It’s only natural for pet owners to be worried about their cat’s diet routine. Especially when it comes to feeding them in the morning. Both new and old cat lovers wonder what they should feed their pets. Or what time should they feed them? This brings us to the question, what do cats like to eat for breakfast? Now, breakfast could mean a lot of things.
Cats need their first meal of the day to be rich in nutrients for a healthy start. They will enjoy homemade breakfasts like cooked fish, boiled vegetables, whole grains like oats, eggs with cottage cheese or plain eggs, a mix of rice and meat. Cats are meat eaters who can eat a wide range of human foods. They do not always go for meals right after waking up from sleeping.
So, is there more you should know about cats and their breakfast? Indeed, there is! There are different schools of thought that go into feeding them in the morning. Whether it’s what they want as their first meal or the time they want to eat. To find out, keep reading this article as we dive deeper into this topic!
Best Food To Give Cats In The Morning
To give your cat a healthy start to its day, make sure that its first meal of the day is full of nutrients.
So, in addition to a serving of healthy nutritious cat food, here are some homemade meals that your pet cat would love for its breakfast:
1. Cooked Fish
Cats love fish, and there’s no denying that. A general rule of thumb would be grilled, boiled, or baked white fish.
Try to feed them oily fish such as salmon, tuna, and sardines. They contain a lot of omega-3 fatty acids. It will help your pet’s eyes to stay sharp and as well as prevent diseases.
They would love these fish for their breakfast. But, skip salt or any seasoning, as they prefer the natural taste. Look out for spoiled fish. Your cat might not mind eating it, but it surely will make it sick later.
2. Boiled Vegetables
A healthy breakfast should always include vegetables. Though cats don’t need veggies in their diet, it can still be a healthy treat for them. Try boiling, cooking, or mashing the veggies before serving.
Raw ones might be a choking hazard, so it’s best to avoid them. Check out these best vegetables to serve cats as breakfast.
3. Cooked Meat Mixed With Rice
Cats need meat, plain and simple. They need protein to develop a strong heart and a healthy reproductive system.
Giving some cooked beef, chicken, turkey, or even lamb, along with a side of rice, will make up a nutritious breakfast and an excellent meal to kick off their day.
4. Whole Grain Like Oats
Oats are not only easy to make but also contain a lot of protein per calorie. Cats love corn, and polenta ground cornmeal as it has a nice texture to it.
Try mashing up brown rice, wheat berries, and barley as well. You can look for other choices as long as the grains are small enough for your kitty to digest. Leftover whole-wheat breadcrumbs are good to serve too!
5. Eggs
Another super protein source for your cat’s breakfast is eggs. You can serve them in any way you want. Scrambled, boiled, poached, fried, take your prick!
However, make sure to cook them properly. Similar to raw meat, raw eggs will most likely harm your cat.
6. Cheese
You can serve small amounts of cheese to your cat. Cheese is dense in protein and an excellent side for your pet’s breakfast.
However, if your kitty can’t handle its dairy treats like many other cats, then you should go easy on the cheesy snacks and skip the bowl of milk.
7. Cat food
Sometimes the easiest solutions are the best solutions. Almost nobody these days has the time to prepare a home cooked meal for their pets in the morning. Not even for themselves.
So, giving your furry friend some cat food should be enough. Just try to provide wet foods if possible. They are much more nutritious, low in carbs and high in moisture.
Even though cats are considered opportunistic eaters, they are also very picky with their food. They might not always be in the mood for what you serve them in the morning. Try switching up with the different meals mentioned above.
Foods You Should Not Feed Your Cat
When you’re feeding your cat, steer away from these foods. They are toxic and not good for your cat in any way:
- Anything with alcohol
- Chocolate
- Bread dough
- Macadamia nuts
- Onions and garlic
- Grapes and raisins
Should I Feed My Cat Breakfast?
Cats need at least 2 meals per day which are no more than 12 hours apart. Now, you can feed them during breakfast and dinner. But it is not necessary.
Cats are creatures that develop habits. We should use this in our favor by planning and sticking to a breakfast schedule for them.
Adult cats will want a regular breakfast routine as it ensures to satisfy their hunger in time. This explains why meals are the highlight of their day, which other activities revolve around. That’s why setting up a breakfast time helps cats cope whenever there are changes in the household.
Pet cats will often adapt quickly to their owner’s sleeping schedules. This means, whenever you wake up, they will wake up as well.
If it’s normal for you to have breakfast at 7 am, expect your pet cat to want the same. Remember, they are meat eaters who like to eat a wide range of human foods on a daily basis. It will not be long before it joins you while you are having breakfast, waiting to get a part of your scrambled eggs.
What Time Do Cats Like To Eat Breakfast?
Indoor cats rely on their owners to feed them. So, they will follow any breakfast routine you set up for them. Just make sure to follow it every day.
A well-organized feeding routine is something cats naturally prefer. Not just wild cats, but indoor ones also want a strict diet schedule. It will not be long until their complaints about not feeding them in the morning are annoying you.
You will hear the long yelling and begging unless you feed them their breakfast on time. It’s because cats are born with a feeding alarm clock in their stomach that is triggered whenever the regular routine isn’t followed.
Furthermore, setting up a pattern for breakfast will make things easier when you need a necessary diet change.
When your cat is used to having breakfast at a specific time every day, its body learns and looks forward to getting food at that time. Hunger can be an excellent motivator!
So, when you prepare for increasing its hunger followed by smaller but regular meals, shifting to a new tasty breakfast is often simple and painless.
Conclusion
It’s really not that difficult to feed your cat. For a fun way to have breakfast with your pet, you can choose from the variety of food groups to muster up a meal. To save time, know your cat’s daily nutritional needs and arrange your grocery list according to the breakfast meal. Make sure what homemade food your kitty likes more to ensure it is being properly fed.
If you were wondering, what do cats like to eat for breakfast, then I’m sure this article has put all of your confusions to rest. Thank you very much for dropping by. Ending here wishing you and your feline partner good health.