To keep cats at a healthy weight, owners can start by giving them the right amount of food. While some people may believe this involves giving them small, low-calorie meals, it’s much more complex than that. The answer to how much food and how often you should feed your cat will depend on a number of factors. Read on to find out what they are.
Determine how much food your cat needs
The amount of food a cat needs will vary based on its nutritional needs, which in turn will depend on its profile. While we recommend consulting with a veterinary surgeon (DVM), below are just some of the factors you or your vet will need to consider to ascertain how much food your cat needs and how many times per day it will need to be fed.
Stage of your cat’s life
Your cat’s age is the first thing you should take into consideration when deciding how much to feed him. The amount of food growing kittens need is drastically different than that of adult cats and older cats, for example. The same goes for how many times they are fed in a day. Feeding month-old kittens will likely require you to do so at shorter intervals than older cats.
Your cat’s current condition
Your cat’s health is another factor that will affect his food intake and schedule. Cats with certain medical problems, such as obesity and hypothyroidism, may need to lose weight to improve their health, which may involve changing their diet to reduce the number of calories they consume.
Food intake and nutrition guidelines
Your cat may be consuming what you consider to be a normal amount of food, but may not be following the feeding guidelines established by experts. Many veterinary clinics and pet nutrition experts have websites that feature general feeding guides, portion size calculators, weight- or age-based feeding charts, and other helpful resources for cat parents. You can also consult the food label of your cat’s kibble or canned food.
Your cat’s weight and activity level
If your cat is currently overweight or underweight, both the feeding schedule and serving size will vary significantly from that of a cat with an average body weight. Obese cats currently make up the majority of the cat population in the United States, indicating a pattern of overfeeding and low activity levels.
Quality and type of food
The type of food your cat prefers will also influence his eating routine. Wet cat food offers higher hydration levels and fewer calories, but cannot be left in the food bowl at the same rate as dry cat food, making it more ideal for timed feedings and overweight cats. High-quality cat foods, whether wet or dry, will most likely meet your cat’s nutritional needs in smaller quantities.
Feeding methods
The way you prefer to feed your cat at mealtimes will also influence the amount of food and the intervals at which they receive it. Free-feeding your cat – for which dry food may be better suited – may mean you only put your cat’s dish down occasionally, while scheduled feedings will involve timed dish-putting.
How much should you feed your cat? Frequent questions
How much food should a cat eat in a day?
This will depend on your cat’s age, eating habits, current versus ideal weight, overall health, and more. We recommend consulting a licensed veterinarian or pet nutrition expert.
How many times a day should I feed my cat?
The number of times owners need to feed cats in a day depends on the amount of food they need to consume daily, the feeding method they choose, and the type of food they eat. It will also depend on the owners’ schedules and how many times a day they can feed them.
Summary of Money’s guide on how much to feed a cat
- The amounts of food and intervals at which a cat needs to be fed to stay healthy depend on many factors.
- Cat owners should consult veterinarians or pet nutritionists before establishing a feeding routine.
- Cat obesity is a widespread problem among cats in the United States, underscoring the need for owners to improve their cats’ diets.
- Not all feeding routines are the same or meet the same needs and circumstances, which is why cat owners should follow the schedule that works best for them and their cats.