Frequently asked questions

A kitten's nutritional needs are significantly different from an adult cat's needs. Kittens need much more energy and nutrients to grow, particularly calcium for the development of their growing bones. Our kitten food was created to support the kitten's optimal growth. An adult cat can eat food intended for kittens if the cat is very active and needs plenty of energy in the diet. However, always discuss changes in the diet with a veterinarian first. Kitten food is very well suited for pregnant and lactating mother cats to support their increased need for energy and proteins.

Cats have a naturally low sense of thirst, making it important for cats to be hydrated from their food. Animal meat already contains a lot of fluid in itself, and in cats' wet food, the amount of liquid has usually been increased further, for example in the form of delicious sauce or jelly. Dry food is made by eliminating nearly all the fluid from the ingredients so that as much of the nutrients as possible can be fitted into a small space. A cat must have fresh water available at all times. All our dry foods are complete foods, so they can be served as the cat's main source of nutrition. Complete foods contain added vitamins and micronutrients so that the food fulfils the cat's nutritional needs in one meal. In our wet food range, you can find both complete foods and supplementary foods. Supplementary food is very well suited to be fed alongside complete food. However, the supply of calcium and minerals must be ensured by giving the cat also complete food. 

There are many ways. You can feed the cat only wet food or dry food, as long as you ensure that the cat gets enough water when feeding with dry food. Dry food and wet food can also be combined, as long as it is ensured that the cat gets all the needed nutrients from the food. In our wet food range, you can find both complete and supplementary foods. Supplementary food should always be given alongside complete food so that the cat gets all the needed nutrients every day.

A kitten should be fed several times a day in small portions. A kitten in the adoption age should get about six small meals a day, because a kitten's stomach is very small and cannot take large amounts of food in one go. The amount of food depends on the cat's age, size and activity level. The suitable amount of food can best be found by trial, the feeding tables on the packages are only indicative. 

A few tricks can be tried to stop cats from guzzling their food. If a cat is sick after devouring a large portion of food, it may help if the food is measured out into several portions for each feeding time. If for example raw meat is given to a cat, it should be cut in pieces that are as small as possible so that the cat does not swallow pieces that are too big in one go. Also, a food bowl that prevents guzzling can be bought for the cat. They work well, particularly with dry food. 

Sometimes, finding the right food for a cat may be challenging. The selection of food is affected by many factors: whether your cat is an indoor or outdoor cat, sterilized or non-sterilized, whether the cat has some allergies, how active your cat is, does the cat gain/lose weight easily and which food the cat enjoys best. The best way to find the right food is to try different foods and observing the condition of the cat. However, the cat should not be forced or kept without food for long periods of time but rather, getting used to new foods should be done gradually to avoid total resistance. 

When a cat gets close to 10 years of age, we start to talk about an aging cat. This is, however, very individual. If your cat starts to gain weight with age, it may be a good time to consider changing over to food that is a little richer in protein. When feeding a senior cat, the nutrient content and particularly high animal protein content, as well as the quality of protein, should be ensured. If a senior cat suddenly starts to lose weight, a veterinarian should be consulted urgently. If a cat seems to be well and healthy with the current food, there is no need to change the food.

Outdoor cats often get more exercise than indoor cats and therefore, their need for energy is usually higher. However, when it comes to the diet of outdoor cats, it should be remembered that they may partly catch their food themselves. The products in our range are mainly created for both active and more relaxed indoor cats. You can also feed outdoor cats with PrimaCat's Kitten dry food. Its higher energy and protein content helps maintain the health of an active cat's muscles.

Feeding a cat is an art form. Sometimes it feels like the stars have to be aligned in the right way and the wind must blow from precisely the correct direction so that a cat will agree to eat. There is no one right place for a cat's food bowl. Some cats want to eat their food on the floor, some on the table. If there are several cats in the house and also other pets, it is a good idea to place the food bowl so that for example a dog or other cats in the house can steal a cat's food. This can cause unpleasant fights. If there are problems with a cat eating, it is worthwhile moving the bowl to different places to see if this has an effect on the cat's appetite.

If a cat is not a good eater, activation during a meal may be helpful. For example, food can be hidden in different places so that cats can "hunt" their food. There are also various activation toys available for cats, which for example drop food when the toy is rolled. If the cat eats well without activation, activation during mealtime is not necessary. However, a cat needs various activities daily, such as hunting or playing. 

Feeding an allergic cat may seem challenging. Food allergies often manifest in cats as various intestinal and skin symptoms like itching. If you suspect that your cat has a food allergy, get in contact with a veterinarian to determine which foods the cat is allergic to. When the ingredient or ingredients causing allergic symptoms have been identified, these substances are avoided in the cat's diet. When it comes to a very allergic cat's diet, you can get help from a veterinarian and from using products suitable for feeding an allergic cat.

Free feeding, or a method of feeding where the cat has food available at all times, gives the cat the chance to eat according to its own hunger rhythm. There are, for example, bowls equipped with a motion sensor in which food stays fresher if the cat does not eat the whole portion in one go. If dry food is on offer freely, it should be changed to fresher food daily. In free feeding, the bowl should be placed so that the other pets in the family cannot reach it. Free feeding is not, however, suitable for all individual cats or for all herds. In herds, food may cause unpleasant scuffles between pets, or overeating.  Every cat is, however, an individual, and generally speaking, there is no correct feeding rhythm. The most important thing is to offer food several times a day so that the cat can follow a natural hunger rhythm.

If a cat does not get the needed hydration and nutrients, this may cause deficiencies in the cat and as a result, health problems and illnesses. For an allergic cat, feeding allergenic ingredients may also cause for example itching, rashes or intestinal problems. Supply of excessive carbohydrates such as sugar or wheat may cause many kinds of problems in the cat's internal organs and intestines. 

Cats have a naturally low sense of thirst and therefore offering water to a cat is very important. Fresh water must always be available to a cat, preferably in several different places. Many cats drink better if it is possible to make continuously running water available, for example from a drinking fountain or from a tap dripping into a drinking bowl. A cat gets some of the water also from wet food. When feeding dry food, water can be mixed with the food.

When feeding an overweight cat, it should be ensured that the cat does not get too much fat or carbohydrates. High quality food with a high meat content and low fat content is usually best, but it is also possible to get a cat to lose weight by reducing the amount of food. Food should be divided into several meals rather than providing big portions in one go. In addition to feeding, it should be ensured that the cat gets enough exercise, because this helps with weight management. 

The amounts of food and feeding times depend on your cat's age, weight, and activity level. A kitten and an overweight cat should be fed about six times a day, whereas for an adult cat of a normal weight, 3-5 meals a day is enough, depending on how active the cat is. The feeding recommendations on food packages are a good start, but the best way to determine the right amount of food is observing the cat's weight and how much the cat eats in one go at feeding time.