Do you know how much food your cat should have or what foods are harmful to felines? Cats and kittens have completely different nutritional needs to dogs and puppies. There are things that you would happily give other animals that are actually poisonous to felines.

Overfeeding is a common problem with felines.  Dry food is left out most all day and then wet food is typically provided at certain times of the day as well. Cats are meant to be lean, so make sure you give them the amount of food they require. A general rule is that a cat needs about 1/2 ounce of food for every pound of its body weight. So an average 8lb cat with no special dietary needs only requires 4 ounces of cat food. Most house cats get way more than they need.

As well as not over feeding, it is very important that you feed your cat a good quality food. These should be very high in vitamins and minerals and not loaded with chemicals and additives that your pet doesn't need.

An essential ingredient in your cat's food is the amino acid taurine. Unlike humans and dogs, cats are unable to synthesize taurine from other sources, so it has to be present in their food. It is so vital that if it is missing from their diet your cat can develop a serious eye disease that can lead to blindness.

Another essential nutritional requirement for your cat is Vitamin A. Like the taurine, they can't synthesize it themselves, so we must ensure a regular supply in their diet. One way of giving them Vitamin A is by giving them raw liver to eat; however, many  owners don't like to do this and some cats won't eat it. The simplest way to make sure that your cat has all the Vitamin A that they require is to add a small amount of cod liver oil to their food. You can do this daily or a few times a week.

Although there are feeding guides on all cat food, these are just general and there are a lot of other things that you should take into consideration.  Some of the major considerations are the cat's age, it's weight, how much exercise it gets, it's breed and if there are any underlying health problems. Your cat is unique so these guides are just that ... guides.

Whatever you do, it's important that you don't give your cat too much to eat. Don't over indulge it like many do with their children.  Obesity can make your pet very ill.

Debbie Foster is the owner of Pet Beds Unlimited and an avid animal lover. You’ll find a wide selection of quality pet beds, dog crates, dog carriers, dog pens, cat beds, cat carriers, small dog beds, large dog beds, pet strollers and more at http://petbedsunlimited.com.