels of magnesium, phosphorus, sodium and energy to help maintain their health. Additionally they need adequate taurine to help maintain normal heart function, eye structure and reproduction.

Obesity is the most common nutritional disorder among cats. Obesity is due in large part to the increased palatability and popularity of dry cat food, and the common practice of leaving cat food in the bowl for cats to eat at any time. Obese cats may also be at risk for lower-urinary tract disease. Urinary tract disease is caused in many cases by over-consumption of minerals, such as magnesium, which must then be excreted through the kidneys creating a nutritional risk factor. A cat prone to obesity requires a low-fat, moderate-fiber food to help keep the cat trim and feeling full without reducing their volume of food intake.

Another important health concern for adult cats is kidney disease. While kidney disease is the second leading cause of non-accidental death in dogs, it's the primary cause of non-accidental death in cats. To help promote kidney health, we formulate our foods to avoid excessive amounts of phosphorus, protein and salt.

Other common risk factors for kidney disease are:

age
severe dehydration
heart failure
liver failure
kidney infections
some antibiotics
antifreeze
high blood pressure
certain cancers
obstructions of the urinary tract

Hill's^® Science Diet^® Feline Adult

Cats from one to six years old require balanced nutrition to maintain good health and live happy lives. Hill's^® Science Diet^® Feline Adult is developed just for this stage in your cat's life. Your adult cat will not only develop a coat that is shiny and soft, but also a healthy defense against the risk of disease during the adult cat lifestage.

How Much and How Often to Feed Your Adult Cat

It's important to feed your cat the right amount of food at the right time, but that can be tricky because feeding requirements vary from one cat to another. Feeding guides on the food can or bag are just a starting point. You'll need to monitor your cat's physical condition regularly, and adjust the feeding amount as needed.

Ask your veterinarian which of these three feeding methods is best for your cat:

Free Choice: Food is available to your cat at all times
Time-Limited Feeding: Food is available to your cat for a limited time
Food-Limited Feeding: A measured amount of food is available to your cat each day

Hill's recommends following the simple steps in this cycle:

Weigh your cat
Feed based on the feeding guide and your veterinarian's recommendations
Evaluate your cat's physical condition using our body condition scoring system every two to three weeks for the first six months
Adjust the amount you feed accordingly
Repeat the cycle

We suggest that you and your veterinarian evaluate your cat's physical condition every few months. For some cats, your veterinarian may suggest more frequent evaluations.

Hill's has been the leader in pet nutrition for more than 50 years, so when you select a Hill's cat food, you can be sure you've made a healthy decision.