Energy & Diet – Tips for a happy cat

It’s no secret that happy cats eat well.

Feeding your cat a well-balanced diet, filled with the right nutrients, will see them purring with contentment.

Serving up the right foods provides the fuel they need for a healthy, active, playful lifestyle.

Poor nutrition, on the other hand, can lead to countless physical and mental concerns.

Cats are notoriously big sleepers, but don’t let that fool you.

That innate predatory instinct never leaves them, and as natural athletes they always have plenty of energy to burn through.

Keeping cats energetic by maximising stimulation – especially while indoors – is vital for their development and well-being.

Their ancestors roamed the wild hunting for prey. If your feline friend is stuck inside roaming the living room with nothing to do, it won’t be long before they’re climbing the walls. Metaphorically, we hope.

Regular exercise is a great way of keeping our wannabe hunters healthy and happy. And what better way of exercising than through playtime?

Play sessions are fun, encourage mobility, and help prevent boredom and depression. And let’s face it, playtime isn’t just fun for our cats.

Nutrition plays an incredibly important role in keeping energy levels up, too.

Cats are obligate carnivores. Simply put: they are meat-eaters, and get a lot of their nutritional requirements from the meat they eat.

The proteins, vitamins and minerals that are found in animal meat enable cats to thrive. It is a biological necessity for them.

However, for your cat’s health to truly flourish, and with it their mood, food should always be naturally sourced.

Ideally, their food should contain real animal meat, natural ingredients and zero artificial preservatives.

A mealtime menu combining these, and you’re guaranteed to have one happy cat.

It’s impossible to overstate just how important cat nutrition is.

Our entire ethos here at Encore is centred around providing the finest meals for healthy and energetic cats.

Without the right diet, cats will struggle to maintain an active way of life.

Here are a few tips – around nutrition and lifestyle – to keep the zest well and truly in your cat’s life.

• Cats actually need more protein than a lot of other animals because their bodies use it for energy whenever possible. Animal sourced protein should be their prime energy source. Along with boosting vitality, it increases lean muscle mass, and holds their bodies in supreme condition. Encore Chicken Dry Food is a meaty mealtime offering that contains 80% lean animal protein, and is made with natural ingredients.
• Fats are a superb concentrated source of energy. They help keep cats active, and bring real taste to food. Salmon, tuna, sardines – like in our Sardine With Tuna Fillet In Broth Tin or the Tuna with Salmon in Jelly Tin – are all a good source of healthy fats.
• Taurine is an essential amino acid that cats need for healthy hearts, eyes and muscles. Their bodies require high levels of taurine to function effectively, but as they can’t produce it naturally it needs to be added to their diet. Taurine is found naturally in meat and fish, which is why we tailor a large number of Encore recipes – including Chicken Breast in a Broth Tin and Chicken with Salmon Dry Food – around them.
• Cats need round-the-clock access to fresh water. If hydration levels drops, so will energy levels. A good way to sustain good hydration levels is to add a complementary wet food dish to your cat’s mealtime. Our Tuna Fillet With Sea Bream In Broth Tin has a flavorsome hydrating broth to increase your cat’s liquid intake.
• Less grains. Foods that are high in grains, like wheat and barley, can be difficult to digest for cats leading to low energy, slower bodily functions, and weight management issues. Encore Dry Cat Food is both rich in animal protein, and grain free, to help your cat maintain a healthy weight.
• Cats need exercise to stay fit and healthy. Play sessions are a fantastic work out, and loads of fun. Schedule sessions around the times your cat tends to be awake. Keep them no longer than 15 minutes, but ensure access to toys so they can always entertain themselves.
• Relieving stress. Make sure your home is their home. Create an environment that’s comfortable for your cat. Introduce cat trees and perches so they can explore, and provide plenty of litter boxes. Don’t force interaction. If you sense your feline friend wants a bit of alone time, try to avoid cuddling or petting them. Adding new pets to a home can also be extremely stressful for cats, so bear that in mind.
• Scratching posts. Cats have a natural urge to scratch. Scratching posts are a cheaper alternative to your brand new sofa, and will strengthen your cat’s muscles while sharpening their claws.