Cat Nutrition: What Every Owner Should Know

At Brigite’s Bengals, nutrition isn’t an afterthought — it’s part of our entire philosophy.
While our book Feed the Cat…Better focuses on homemade cat food and structured recipes, this page is designed to give you something different: a high-level education on how to think about feline nutrition in the real world, how to set up your home feeding environment, and practical insights we’ve learned from raising generations of Bengals and other breeds.

Why Nutrition Matters for Bengals (and Every Cat)

Bengals are high-energy, athletic cats. They burn more calories, move more, and tend to show you quickly if something in their diet isn’t working. But underneath the spots, Bengals and other cats share the same core needs:

High animal protein (they’re obligate carnivores)
Moisture-rich food (they’re not big water drinkers)
Clear ingredient lists (no mystery “meat by-products” and fillers)
Consistent feeding routine (blood sugar and behaviour stay balanced)

We see the difference daily in our cattery in Calgary: when food is fresh, species-appropriate, and consistent, cats simply do better.

Bengals vs Other Breeds – Do They Need a Special Diet?

Short answer: Bengals don’t need a “special” food brand. They need the same fundamentals as every cat—but they often need:

More frequent meals (3–4 small meals a day instead of 1–2)
Higher quality protein to match their energy output
Extra hydration to support kidneys, joints, and digestion

The cooked, homemade style we use is suitable for all cat breeds, not just Bengals. If you’ve landed on this page with a domestic shorthair, Ragdoll, Maine Coon, or rescue tabby—the principles here still apply.

Fresh, Cooked Food vs Kibble vs Raw

There is no one “perfect” way to feed every cat, but this is the approach we use and recommend:

Why We Prioritize Cooked, Homemade Food

We favour cooked homemade meals built on:

Fresh meats (chicken, turkey, beef, fish, rabbit, egg)
Simple add-ins (pumpkin, squash, gentle grains, selected veggies)
Vet-approved supplements (especially taurine and omegas)

Benefits of this approach:

You control the ingredients
Pathogens are reduced by cooking
Meals can be tailored for digestion, skin, coat, weight, kidneys, etc.

On this site and in our book Feed the Cat…Better, we focus on cooked, vet-guided homemade meals, not raw feeding.

Where Kibble and Canned Food Fit

Good quality wet food can work alongside homemade meals, especially for hydration.
Dry food is convenient, but many cats do best when it’s reduced to a smaller part of the diet or used as a supplement/treat—not the entire menu.

If you’re switching from an all-kibble diet to fresh or homemade, do it slowly over 7–10 days and talk to your vet if your cat has any existing health issues.

What a Balanced Cat Bowl Looks Like

A typical balanced meal for most healthy adult cats should include:

Animal protein as the star
- Chicken, turkey, beef, lamb, rabbit, fish, egg
Healthy fats
- Fish oil, flaxseed oil, or other cat-safe oils for skin and coat
Moisture
- Broth, water, pumpkin, hydrating vegetables like zucchini
Targeted fiber
- Pumpkin, sweet potato, peas, or oat bran to support digestion
Key supplements
- Especially taurine; often omega-3s and specific vitamins depending on the recipe

In Feed the Cat…Better, each recipe is written in plain language, with:

Exact quantities
Clear prep and cooking steps
Storage notes
A quick “benefits” summary (e.g., hairball support, tummy support, urinary comfort)

You don’t have to guess what goes in the bowl or why.

The Foundation of a Healthy Cat Starts Before the Food Bowl

Nutrition begins long before the first ingredient hits the plate. These are the often-ignored elements that shape a cat’s relationship with food:

Feeding Environment Matters

Cats eat best when:

Their bowl is away from the litter box
There’s no food competition from other pets
Noise, guest traffic, and smells are minimized

A calm space = a cat that actually finishes meals.

Meal Timing Affects Behaviour

Beyond calories, timing regulates:

Energy bursts
Anxiety
Sleep patterns
Aggression and over-vocalizing

This page covers the “why.”
.

The Three Core Principles We Use for Bengals

These principles apply to all breeds, but Bengals especially thrive on them:

1. Rotation Without Chaos

Many owners rotate foods too quickly. Cats need gradual transitions and consistency.
We practice controlled rotation: slowly introducing new proteins over weeks, not days.

2. Hydration as a Non-Negotiable

Cats evolved in deserts — they don’t naturally drink enough.
We focus on moisture-based meals, but we also use:

Broth cubes
Watered-down wet food
Hydration “boosters” for picky drinkers

3. Texture-Based Feeding

Some cats prefer:

Shredded
Minced
Pâté
Chunky
Soupy

Choosing the wrong texture can make a cat “picky” — even if the ingredients are right.

These insights are NOT the recipes — those live in the book.

Signs Your Cat’s Diet Isn’t Working

These aren’t the usual “coat dullness” or “vomiting” symptoms you see everywhere online.
These are subtle breeder-level signs almost no one talks about:

Sudden clinginess or over-affection
Random zoomies at night
Pawing at water bowls
Sleeping immediately after meals
Excessive grooming of belly or legs
Swallowing loudly after eating
Hesitating before jumping

Each sign points to different dietary gaps: hydration, protein balance, digestion, or meal timing.

The book covers how to fix these issues with food structure and homemade recipes — but these signs help you identify them early.

What Your Vet Wants You to Know (But Can’t Teach in a 10-Minute Visit)

Veterinarians agree on the basics, but your day-to-day routine makes or breaks nutrition.

Here are the “unspoken” truths:

Cats do best on routine more than variety
Overfeeding happens in tablespoons, not cups
Hairballs are often a fiber + hydration issue
Many behavioral problems start with unstable blood sugar
Too many mixed textures confuses digestion
Cats hide discomfort — by the time they show symptoms, it’s already severe

This page teaches awareness.
The book gives you solutions.

What We Feed Our Own Cats

Here’s the simplified structure we follow at the cattery:

A protein-forward main meal
A hydration-focused second meal
A light third meal (Bengals especially benefit)
Controlled add-ins like omegas or pumpkin
Treats with purpose (freeze-dried protein or broth chips)

We don’t list recipes here — that’s entirely what the book is for — but this section shows your framework.

Nutrition Questions We’re Asked Every Week

“How do I start introducing homemade food?”

There are safe and unsafe ways to transition cats — timing and ratios matter.
We cover the full 7–10 day method in the book.

“What supplements does my cat actually need?”

Most cats only need a few key additions.
We explain taurine, omegas, and safe dosing inside the book.

“How do I prevent urinary or digestive issues?”

See your vet! Moisture + meal structure beats dry food tweaks.
The book includes full functional meals for urinary support, tummy reset, hairballs, allergies, and weight management.

“How much should I feed my Bengal vs my house cat?”

Portion charts vary by weight, age, and activity.
The full portion and measurement guide is in the book.

Ready to Feed Your Cat Better?

If this page gives you the why,
our book gives you the how.

It includes:

26 vet-approved cooked recipes
A 7-day starter plan
Functional meals for common cat issues
Pantry lists
Exact measurements
Step-by-step instructions
Ingredient guidance

Final Note From Our Cattery

Feeding cats well is simple — once you understand the rhythm.
Our Bengals, rescues, and family pets all thrive on the same principles: routine, moisture, and meals built on real, clean ingredients.

Use this page as your starting point.
Let the book guide the rest.