When it comes to feeding your cat, there's a lot to consider. Here are some general tips to help you determine what's best for your kitty.
Canned or Dry Food?
Choosing between canned or dry food is largely a matter of convenience and preference. While you may find yourself holding your breath as you scoop out canned food, most cats love this mucky stuff, and the high nutrient content in the better brands means your cat can eat smaller quantities to meet his dietary needs. But any portion left in the can isn't very tasty if served straight out of the fridge. First heat it up a bit, but only to body temperature. Dry food is easier to serve and won't spoil if left out for the day. It's also considerably cheaper.
Water
An ample supply of clean water is also key to your cat's well-being. To make the watering hole appealing to fastidious feline tastes, keep the bowl clean and change the water at least twice a day. While cats eating canned food consume a fair amount of water in their diets, cats eating only dry food will need to drink more.
Mealtime
While leaving out dry food so your cat can eat whenever he's hungry may be convenient, "free feeding" leads some cats to overeat, often out of boredom. The alternative is scheduled feeding: Two or three meals a day at set intervals is a good pattern. Feed your cat in the same place every time mdash; a quiet spot that's out of traffic routes and well away from the litter box, or your cat may refuse to eat there. Leave the food out for a set period of time (15 to 30 minutes), then remove the bowls.
Mealtime becomes more complicated when you have more than one cat, since their appetites and eating behavior will probably vary; they may even eat different foods. Use separate food and water bowls for each cat, set well apart, always placed in the same locations. Feed the slowest eater first and the fastest eater last. If one of your cats gulps down his share and immediately bulldozes his way into the neighboring bowl, discourage him, removing him from the room if necessary. Or, if you have a cat that doesn't eat his entire portion in one go, cover his bowl with a plate, then uncover it later for him to finish (refrigerate the leftovers if the food is canned).