Wybór the right way of feeding cat is one of the most important decisions every owner makes. Diet has a huge impact not only on physical health, but also on a cat's behaviour, wellbeing and lifespan.
A cat's diet is a topic around which many myths and emotions circulate (also among breeders). After all, every carer wants their cat to be healthy, to have beautiful fur and to be full of energy. But what is actually best to feed a cat?
Choosing between BARF, wet, dry or semi-moist foods can make your head spin. That's why we've prepared a short guide – based on knowledge and our experience as a breeder. In it we show what the main feeding options are – from the best to those that should only be a supplement – and what it looks like in our cattery Kotki Kędziorki*PL.
Najlepsza dieta to ta, która:
Pamiętajmy też, żeby obserwować swojego kota – the fur, skin, body mass and energy level are the best indicators of whether the diet suits it.
All right, so now let us present the available options for feeding cats with a short discussion of them.
Dieta BARF (ang. Biologically Appropriate Raw Food) opiera się na surowym mięsie, podrobach i odpowiednio dobranych suplementach, which together recreate the composition of the natural food of a cat predator.
It is a diet that requires knowledge and precision – wrong proportions can lead to deficiencies or excesses. But prawidłowo zbilansowany BARF provides the cat with everything it needs – it is the most biologically compatible form of feeding.
➡️ At Kotki Kędziorki, from 2026 we switched to BARF feeding. Thanks to this we have full awareness of what we give the cat (meat that we buy ourselves, practically no additives), it's raw meat that is very natural for a cat, and we have less intense litter-box smells (or even none).
Dobrej jakości wet foods are the most frequent choice of carers who want to provide their cat with a balanced and healthy diet without having to prepare the meals themselves.
Dobra karma mokra powinna zawierać minimum 60-70% mięsa, without grains, preservatives, artificial dyes and sugar. Wet food hydrates the body and relieves the kidneys – which is of great importance in the prevention of urinary tract diseases.
The advantages of wet foods are the high water content (important for kidney health), convenience and ease of serving, a wide choice of flavours, no need to prepare the meals yourself (as in the case of BARF).
➡️ At Kotki Kędziorki we know that new Carers may find BARF feeding a challenge, so we also teach the little kittens to eat MjAMjAM or Wild Freedom wet food (high-meat, natural and with a stable, predictable composition). Thanks to this we know exactly what our cats eat, and we're sure they get everything they need.
Although dry foods are the most popular on the market, their quality can vary greatly. Too large an amount of grains, vegetable fats and carbohydrates is something that a cat's biology does not need.
Dlatego karmy suche powinny być traktowane jako uzupełnienie diety, a nie jej podstawa. Najlepsze karmy suche to te bezzbożowe, z wysoką zawartością mięsa (minimum 60%) i małą ilością węglowodanów.
Ważne: If a cat eats mainly dry food, it must have constant access to fresh water.
➡️ In our cattery we use Farmina N&D Prime food – exclusively high-grade, grain-free and easily digestible. The kittens are taught to eat it, so new Carers can continue to use it, although we recommend BARF or possibly wet food.
Some carers choose a compromise between BARF and ready-made foods, giving cats mięso przemrożone (e.g. chicken, turkey or beef). The meat is frozen to get rid of parasites from it (it should be frozen for at least 3 days at a temperature below -21 degrees C).
To rozwiązanie może być dobre, o ile pamięta się o różnorodności and uzupełnianiu niedoborów witamin i minerałów, e.g. taurine. Cats are obligate carnivores – so every step towards a higher meat content in the diet works in their favour.
They are najmniej polecana opcja. Although it tempts with its price and smell, it often contains grains, dyes, fillers and sugars. Long-term feeding with such food can lead to obesity, kidney problems and diabetes.
My na pewno NIE polecamy popularnych w wielu sklepach (w tym supermarketach) karm typu Whiskas / Brit / Felix / Kitty / Sheba, which are foods largely based on grains (with a small amount of meat), often have an unclear composition and a lot of sugar.
Every carer likes to pamper their cat – and there is nothing wrong with that! Treats are a great way to build a bond, to teach simple behaviours or to create positive associations in a new home.
Warto jednak wybierać przekąski o prostym, mięsnym składzie – e.g. 100% dried meat, freeze-dried chicken or turkey bites, or possibly functional treats supporting the teeth, fur or immunity.
Dobrą zasadą jest, by smaczki nie stanowiły więcej niż 10% dziennej porcji kalorii – then they really remain a „snack”, and not a second breakfast.
W Kotki Kędziorki*PL łączymy wiedzę naukową, praktykę i obserwację naszych kotów.
Stosujemy żywienie oparte o BARF, ale małe kociaki uczymy też jedzenia wysokomięsnej karmie mokrej (MjAMjAM i Wild Freedom) and wysokogatunkowej karmie suchej (Farmina N&D Prime).
There is no single „ideal” diet for every cat – just as there is no single recipe for a perfect life with a cat. The most important thing is to understand its needs and look for the best possible solutions in the given conditions.
Najważniejsze, by jedzenie było wysokomięsne, zbilansowane, pozbawione zbóż i cukrów – and so that the cat eats it willingly. It is worth choosing a way of feeding that combines biologiczną zgodność z praktycznością, because only then will it be possible to consistently take care of your purring companion's health every day.
W naszej hodowli staramy się łączyć praktyczność, zdrowie i jakość, so that each of our cats starts a new life with good habits and a healthy appetite.
Interested in a Devon Rex?
If you are interested in a Devon Rex kitten from our cattery, then:
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If you have any questions, please contact us!
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