The amount of food your cat requires. How much to feed your cat
“Fat Cats” don’t just refer to corrupt politicians. If your cat seems a little too round for her own good, it’s time to reexamine how much you’re feeding her.
Along with the type of food you give your cat, you must establish how much of it she requires each day. The amount of nutrients your cat needs will ultimately rely on factors such as age, size, health state, how frequently she moves, metabolic rate, and even the temperature in her environment.
Determining how much to feed your cat also becomes more difficult when you consider the likelihood that the same volume of several meals may have varied amounts of calories and nutrients.
To get a general idea of how much food you should give your cat each day, read the following instructions.
Read the feeding directions on the label of the cat food before you begin
Look for the feeding recommendations on the product’s packaging to obtain a basic sense of how much food your cat will need. These suggestions will be weight-based and will outline the daily amount of food you should give your cat, not how much at each meal.
There are other steps you should take to ensure you’re feeding your cat the right amount of food, even though this is a great place to start.
Cats have a higher caloric need than adults
According to Cornell University College of Veterinary Medicine, a kitten will need more food per pound of weight in order to grow big and healthy, so you’ll need to feed your kitten more frequently each day.
Generally speaking, kittens under the age of six months may need three meals each day, although those over that age may be fine with two. Adult cats one year of age and older, as well as senior cats seven years of age and older, may continue on this plan.
Examine the physical health of your pet
You should examine your pet’s body condition every few weeks so you may adjust how much food you’re giving them as needed. This can help you work out the ideal food intake to maintain the physical health of your pet. Your cat shouldn’t be overweight or too big.
To check your cat’s health, look at her ribs. Put your thumbs on your pet’s spine and spread your hands over her ribcage. You should be able to feel the ribs of your cat, and there should be a thin layer of fat covering them. If you can feel the ribs too much in your cat, it is underweight; if not, it is overweight.
Next, take a look at your cat’s abdomen by looking at the side of its body. The perfect location for it would be under her ribcage, where you might discover it. You may be certain that your cat has a waistline hidden beneath her ribs even from above. If there is too much tucking and a small waistline, your cat needs to gain weight. If your cat is too skinny, it is overweight.
When feeding wet foods, reduce the amount of dry food.
If you feed your cat both dry and wet food during the day and you notice that your feline buddy needs to lose some weight, you can reduce the amount of dry food you offer them.
Several Typical Feeding Mistakes
Many pet owners make the error of overfeeding. Even though every pet is different, a cat generally needs between 24 and 35 calories per pound each day. Cats who overeat and are also extremely sedentary will gain weight. Don’t overfeed your cat and make sure she receives the activity she needs to stay healthy.
Another technique to stop overeating, particularly if your cat lacks self-control, is to offer free feeding. Multiple small meals given to your cat throughout the day may help you better control how much she consumes and may even lessen her appetite.
Talk to Your Vet
The easiest way to determine the precise amount of food to feed your cat each day is to speak with your veterinarian. Your veterinarian is the expert on your cat and can advise you on what will be most beneficial for your cat specifically, particularly if your kitty has a health problem.
