All guides

Live with it, guide 9

Check on your cat, month by month

Cats change over the years, and so do their needs. A quick monthly check shows what is working and what to adjust.

2 min read

The monthly check

  • Weight. Same scale, same time of day. Write it down.
  • Body condition. Ribs you can feel but not see, and a waist you can see from above. Guide 7 has the chart.
  • Coat. Note its shine and softness.
  • Stool. Firm. Note changes in size or smell.
  • Energy and appetite. Finishing meals, eager at meal times.
  • Water and litter box. Less drinking is expected. Watch for straining.

When to adjust

Feed a little less if your cat gets rounder, a little more if they get thinner.

Vet visits

At routine visits, tell your vet your cat eats home-cooked food from a recipe formulated to follow nutrition standards, and show them the recipe page's Nutritional Analysis.

Call your vet:

  • If your cat strains in the litter box, or goes often with little or no urine.
  • If your cat eats nothing at all for 24 hours.
  • If your cat loses weight on a normal amount.
  • About any worrying change in a kitten, a senior or a cat with a diagnosed condition.

During illness or after surgery, pause rotation and keep to one recipe your cat knows well, unless your vet prescribes a diet.

Life changes

  • Kittens move to the Adults Only version around 12 months; large breeds may need longer.
  • Seniors need closer weight checks. Pâté is the softest and easiest to eat.
  • A new cat gets their own switch and daily amount. The Kitten & Adult version is designed for kittens, and suitable for adults who share their bowl. Separate bowls show what each cat eats.

Recipe updates

We update recipes as new nutrient data and research are published. Recipes in your library update in place, so cook from the recipe page on your phone or tablet, not a printed copy, to follow the latest version.

Read the why