The Basics of Feline Nutrition

We want our feline friends to live a long life. And to ensure that they live up to their full potential, we must provide them the nourishment they need by starting with a balanced diet.

However, cats have a reputation for being picky eaters! If you’re a cat paw-rent, you might have previously found yourself in a pinch on what you should feed your cat in order to get their appetite going again. At Maxime, we’ve gathered our team of experts and collected tips on how you should structure your cat’s diet to help them live a long and purr-fectly healthy life.

What cats eat

Cats are obligate carnivores. They need a lot of animal-based protein and unlike dogs, cats can never thrive on a vegan or vegetarian diet alone. Felines are big meat eaters and for a good reason — they use protein as a source of energy and need it in large quantities. Meat also provides other essential nutrients like taurine and vitamin A that cats need in order to have good vision, a strong heart, and a healthy coat.

While it may seem like a good reward for a cute purr or two, cats should not be fed human food. Our feline buddies have sensitive stomachs compared to their canine counterparts; ordinary human dishes might be too salty and any slight change in their diet could easily irritate their digestive system. And while many cats love fish because of its nutritional content and smell, a fish-only diet is also not acceptable for daily feeding since not all fishes contain the essential nutrients that a cat’s diet requires.

A cat’s nutritional needs

To keep your cattos in good shape, they must be fed a balanced diet that contains these essential nutrients:

Choosing the right cat food

Selecting the right cat food for your babies will still ultimately depend on their age and weight. Kittens, for example, will require a different diet altogether than their senior counterparts, since they require more nutrients for their development. Adult cats, in general, should have a complete, balanced, and highly nutritious diet to meet their energy output.

Choose a commercial cat food that meets regulatory standards set by the Association of American Feed Control Official Standards (AAFCO). The AAFCO sets the guidelines for the nutritional profile of all pet foods and as long as your choice of cat food is formulated in accordance with these guidelines, you can be guaranteed that your cat food is a complete and balanced meal, perfect for your cat’s daily nutritional needs.

Try the NEW Maxime Cat Food now, which is enriched with enriched with taurine and balanced minerals to help your cat #LiveTheBestLifeTogether with you! Each bag of Maxime Cat Food is  formulated with easily digestible ingredients like real tuna to delight your cat after every meal, while giving them the proper nourishment they need. 

Reference links:

• Red Barn
• American Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals
• Web MD
• RSPCA Pet Insurance
• Reader’s Digest
• Cat Life

Frequently Asked Questions

Q1. Why are cats described as obligate carnivores, and what does this mean for their diet?
Cats are obligate carnivores because their bodies are biologically dependent on nutrients found exclusively in animal tissue – they cannot synthesize these nutrients independently or obtain adequate amounts from plant sources. They use protein as their primary energy source and require it in large quantities, unlike dogs or omnivores. Animal-based protein also supplies taurine and vitamin A – nutrients essential for good vision, a strong heart, and a healthy coat – that are either absent from or present in unusable forms in plant-based ingredients. A vegan or vegetarian diet alone cannot sustain a cat’s health.

Q2. Why should cats not be fed human food, and is a fish-only diet acceptable?
Cats have more sensitive digestive systems than dogs, making them vulnerable to the salt levels and ingredient variability typical of human-prepared food. Even a minor dietary change can irritate a cat’s digestive system and cause health issues. A fish-only diet, despite being appealing to most cats due to its smell and nutritional content, is also inadequate for daily feeding because not all fish species contain the full range of essential nutrients a cat requires. Fish can be a component of a balanced diet but should not be the sole food source on a daily basis.

Q3. Why is water particularly important for cats, and what makes domestic cats prone to hydration-related health problems?
Domestic cats descended from desert animals and as a result are physiologically predisposed to concentrating urine and retaining fluid – an adaptation suited to arid environments where water was scarce. In a domestic setting with consistent access to food and shelter, this same tendency means cats naturally produce highly concentrated urine, which increases the risk of bladder problems and kidney-related health issues if they do not drink enough water. Ensuring a constant supply of fresh, clean drinking water is one of the most straightforward but impactful steps any cat owner can take to protect long-term urinary and renal health.

Q4. What are the four essential nutrient categories in a balanced cat diet, and what role does each play?
Four nutrient categories are identified as essential for complete feline nutrition. Water supports organ function, urinary health, and every metabolic process. Animal-based proteins provide all essential amino acids, forming the building blocks of organs, tissues, and the heart, with key sources including fish, chicken, and beef. Vitamins and minerals regulate metabolism and must be present in balanced amounts – not simply present but proportionally correct. Carbohydrates, typically from wheat, rice, or whole grains, serve as a highly digestible and readily available energy source, supplementing the energy derived from protein and fat in a complete commercial cat food.

Q5. What are the key takeaways for cat owners choosing a commercial cat food?
Three principles stand out. First, cats have non-negotiable biological requirements that differ fundamentally from dogs – a food that is appropriate for a dog is not automatically suitable for a cat, and plant-heavy diets cannot meet feline nutritional needs regardless of how nutritionally complete they appear for other species. Second, life stage matters – kittens require a different nutritional profile than adult or senior cats, and food should be selected to match the cat’s current age and weight. Third, AAFCO compliance is the essential baseline standard – choosing a cat food formulated in accordance with AAFCO guidelines is the most reliable way to ensure complete and balanced daily nutrition.