We know you care enormously about your pets' well being, but we also want to help you care FOR your pets so you'll enjoy their company for many years ahead. Even the smallest variations in your care can have a tremendous influence on how your pet looks, feels and acts!

We are continually telling you about the positive effects of balanced nutrition on your cat's health. In this area of our website, we'll explain more about why we're so adamant about your pet's food. And there's a lot more to learn about caring for your pet -- from the youngest kitten to the oldest cat.

To learn about the special nutritional needs of your healthy pet, just click on the kind of pet you have, and you're on your way!

Pet owners in the United States own more than 67 million cats, so a lot of you already know the joy of having a cat around the house. We want to help you take care of your adult cat so it will experience a long, happy, healthy life with you and your family.

Special Needs of Adult Cats
A cat between the ages of one and six years is considered an adult cat. These cats need controlled levels of magnesium, phosphorus, sodium and energy to help maintain their health. Additionally they need adequate taurine to help maintain normal heart function, eye structure and reproduction.

Obesity is the most common nutritional disease of cats. Obesity is due in large part to the increased palatability and popularity of dry cat food, and the common practice of leaving cat food in the bowl for cats to eat at any time. Obese cats may also be at risk for lower-urinary tract disease. Urinary tract disease is caused in many cases by over-consumption of minerals, such as magnesium, which must then be excreted through the kidneys creating a nutritional risk factor. A cat prone to obesity requires a low-fat, moderate-fiber food to help keep the cat trim and feeling full without reducing their volume of food intake.

Another important health concern for adult cats is kidney disease. While kidney disease is the second leading cause of non-accidental death in dogs, it's the primary cause of non-accidental death in cats. To help promote healthy kidneys, avoid excessive amounts of phosphorus, protein and salt. Other common risk factors for kidney disease are age, severe dehydration, heart failure, liver failure, kidney infections, some antibiotics, antifreeze, high blood pressure, certain cancers and obstructions of the urinary tract.

Hill's Products for Adult Cats
Hill's offers foods formulated to fit the specific needs of adult cats.

Hill's® Science Diet® Feline Adult® Cats from one to six years old require balanced nutrition to maintain good health and live happy, healthy lives. Hill's® Science Diet® Feline Adult ® is developed just for this stage in your cat's life. It gives adult cats specially balanced nutrition to keep their coats shiny and soft, and it helps them avoid health risks and is low in magnesium.

Science Diet Feline Adult is formulated for the adult cat life stage and is available in canned or dry forms.

How Much And How Often To Feed Your Adult Cat
It's important to feed your cat the right amount of food at proper intervals, but that 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 his physical condition be monitored regularly and the feeding amount be adjusted as needed.

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

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

• Weigh your cat
• Feed him 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

We suggest that you or your veterinarian evaluate your cat's physical condition every few months. For some cats, your veterinarian may suggest more frequent evaluations.

Hill's has been the leader in pet nutrition for more than 50 years, so when you select a Hill's cat food, you can be sure you've made a healthy decision.

Sure kittens are cute and cuddly, but cats less than one year old have special needs and require a little extra attention. Hill's wants to help you take care of your kitten so it will experience healthy growth and development, and so you both remain happy.

The Special Needs of Kittens
You may have already recognized your kitten's unique personality, but you may not realize that your kitten has unique nutritional needs, too.

We tend to think of the early years as the "healthy years" and therefore may not give enough consideration to feeding practices. But because of factors like size, breed, age, environment, exercise, heredity and many others, a "one size fits all" approach to nutrition is not appropriate. Improper feeding can increase your kitten's risk of obesity, poor muscle and bone development and poor immune response.

The kitten life stage can be the most important time to ensure the health of your new cat. Not only should kittens (from weaning to about 12 months of age) be fed a food specially formulated to meet their needs for growth and development, so should adult cats during pregnancy and nursing to ensure that their kittens are receiving the optimal amounts of nutrients. Kittens need precise levels of taurine to help maintain normal heart function, retinal structure, reproduction and proper development. Additionally, they require the proper levels of calcium and phosphorus to help build strong bones and teeth.

Hill's Products for Kittens
Hill's offers foods formulated to fit the specific needs of kittens.

Hill's® Science Diet® Feline Growth®
Hill's® Science Diet® Feline Growth ® brand food was formulated just for this important stage, from weaning to about 12 months, and adult cats during pregnancy and nursing. It provides all the nutrients kittens need for optimal health, including precise levels of taurine to help maintain normal heart function, retinal structure and proper development. It contains proper levels of calcium and phosphorus to help build strong bones and teeth.

Science Diet Feline Growth is formulated for the kitten life stage and is available in canned and dry.

How Much And How Often To Feed Your Kitten
It's important to feed your kitten the right amount of food at proper intervals, but that can be tricky -- feeding requirements vary greatly from one kitten to another. Feeding guides on the food can or bag are just a starting point. It's critical to your kitten's health that his physical condition be monitored regularly and the feeding amount be adjusted as needed.

• Ask your veterinarian which of these three feeding methods is best for your kitten:
• Free Choice: Food is available to your kitten at all times
• Time-Limited Feeding: Food is available to your kitten for a limited time
• Meal Feeding: A measured amount of food is available to your kitten at specific meal times each day

To help your kitten grow up healthy, Hill's recommends following the simple steps in this cycle:

• Weigh your kitten
• Feed him based on feeding guide and veterinary recommendations
• Evaluate your kitten'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

After the first six months, we suggest that you or your veterinarian evaluate your kitten's physical condition every few months. For some kittens, your veterinarian may suggest more frequent evaluations.

Hill's has been the leader in pet nutrition for more than 50 years, so when you select a Hill's kitten food, you can be sure you've made a healthy decision.

If they are taken care of properly and fed the proper balance of nutrients, your cat can live a very long life. The oldest cat in recorded history lived 28 years!

At Hill's, we want to help you extend the life of your cat so you'll be happy together for many years ahead.

The Special Needs of Older Cats
As cats reach the age of seven, they tend to have more health problems, especially with respect to metabolism, kidneys and eyes. To meet the changing needs of the older cat, it's important to feed a food low in fat and calories to help maintain the proper weight. Additionally, the food must have balanced levels of fiber to help gastrointestinal health, and reduced amounts of magnesium and phosphorus to help promote healthy urinary tract and kidneys. Lastly, it helps the older cat to have a food that's easy to digest.

Hill's Products for Older Cats
Hill's offers foods formulated to fit the specific needs of older cats.

Hill's® Science Diet® Feline SeniorT
Hill's® Science Diet® Feline Senior T is formulated to ensure cats older than six years receive the balance of fat, calories and nutrients to help them stay healthy and happy.

Science Diet Feline Senior meets the changing needs of the older cat. It's easy to chew; it's lower in fat and calories; it has balanced levels of fiber to help gastrointestinal health; and it's low in magnesium and phosphorous.

Science Diet Feline Senior is designed for the older cat life stage and is available in canned or dry.

How Much And How Often To Feed Your Older Cat
It's important to feed your older cat the right amount of food at proper intervals, but that 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 older cat's health that his physical condition be monitored regularly and the feeding amount be adjusted as needed.

Ask your veterinarian which of these three feeding methods is best for your older 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

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

• Weigh your cat
• Feed him 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

We suggest that you or your veterinarian evaluate your older cat's physical condition every few months. For some cats, your veterinarian may suggest more frequent evaluations.

Hill's has been the leader in pet nutrition for more than 50 years, so when you select a Hill's food for older cats, you can be sure you've made a healthy decision.