"Just feed it whatever's in the fridge" is the most common — and most damaging — piece of cat feeding advice in India. Cats aren't small dogs, and their nutritional needs are stricter in ways that matter for long-term health, especially around protein and a nutrient called taurine.
Why table scraps fall short
Cats are obligate carnivores, meaning they need significantly more animal protein than dogs, plus specific nutrients like taurine that are only reliably found in animal tissue. Taurine deficiency can cause serious heart and eye problems over time, and it isn't something you can eyeball from a home-cooked plate. Rice, dal, and vegetable-heavy leftovers — common in Indian households — simply don't deliver what a cat needs, even if the cat eats them happily.
Reading a cat food label properly
On any commercial cat food bag, look for three things: a named animal protein as the first ingredient (chicken, fish, or lamb — not a vague "meat meal"), an AAFCO or equivalent nutritional adequacy statement confirming it's "complete and balanced," and a life-stage label matching your cat's age (kitten, adult, or senior formulas differ meaningfully in calorie and mineral content).
A realistic home-cooked supplement plan
If commercial food alone isn't in budget every day, home-cooked meals can supplement — not replace — a base of commercial food, with a few rules: use plain cooked chicken, fish, or egg as the protein base, avoid seasoning entirely (no salt, onion, or garlic, all of which are harmful to cats), and keep home-cooked meals to no more than 20–25% of total weekly intake unless a vet has approved a fully home-cooked plan with proper supplementation.
What to never feed a cat
- Onion and garlic — damage red blood cells even in small amounts.
- Raw fish regularly — can deplete thiamine and cause a vitamin B1 deficiency over time.
- Milk — most adult cats are lactose intolerant, despite the popular image of cats drinking milk.
- Chocolate, grapes, and raisins — toxic in quantities far smaller than most owners assume.
- Dog food as a regular substitute — it lacks the taurine levels cats specifically need.
Portion sizes and weight management
Indoor cats in Indian apartments are especially prone to weight gain due to limited exercise space. As a rough starting point, an average indoor adult cat needs about 20 calories per pound (or roughly 45 calories per kg) of body weight daily, adjusted up or down based on activity level and whether the cat is neutered, which lowers metabolic needs. Your vet can give you an exact target based on a body condition score check.
A cat that finishes its bowl instantly every time isn't necessarily hungry — it may just be eating out of habit or boredom. Portioned, timed meals usually work better than free-feeding for weight control.
Good cat nutrition doesn't need to be expensive or complicated. Choosing one solid commercial food as the base, understanding what to avoid, and portioning sensibly covers most of what matters for a long, healthy life.