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You might have noticed your little fur ball munching a little more through the winter. Don’t panic! This is totally normal, and cats will often change their eating habits through the seasons. Let’s find out if cats do eat more in the winter and why.
It’s been found in studies that cats eat up to 15% more through the winter than they do in summer. Other animals, including us humans, tend to do the same. It comes down to keeping warm, and that little extra grub goes a long way to create more energy to keep warm when temperatures drop.
Can I feed my cat more in the winter?
This will depend on their diet, but for most cats, it will be totally fine to feed them a little more through the cold winter months. Health is always number one though, so be sure to keep a close eye on their weight and avoid any over-feeding. Your vet will always be able to advise the ideal weight for your cat, so although a little extra is ok it’s important they don’t put on too much weight and become unhealthy. If you do up their calories a little in winter, be sure to adjust this back once the sun shows its face in Spring.
As well as eating more through the winter, cats’ fur will also thicken up to keep them warmer. Your cat might appear bigger in size, but it’s important to check their weight properly on the scales, it could be that they’re just the same under all that extra fluff. As usual, fur maintenance is essential so help them out where you can with regular brushing sessions.
Whilst it is ok for your cat to eat a little extra in the winter, it’s important to keep them agile and active. Plenty of play will keep them moving, especially if they’re an indoor cat. This keeps both their mind and body ticking and will make sure that they’re not putting on too much weight despite maybe eating a little more. Balance is all they need to keep them healthy and see them through to the warmer summer months.
