Should I change my cat’s feeding routine in the summer?
Whether you feed your cat on a set meal routine or allow her free-choice feeding (or a combination of both), you may have noticed that she tends to eat less in summer.
This is normal. Recent research shows that most cats will eat approximately 15% less in the warmer months, even if they are predominantly indoor cats. It is believed that cats use less energy maintaining their body temperature in summer and therefore require less food.
So how best to adapt to her reduced appetite? And is there anything else to be aware of?
Is my cat comfortable in summer?
Domestic cats’ maternal ancestors have been traced back to the deserts of Africa and the Middle East. As a result, cats are well-equipped to deal with high temperatures, even if they do tend to eat less in summer.
What effect does my cat’s age have?
Your cat’s age may have an effect on her ability to handle warmer weather. If you have an older cat you might have noticed she likes to be in warm spots during the day, perhaps sunning herself in front of her favourite window. This may be because the warmer temperature helps alleviate any bone or joint pain she may have. It will also affect her appetite – a more sedentary lifestyle will naturally reduce your cat’s energy needs.
Very young kitten generally need warmer temperatures than older cats as their temperature control needs to learn how to function properly. So you won’t see any difference in your kitten’s behaviour or appetite in summer.
Will my inside cat eat less too?
If your cat is an inside cat and she has a variety of spots to be in during the day -some cool, some warmer -she will generally find summer easy to deal with, but you may still see a slight loss of appetite, that most owners wouldn’t notice...
It is thought that the increased daylight of the summer months naturally causes a reduction in the appetites of all mammals, including our pet cats.