How cats are fed affects their physical health, psychological welfare, and behaviour; evidence-based feeding practices prevent obesity, stress, and dental disease while promoting natural behaviour.
Cat feeding management is a welfare decision with implications for body weight, dental health, hydration, and psychological wellbeing. The bowl of dry food left out all day is convenient for owners but drives obesity in many cats and provides no hunting stimulation. Portioned wet food meals with additional water sources, supplemented by food puzzles for foraging expression, provides a feeding programme aligned with feline physiology and behaviour. The investment in welfare-appropriate feeding prevents the obesity and dehydration-related disease that affect a significant proportion of pet cats.