Cat’s Summer Eating Habits

Do cats eat less during the summer? Yes, cats will eat less food during the summer. You may have noticed that your cat’s summer eating habits have decreased. Just like humans, the change in weather affects our cats. Even if they are completely indoor cats. When the temperatures are high, they tend to become more lethargic, not exerting much energy. When the weather is warmer, cats do not need to use as much energy to regulate their body temperature. This affects the amount of food that they require to intake to sustain their selves.

Cat Days of Summer

We have a screen porch that my cats absolutely LOVE to be in, no matter what the weather is. Unfortunately, there is not a way to be able to put in a cat door. So, in order for them to have access to the porch, we need to keep the door open. Luckily, we live surrounded by trees and it helps to keep the house cool. However, the screen porch can still get really warm, even with the ceiling fans on high. And yet, even with the warm temperatures, all of my cats will spend all day and evening out there. Just lounging and sleeping.

The only time they actually come in and spend any real time is mealtime. And while they, typically, eat all their raw food, they are not completely eating all of their freeze dried. Which isn’t really an issue being that I just crumbled the freeze-dried raw in their bowls. However, if I didn’t know that warmer temperatures affected cat’s summer eating habits, I would be concerned.

Cooling Proteins

I, also, noticed that they tend to want to eat their raw rabbit more than the other proteins. This is because rabbit is a cooling protein according to Traditional Chinese Medicine. Some cats may want to eat cooler proteins during the warmer months. Rabbit, duck, and whitefish are cooler proteins that you can feed your cats. Because of this, I have started giving them more of those options to choose from. Except for Sloopy.

Sloopy is my ultimate cold cat. He is ALWAYS cold and wants a warm place to sleep. Sloopy actually thrives during the warmer months. Because of that, he opts for warmer or neutral proteins. He typically goes for pork, salmon, or turkey for his meals. This is why you should offer your cats different protein options and pay attention to which ones they prefer to eat and when.

Keep Your Cats Cool

As the temperatures rise and your cat’s summer eating habits start to form, you may notice that they might lose some weight. This is normal when you think about it. Eating less, activity levels decreased, weight may drop. It is wise to keep a watch on their eating habits to ensure there are no concerns. It would also be wise to find ways to keep your cats cool during the summer. Placing ice cubes in their water. Providing them with cool places to sleep. Allowing them access to cooling proteins at mealtimes. All this will help your cats get through the harsh days of summer.

“Cats are connoisseurs of comfort.” – James Herriot