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  • 100% licensed veterinarians

What to know about cat nutrition

Learn how to keep your cat healthier through diet.

Types of cat food

Dry food typically comes in large bags, so you don’t have to worry about running out of food very often. However, it’s important to keep in mind that cats who eat dry food need to drink plenty of water to stay hydrated. Cats who eat wet food get a large amount of their daily water intake from it and may drink less when eating canned food. Look for a wet food with at least 75% moisture content.

What to avoid feeding your cat

As a general rule, you should avoid feeding your cat most human food because some human foods are toxic to cats and any human food can lead to excessive weight gain in cats. Avoid feeding cats grapes and raisins, nuts, onions, and bones.

How often to feed your cat

Kittens eat smaller meals so they typically need to be fed three or more times per day. As cats grow and begin to eat larger meals, it’s not uncommon for them to eat two meals per day. As long as your cat is maintaining a healthy weight and not experiencing any health problems, feeding an adult cat once or twice a day is enough.

Free-feeding vs. scheduled feeding

If your cat stays active and only eats occasionally throughout the day, you can leave a bowl of dry food out for them to snack on. However, some cats overeat when they have constant access to kibble, so it’s important to watch their weight if you free-feed. Feeding your cat set portions once or twice a day instead helps you control their calorie intake, but may not work with every schedule. Timed feedings are preferred if you feed your cat wet food.

How to get expert diet & nutrition advice

If you need help getting your cat or kitten on a healthy diet, Dutch can help. Our licensed vets can create a diet plan for your cat from the comfort of your home. Contact Dutch today to learn more about what to feed your cat, how often to feed them, and more.

How Dutch works

Frequently asked questions

With Dutch, you’re never alone when it comes to your pet’s health. Whether your pet needs care or you just have a question, our compassionate and knowledgeable vets are always happy to help.

Here are some ways you can use Dutch:

  • Care & prescriptions for over 150 issues
  • Behavioral health, nutrition, and exercise advice
  • Puppy, kitten, and new pet parent advice
  • Preventive care plans
  • Night and weekend vet care
  • Second opinions & follow-up care after in-person visits
  • Advice on whether you need to go to the ER or urgent care
  • Vet care when you’re traveling
  • Easy prescription refills
  • Longevity treatment plans 
  • Answers to non-urgent questions

When booking a video call with a vet, you'll be asked a few questions about your pet’s health issue. Depending on the issue, you may also be asked to fill out a longer questionnaire about their symptoms and share photographs of them so our veterinarians can better understand what’s going on. You’ll then pick an appointment time that works best for you.

During your video call, one of our licensed veterinarians will talk to you about the symptoms your pet is experiencing, ask you questions, review your pet’s medical history if you’ve provided it, and answer any questions you have. The vet will ask to see your pet and their environment. And they may ask you to perform some simple checks on them if needed.

After your video call, the vet will send you a message with a custom treatment plan to help your pet feel better, including a link to buy any recommended prescription or over-the-counter medications. Place your order and we’ll ship it free.

Our vets can provide care and prescriptions for more than 150 issues — and over 90% of cases can be treated virtually. 

The vet can diagnose your pet based on your description of their symptoms, their medical history, seeing them during your video call, and, if needed, through uploaded photos and videos. They may ask you to do a few simple checks during the call. We also offer a number of at-home lab test kits for dogs and cats.

The health and safety of pets is our top priority. In the rare case that a vet determines a pet needs to go to a local clinic, they’ll provide a referral and offer advice on how to care for them until they can be seen. 

Some things that require in-person care include emergencies, wounds that need stitches, and issues that require blood work, imaging (X-rays or ultrasounds), or surgery.

Our vets are always available for second opinions and follow-up care after in-person vet visits — so you don’t have to navigate health issues alone.

Our memberships are designed to make your pet’s care as easy and affordable as possible. Here’s how your costs will break down:

Membership: You can choose to pay the total price upfront or in 4 installments. All memberships include unlimited care for up to 5 pets at no extra cost.

Vet calls and messaging: No cost — video chat and message with vets as often as you need for free.

Medication: The price will vary depending on your pet’s needs. To keep your costs down, we offer a price-match guarantee, free standard shipping, $25 off your first product order, and 20% off your first flea & tick order.

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