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A new feeding plan – 'The Five a Day Felix Plan' – has been devised by International Cat Care's experts Dr. Sarah Ellis and Dr Lizzie Rowe to help cats live healthier and more happy lives.
'The Five a Day Felix Plan' recommends:
- Giving cats five or more small portions of food a day (rather than feeding fewer, bigger portions)
- Using home-made puzzle feeders
- Changing food location regularly
- Monitoring cats’ behaviour and weight
- Making sure cats have plenty of water
The plan encourages cats to climb, hunt, explore and play in the safety of their own home, activities which mimic their natural behaviour and boost cats’ positive behaviour and wellbeing.
Currently, the majority of cats are fed straight from packet to bowl providing a lack of opportunity to interact with their environment. This 'modern lifestyle' can lead to pets not being mentally stimulated and eating too much food – with being overweight or obese a problem for at least 39% of cats. [1]
Dr. Sarah Ellis, Feline Behaviour Specialist, said: "The way we feed our cats generally does not match the lifestyle they were designed for. Cats have undergone little in the way of selective breeding during the domestication process and therefore have an instinctive need to hunt. This modern lifestyle could be dangerous to pets, but by making a few simple changes to the way we feed them, we can help our cats to live longer, healthier and happier lives. The plan, based on scientific evidence, helps every cat owner mimic the conditions cats would usually contend with to get their food.”
Cat owner, Tim Lloyd, 35, from Surrey, has tried out 'The Five A Day Felix Plan' and commented: “I’ve had my cat Colin on the plan for three weeks now and while I’ve not seen miracles, he is definitely more lively, inquisitive and healthy.”
This plan has been developed by International Cat Care experts working with the The Big Bang UK Young Scientists and Engineers Fair 2017. Paul Jackson, Chief Executive of Engineering UK, organisers of The Big Bang Fair, said: “Innovations in science and engineering shape our world, making a real difference to our lives and this plan shows how they also play an important part in animal welfare. The Big Bang Fair gives young people the opportunity to discover the vast number of career opportunities available to them if they continue to study maths and science. Some may be inspired by veterinary science or the (pet) food industry, for others it might be smart phone technology, renewable energy or explosive experiments that grab their attention – whatever it is they’ll leave with a good understanding of where STEM subjects can take them in the future.”
Click here to download 'The Five A Day Felix Plan' and instructions on how to create puzzle feeders at home.
Click here to watch Dr Lizzie Rowe on BBC Newsround.