It's important to feed your cat the right amount of food at proper intervals, but this can be tricky -- feeding requirements vary greatly from one cat to another. Feeding guides on the food can or bag are just a starting point. It's critical to your cat's health that her physical condition is monitored regularly and the feeding amount  adjusted as needed:

To help keep your adult cat healthy, Hill's recommends following the simple steps in this cycle:

• Weigh your cat
• Feed her based on feeding guide and veterinary recommendations
• Evaluate your cat's physical condition using our body condition scoring system every two to three weeks for the first six months
• Adjust the amount you feed accordingly
• Repeat

Switching food

If switching your cat to Hill's Science Diet Feline Adult Optimal Care, gradually introduce it over a 7-day period. Do this by mixing your cat's former food with increasing proportions of the new food, until only Science Diet is being fed. She will then be able to fully enjoy the taste and benefits of the superior nutrition provided by Science Diet Feline Adult Optimal Care.

You and your vet

Your vet is the best source of information about the health and well-being of your cat. Ask your vet to advise regularly on your cat's weight because achieving and maintaining a pet's ideal weight not only reduces certain health risks, but can lead to your cat having a more energetic, longer and healthier life.

Ask your veterinarian which of these three feeding methods is best for your adult cat:

Free Choice: Food is available to your cat at all times.
Time-Limited Feeding: Food is available to your cat for a limited time.
Meal Feeding: A measured amount of food is available to your cat at specific meal times each day.

Water

Your cat must have an adequate supply of fresh water at all times. Not having water to drink for a sustained length of time can harm your cat's health.

Treats & tidbits

Although it is tempting to give them table scraps they do not provide your cat with the correct balance of nutrients. Try to be sparing with treats, as giving too many can lead to weight gain or nutritional imbalance.

The next step

At around seven years old your cat will reach the senior stage of life. The nutritional needs of older cats are different from those of younger adults, so you should change your pet's food. Hill's™ Science Diet Mature Adult provides superior nutrition for cats aged seven and above. So by feeding your cat with Science Diet Mature Adult you can help keep her younger as she gets older.