Over the years, tailored feline nutrition has accounted for the parameters which differentiate cats, such as lifestyle, age and sensitivities, to help keep them in the best possible health. And it is now possible to develop specific formulas exclusively dedicated to cats of certain breeds.

When it comes to feeding your cat, tailored health nutrition is the future.

Of course, every pet requires a balanced diet providing all the essential energy and nutrients they need at just the right levels, and this must be ensured first and foremost. However, just as with our own diet, food can mean so much more. By accounting for particular attributes and sensitivities we can go beyond simply providing for basic requirements and actually feed to help support optimum health and condition. And advances in our knowledge mean that diet can now be adapted not only to age, lifestyle and size, but also to breed characteristics.

Your cat’s breed can actually influence their daily energy needs. Some breeds are prone to weight gain or a large appetite and so benefit from a lower dietary energy content to help support a lean bodyweight. However, energy levels can be increased for those breeds with higher average maintenance needs. More concentrated energy levels can also be useful to reduce meal size and therefore help avoid digestive overload in breeds for which this is a concern.

What about the kibble itself?

Size and even shape of the kibble can be adapted to precisely suit each breed. Perhaps your pet is a short-nosed breed such as a Persian and finds it difficult to pick up their food. By studying a breed’s feeding behaviour and mouth shape the kibble can be designed to be much easier for them to pick it up, making mealtimes much less frustrating! A tailored kibble design can also help slow down rate of feeding (great for breeds like the Siamese who often gulp down their food), encourage crunching to help promote dental health and improve palatability for fussy breeds.

Finally, it is well known that different breeds of cat are prone to certain health concerns so breed-specific diets are formulated with a nutrient profile to help maintain a healthy physiology. As Maine Coons are known to be prone to heart problems a food that supports a healthy heart through an adapted mineral content and high levels of omega 3 fatty acids, taurine, L-carnitine and antioxidants is needed.

In addition, breed diets make great use of health nutrients – those super food elements which we are learning which can bring extra benefits to a diet. Looking at each breed’s particular sensitivities, the right combinations of health nutrients can be selected to help support mobility, digestion, skin and coat or heart health for example, helping to keep dogs and cats at their very best through nutrition.