How to Feed Your Adult Cat: Expert Tips for a Healthy Life

Guida all'alimentazione del gatto adulto: consigli e cose da sapere
From energy requirements to the best ingredients: everything you need to know about adult cat nutrition to help your feline stay healthy, active, and happy every day.

For a cat, mealtime is a true ritual. And for us, as loving pet parents, it's the perfect opportunity to care for their wellbeing, supporting their daily health and vitality. While the first few months of a kitten’s life are all about growth, things start to change as they reach adulthood—and we must adapt accordingly!
What changes compared to kitten nutrition? What should an adult cat eat? And how do you manage their diet if they’re sterilised or less active?
This guide answers all these questions with practical tips, nutritional guidance and a curated selection of Oasy products designed to support your cat through this important life stage.
 

Why is adult cat nutrition different from kitten nutrition?

Each stage of a cat’s life comes with distinct nutritional needs. After a period of fast and intense growth, their body enters a new phase where it becomes essential to balance energy intake with actual energy use.
An adult cat’s diet is therefore quite different from that of a 2-month-old kitten: the recommended daily calorie intake changes and the focus shifts to maintaining optimal weight, supporting digestive health and ensuring the proper function of organs and tissues.
 
What’s more, the metabolism slows down, activity levels may decrease (especially for indoor cats), and key aspects such as digestion, hydration, and weight control become increasingly important. In short: adult cats don’t need “less” food—they need food tailored to their age and lifestyle.
 

What are the nutritional needs of an adult cat?

A well-balanced diet starts with a solid understanding of your cat’s individual nutritional requirements, which vary depending on weight, breed, lifestyle and overall health. For instance, an active outdoor cat has very different needs from a sterilised indoor cat.
Still, in general, a healthy adult cat requires:

  • High-quality animal proteins. As obligate carnivores, cats rely on premium animal proteins to maintain muscle mass and support the function of vital organs. At Oasy, meat or fish is always the first ingredient in our recipes, reflecting your cat’s natural needs. Our dry food is also enriched with taurine, an essential amino acid that supports metabolism, digestion, heart health and vision.
  • A balanced intake of Omega-6 and Omega-3 fatty acids, which help promote healthy skin and a soft, shiny coat. These nutrients are also crucial for hair regeneration and skin integrity.
  • Fibre to support digestion and intestinal transit. Certain fibre sources (such as malt extract and vegetable fibres, as in our Lifestage Adult Hairball) can also help limit hairball formation, particularly in long-haired cats.
  • Vitamins and minerals that help strengthen the immune system, support bones, protect the eyes, heart and kidneys, and contribute to overall wellbeing.

Nutrition for sterilised adult cats: what changes?

Sterilisation is a major life event that brings significant changes to your cat’s metabolism and nutritional needs. Sterilised cats often move less, have increased appetite and burn fewer calories, putting them at a higher risk of weight gain—especially if they live indoors or have limited physical activity. They may also be more prone to urinary issues and kidney stones, which should not be overlooked. However, it’s important to note that not all sterilised cats experience these issues; many remain perfectly healthy and active.
To support their wellbeing, consider choosing a specific formula for sterilised cats, with reduced calorie content, ingredients that promote satiety and functional components that support urinary health and balanced pH.
 

Practical tips for feeding your adult cat

Beyond food quality, daily habits make a real difference.
When it comes to portion size, the golden rule is: keep it balanced. Feeding amounts should be tailored to your cat: overfeeding—even with high-quality food—can lead to weight gain, while underfeeding can weaken the immune system and affect overall health. At Oasy, we clearly display recommended feeding guidelines on our packaging to help you make informed choices.
As for the choice between dry and wet food, it’s useful to remember that these options can complement each other. Dry food provides essential daily nutrition, while wet food helps maintain hydration, adds variety and makes meals more appealing.

You can also opt for complete wet meals that meet daily nutritional needs while offering your cat a tasty, satisfying experience. Each cat has different preferences, routines and dietary needs, so the right balance between dry and wet food may vary. What matters most is choosing high-quality ingredients and the right portion sizes.

Other useful tips include serving meals at consistent times, providing a quiet, stress-free feeding environment and monitoring your cat’s overall condition regularly. Pay attention to their weight, coat, energy levels and behaviour—these are key indicators of whether their diet is working.
Want to take mealtime to the next level? Check out our tips on how to make your cat truly happy at mealtime.
 

How to read labels and choose quality food for your adult cat

Choosing the right food for your adult cat means learning to read labels with care. That’s where you’ll find the real insight into an ingredient list, nutritional balance, and overall quality. Here’s what to look for:

  • Ingredient list: by law, ingredients must be listed in descending order of quantity. That means the first ingredients are present in the highest amount. Quality products will have fresh meat or fish listed first.
  • Nutritional balance: a complete food must offer the right combination of proteins, fats, fibre, vitamins and minerals to support the health of an adult cat. Excess fat or carbs can lead to weight issues and poor digestion, while a lack of protein can weaken muscle mass.
  • Absence of unnecessary additives: choose natural ingredients and avoid products with GMOs, artificial colours or chemical preservatives, which don’t add nutritional value and can negatively impact long-term health or create bad eating habits.

Oasy’s tailored solutions for your adult cat

Every cat is unique. That’s why at Oasy we offer a range of foods specifically formulated to meet the needs of adult cats, including sterilised cats. All our recipes focus on natural ingredients, digestibility and premium nutritional value, and include:

  • Dry food for adult cats (including grain-free options), made with high-quality meat, natural ingredients and well-balanced recipes that help maintain ideal weight, support digestion and strengthen the immune system.
  • Wet food for adult cats, complete and complementary recipes ideal for diversifying your cat’s diet and supporting daily hydration.
  • Snacks for adult cats: delicious bites and creamy mousses perfect for pampering your cat or rewarding good behaviour.

A balanced diet is more than just nutrition—it’s a form of love and care. And like all care, it requires attention and awareness. There’s no single way to say “I love you”, but choosing the right food for your adult cat each day is undoubtedly one of the most meaningful.

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