To determine what to feed your cat, consider your cat's age, breed, weight, activity level and any health concerns such as food sensitivities or allergies.

Cats are obligate carnivores, and a balanced diet should consist of high-quality protein from animal sources, moderate fat, and limited carbohydrates.

They also require certain nutrients that are not commonly found in plant based foods, such as taurine, arachidonic acid, and vitamin A.

Be sure to check the labels for specific nutritional requirements for your cat’s life stage, such as kittens (all life stage) or adults.

To ensure that your cat is receiving all of the necessary nutrients, it's important to provide them with a complete and balanced diet that include the following components:

Animal protein: Cats need high-quality animal proteins such as chicken, turkey, beef, fish, and eggs to support their muscle mass and overall health.

Essential fatty acids: Omega-3 and omega-6 fatty acids are important for maintaining healthy skin and coat, as well as supporting eye and brain health.

Vitamins and minerals: Cats require a balanced ratio of vitamins and minerals, including vitamin A, vitamin D, calcium, and phosphorus, to support their overall health and development.

Taurine: Taurine is an amino acid that is essential for cats and cannot be synthesized by their bodies. It's important for heart health, vision, and reproduction.

Water: Cats need access to fresh, clean water at all times to stay hydrated and support their overall health.

It's important to note that not all cat food products are created equal, so it's important to choose a high-quality product that meets your cat's nutritional needs. It's also important to feed your cat the appropriate amount, as overfeeding can lead to obesity and other health issues. A veterinarian can help you determine the best diet for your cat based on their age, weight, and health status.

Obligate carnivores are animals that have a biological requirement for a diet that is primarily composed of animal tissue, such as meat, poultry or fish. This is because their bodies have evolved to efficiently process and utilize the nutrients found in animal tissue, and they are unable to obtain all the nutrients they need from plant-based foods. Cats are obligate carnivores, meaning that they require a diet that is high in animal protein to meet their nutritional needs.

Higher Nutritional Value

Fresh cat food has more readily bio-available vitamins and nutrients cats need. Produce from the human food-supply chain equates to higher quality ingredients, such as lean meats and high quality supplements that are low in heavy metals.

Better Hydration

Fresh food contains more moisture, which can help prevent dehydration and maintain a healthy urinary tract and organ function.

Improved Digestion: Fresh food is easier for cats to digest which reduces the risk of digestive upset.

Better Taste: Fresh food might be more palatable to cats, leading to improved food consumption and better overall health.

Cats have a natural instinct to scratch. It helps them to:

-Stretch their muscles and maintain their flexibility.

-Sharpen and condition their claws by shedding off old layers.

-Mark their territory with their scent as they have scent glands between their paws.

-Relieve stress and anxiety, and prevents them from developing bad behaviours such as defecating carelessly.

You can help satisfy these needs and minimise damage to your furniture by redirecting them to more appropriate scratching surfaces, such as a scratching post, cardboard scratchers or sisal mats. It also helps maintain the health of their claws.

You can encourage your cat to use the scratching post by using catnip, toys, or treats. Place the scratching post in a visible and accessible location and make sure it's tall enough for your cat to stretch out fully.

To deter your cat from scratching furniture, you can use double-sided tape or aluminum foil on the furniture to make it less appealing for scratching. You can also try using a citrus-scented spray or a commercial cat deterrent spray.

Trimming your cat's claws regularly can help reduce the damage caused by scratching. Be sure to use proper clippers and avoid cutting the quick, which is the pink part of the nail that contains blood vessels and nerves.

Cats do need omega-3 and omega-6 fatty acids in their diet. Both omega-3 and omega-6 fatty acids are important for health, and a balance between the two is key.

These fatty acids are important for the overall health and well-being of cats, such as:

·      Maintaining healthy skin and coat

·      Regulating inflammation and immune function

·      Supporting brain and nervous system development

·      Promoting healthy vision and heart function

Omega-3 fatty acids, specifically EPA(eicosapentaenoic acid) and DHA(docosahexaenoic acid), are anti-inflammatory and essential for maintaining healthy skin and coat, brain function, eye and heart health.

Omega-6 fatty acids are generally considered to be pro-inflammatory and are involved in immune function, blood clotting and cell growth. Although omega 6s is necessary for cats, they should be consumed in moderation and in balance with omega 3s. A diet high in omega-6 fatty acids can contribute to inflammation, obesity, heart disease, diabetes and other health problems in cats.

It is important to ensure that cats receive a balanced diet that contains both omega-3 and omega-6 fatty acids in balanced amounts. Mau&me fresh cat food contains omega 3 & 6 in ideal amounts to help your cats thrive.

Regular exercise is important for a cat's physical and mental health for the following reasons:

Weight management: Exercise helps to prevent obesity in cats. Overweight cats are at risk for a variety of health problems such as diabetes, arthritis, and heart disease.

Mental stimulation: Cats need mental stimulation to keep their minds alert, active and engaged. Exercise helps to provide this stimulation by giving them something to focus on and keeps them occupied. It also prevents them from damaging furniture and other household items

Muscle tone: Regular exercise helps to maintain a cat's muscle tone, which is important for their overall health and mobility.

Stress reduction: Exercise can also help to reduce a cat's stress levels by providing an outlet for their energy and reducing anxiety.

Improved digestion: Exercise can also help to improve a cat's digestion by stimulating their digestive system.

Cats have individual exercise needs and preferences, so it's important to find activities that are safe and enjoyable for them. Some ways to provide exercise for your cat include playing with toys, using a laser pointer, and setting up a cat tree or other climbing structures.

Kneading is a behavior where cats rhythmically push their front paws in and out against a soft surface, such as a pillow, blanket, or even your lap. They might even have their own techniques – some never use their claws when they knead, and some use all four paws.

Cats knead for a variety of reasons, but the behavior is most commonly associated with feelings of comfort, relaxation, and contentment.

Here are some reasons why cats knead:

Associate kneading with nursing

Kittens instinctively knead their mother's nipples to stimulate the flow of milk while nursing. Adult cats may associate kneading with the comfort of nursing.

Marking territory

Cats are territorial and have scent glands in the pads of their paws, so kneading can be a way for them to mark their territory and claim ownership of a particular space or object.

Comfort and relaxation

Kneading can also be a way for cats to comfort themselves and relax. The motion of pushing their paws in and out can have a calming effect on cats.

Stretching: Kneading can also be a way for cats to stretch their muscles after sleeping or sitting in one position for an extended period of time.

Kneading is a natural feline behavior and is usually associated with feelings of comfort, happiness, calmness and security. If you do not feel comfortable when your cat kneads directly on your body, you may place a blanket in-between your body and their paws or redirect them to an adjacent but equally soft surface.

Hairballs are a common issue for cats, particularly those with long hair. They occur when a cat ingests hair while grooming itself.

Cats can cough up hairballs or pass them through their faeces.

This cough results in a characteristic hacking and retching sounds that are associated with hairballs. If the hairball is small, it may pass through the digestive tract without causing any problem, and be eliminated in the faeces.

However, as hair is not easily digested by a cat’s digestive system, it can accumulate in the stomach and form a ball overtime. If you suspect that your cat has a hairball stuck in its stomach, or causing symptoms such as vomiting, lethargy, or loss of appetite, it's important to seek veterinary attention immediately. A hairball that is stuck in the stomach can cause a blockage in the digestive system, which can lead to serious complications if left untreated.

To reduce hairballs in your cat, there are several steps you can take:

Brush your cat regularly: Regular grooming can help to remove loose hair before it is ingested, reducing the amount of hair that accumulates in the stomach. This can include brushing, combing or even using specialised grooming tools such as shedding blades or furminators.

Provide a high-fiber diet: Feeding your cat a high fiber diet can help to move hair through the digestive system more easily, reducing the likelihood of hairball formation.

Use hairball remedies: There are several hairball remedies available, such as special diets, treats, and supplements. These products are designed to help reduce hairball formation and make it easier for your cat to pass hairballs when they occur.

Omega 3: Omega-3s help to promote healthy skin and coat, which can reduce shedding and the amount of hair that is ingested during grooming.

It also helps to lubricate the digestive system, making it easier for hairballs to pass through the digestive system and be eliminated through the stool. Mau&me diets have optimal levels of omega 3s that promotes healthy skin and coat, reduce inflammation, supports heart health and improve cognitive(brain) function. It can also be helpful for cats with skin conditions, allergies and arthritis.

Encourage hydration and increase water intake: Ensure your cat has access to plenty of fresh water to help to lubricate their digestive system and helps the hair pass through their system easily. Dehydration can lead to constipation, which can increase the likelihood of hairball formation. Mau&me fresh cat food diets are high in moisture – you may even wish to add more water to further increase the hydration they receive in their diet.

Consult your veterinarian: If your cat is experiencing frequent hairballs, it is important to speak to your vet. They may recommend specialized diets that are high in fibre or supplements, or perform tests to rule out any underlying health issues that may be contributing to the problem.

Monitor your cat's behavior and appetite closely and consult your vet promptly if you suspect a hairball is stuck in your cat's stomach. In some cases, early intervention can prevent more serious complications from occurring. In summary, regular grooming and dietary measures can help reduce the formation of hairballs.

The sense of taste in cats appears similar to other mammals, but they are not able to taste sweet stimuli.

Humans have 5-10,000 taste buds located primarily on the tongue, and also on the palate, throat, and cheeks. Each taste bud contains specialized cells that can detect different flavors  (sweet, sour, salty, bitter, and umami/savoury).

Cats, have fewer taste buds than humans - approximately 470 taste buds located primarily on the tongue. They seem to have taste receptors for sour, salty, bitter and umami/savoury.

Studies have shown that cats are not attracted to the taste of sweet carbohydrates and sweeteners. They are able to taste, but avoid, bitter and sour tastes. Compared to humans, they have a highly developed ability to taste bitterness, and this allows them to stay away from toxins – many of which are bitter.

Cats show a preference for selected amino acids and nucleotides. This is because cats are obligate carnivores and their natural diet consists primarily of meat, which is high in protein.

Although cats have fewer taste buds than we do, they have a special sense receptor, the Jacobson’s organ, which is located on the roof of the mouth.

It is believed that animals with this organ use it to “taste-smell” aromas around them, such as food and pheromones. Odours are inhaled to the cat’s tongue, and the tongue is then used to transfer scents to the roof of the mouth. This means that cats may be able to “taste” the essence of flavors and scents in a way that we do not have the capacity to experience.

With this understanding of their taste preferences and smell receptors, cats naturally seek out protein-rich foods that provide them with essential amino acids.

Our domestic indoor cats may prefer food that contains high-quality animal protein, such as chicken, duck, beef or lamb. They may also be attracted to foods that contain organ meats, such as liver and heart, which are rich in vitamins and minerals.

In addition to protein, cats require fat in their diet to provide energy and to help absorb certain vitamins. Therefore, cats may also seek out foods that contain a moderate amount of fat.

Mau&me fresh cat food is just that – high protein and moderate fat levels that helps your cats thrive. Check out our fresh cat food recipes here.