Taking care of your pet is a full-time task. You are responsible for their diet, medication, grooming, and overall wellbeing. When it comes to food habits, cats can be choosy and aggressively picky. Here are a few tips that you can explore to ensure proper nutrition and healthy eating habits for your furry feline:

1. Choose an age-appropriate diet
Kittens and full-grown cats have different dietary needs and nutritional requirements. The quantity of food consumed by them will also vary accordingly, so it is important to factor in their age to improve their diet. At times, it is okay to feed kitten food to adult cats. But don’t do it the other way around, as this may increase the risk of obesity. Consult a vet to understand the different nutritional requirements of your cat. If you buy canned wet or dry foods, then go for the ones that are certified by the Association of American Feed Control Officials (AAFCO).

2. Keep it clean
Cleanliness affects your cat’s appetite, as cats have a heightened sense of taste and smell. If the food and water bowls are not cleaned thoroughly, then your cat may walk away after just sniffing the food. Foul odors accumulate once bacteria feast on leftover food in unclean bowls, and this can really put your furry feline in a repulsive mood. Germs and bacteria can also affect their digestive system, forcing them to eat less and less eventually. Scrub the feeding bowls thoroughly and ensure that the feeding area is clean and regularly sanitized.

3. Consider special diets
Some cat breeds require a special diet for their nutritional needs. Also, cats suffering from urinary health issues, gastrointestinal issues, digestive problems, kidney or liver problems, and even certain skin allergies cannot be fed regular canned foods. Consult a vet to identify the foods that you should be feeding your cat, so that the symptoms associated with such health complications don’t flare up. Special-prescription cat foods can help improve your furry friend’s health to a great extent.

4. Keep them hydrated
Dehydration can have a negative impact on your pet’s overall health. And drinking fresh water reduces the risk of urinary tract infections (UTI), bladder and kidney stones, and infections. So always keep a fresh bowl of water handy. In fact, place several water bowls in strategic locations around the house where your cat loves spending time. Cats are not great water-drinkers, so you can even try adding some water to their food. Buy a cat fountain if you want to try something new, as cat’s love drinking from a running faucet.