Feline Future just completed a study re-evaluating our previous feeding recommendations for a healthy adult cat. These previous recommendations are a reminiscent of a time when much of the information provided by Feline Future was based on or adapted from other literature.

Today, Feline Future strives to conduct as much research and testing in its own facility as possible, providing our readers and customers with accurate information, which we are able to back-up 100%.

Cats of the genus Felis, including the domestic cat, are adapted to prey on rodents, small birds, and the occasional reptile and amphibian as the main staple of their natural diet.
A single specimen of such prey weighs an average of 30 g, providing the cat with approximately 2 kcal/gram (=60 kcal/prey animal). In order to meet her daily caloric requirement, the cat must eat an average of 5 of these prey animals. In a natural setting, this amount of food is not consumed by the cat as one meal.
Field observations have concluded, that most Felis are active during dusk and dawn - the time when the cat will hunt most of its prey - resulting in an intake of several smaller "meals" during these hours.

What prompted us to conduct a feed trial examining the possible benefits of frequent, smaller feedings throughout the day compared to one single, large meal, was the occurrence of indigestion in some individuals of our study group, which manifested itself as frequent burping several hours after the meal. Other causes of this problem had been ruled out previously.
We speculated that a large meal, filling the stomach to its capacity, would be digested unevenly. The digestive juices would not readily penetrate and mix with the food, resulting in part of the food being digested, whereas other portion would remain undigested. This situation creates a harbouring ground for bacteria, which would engage a fermentation process of the undigested matter with gas as a by-product.

In the feeding trail, the daily 100 g portion for each cat was divided in two meals, one of which was fed in the morning, and the other fed in the evening. Previously, the cats received only one 100 g meal per day in the evening. Every meat source normally fed was included in this experiment. These included: venison and organs, lamb and organs, rabbit and organs, beef and organs, chicken and organs.

After the first day of the feed trial, incorporating the practise of feeding two smaller meals per day instead of one large one, no further symptoms of indigestion were observed. The feeding trail was officially conducted over a period of 2 months, although, Feline Future has since adopted this feeding practise, and continues to feed its cats 2 meals per day.

In the one or two cat household, the daily portion may be divided into three meals per day - if the care giver's schedule allows for it. Although, further benefits of three daily meals over two daily meals have not been established for healthy, adult cats. This practise is recommended for the elderly and cats suffering of chronic constipation.

Also read 'Home Made Diet Troubleshooting' for more information on indigestion and other possible causes.