How much food does a cat need per day?
Allowance of dry and wet cat food per day
When a cat appears in the house, the owner has a question: does his pet eat properly and how much food does she need? The health, level of activity and life expectancy of the animal depend on adequate feeding and the size of the diet, so understanding how to feed a cat so that it feels great, is active and healthy is the primary task of any owner.
In this article we will help you understand the rules of feeding cats with dry and wet food, which will help you feed the animal so that it does not remain hungry, but also does not overeat.
How much food does an adult cat need per day?
It is important to understand that nutritional standards are determined through the physical characteristics of the cat. Don’t focus on your pet’s appetite, because there are picky eaters who turn their nose up at food, and there are farewells who seem to be always hungry.
Therefore, when forming a cat’s diet, first of all, weigh it and determine the constitution of the animal’s body. If the animal’s nutrition is normal, then the cat’s ribs will be freely palpable and not “shine”, the waist will be visible from above, and the sides will not bulge.
It is important to consider the age of the pet. During active growth and development, kittens require more food, relative to body weight, than adult cats.
Babies are fed up to 4-5 times a day in small portions, an adult cat - 1-2 times, and an elderly cat needs to be fed once a day, which is associated with a decrease in appetite and a slow metabolism.
You also need to consider the cat's activity level. Pets that go outside need more energy than a cat living in an apartment, and, accordingly, more food.
In order for your pet to eat properly, be healthy and cheerful, you need to adhere to certain feeding rules. If your cat eats a dry, ready-made diet, then calculating the amount of the required serving is quite simple: the packaging of industrial food indicates the nutritional requirements depending on the weight of the animal and its level of activity.
And wet...
If you choose wet food for your pet, then the nutritional standards will also be indicated on the packaging. Please note that wet food is 85% moisture, so don't worry if your cat won't drink regular water, it's probably coming from the food itself.
It is also possible to feed both dry and wet food at the same time, and veterinarians recommend choosing them from the same line or brand.
How to correctly calculate the daily feeding requirement
The table shows the average feeding rates depending on the current weight of the cat and the type of food you have chosen for your pet. These standards can be followed if you cannot accurately determine the manufacturer’s recommended standards indicated on the packaging.
For example, your cat weighs 4 kg, which means she needs 45-60 grams of food. It is important that this volume is not designed for one-time feeding, but for a day. Therefore, if you feed your pet twice a day, the specified amount must be divided into two equal parts.
At first glance, it seems that this volume of feed looks very small, but increasing it is not recommended. Dry food is a nutritious product, and each kibble contains the optimal amount of calories for your cat.
Please note that the cat's weight is the determining factor for feeding. And it is best to pay attention to the weight of the pet. By the way, the weight of adult cats should be measured every 2-3 months, and based on changes in weight, the diet should be adjusted in one direction or another. This way you will immediately notice changes happening to your pet and will be able to quickly respond to them.
How to measure a portion
At home, measuring the required amount can be difficult, especially if you need to measure a small volume. Therefore, when purchasing food at a pet store, ask the consultant for measuring cups, which each manufacturer makes specifically for each type of food. With this measuring cup, you will be sure that you are giving your pet enough food.
How to tell if your cat has enough food
Every cat is different, and eating behavior varies from cat to cat. Therefore, keep an eye on your pet. Don't worry if your cat doesn't eat the food you leave out. Cats are characterized by the so-called buffet type of feeding; on average, they can approach the bowl up to 20 times a day, but this does not mean that the cat is hungry. If your pet has an increased appetite and he eats a portion instantly, as if without noticing it, divide the daily portion of food into 2-6 small portions. By the way, if it is not possible to feed the fluffy little by little, use special automatic bowls, which have several sectors that open according to a timer at the right time.
Feeding with natural food
All the above feeding norms and rules apply to feeding with industrial feed. But what if your pet is on a natural diet?
It is important to understand that
natural cat food is not human nutrition; many foods from the table can be dangerous and harmful to the animal, and such food will cause more harm, both for the pet and for the owner. The cat will jump on the table, eat from the plate, and even eat leftover food thrown in the trash.
Natural food for cats implies a type of nutrition that always contains fresh meat and offal, seafood, fish, eggs, dairy products, cereals and vegetables. In this case, the combination of all ingredients must be balanced.
Only a veterinarian and nutritionist specializing in the nutrition of obligate carnivores, which are our domestic cats, can create a complete and correct diet, which will take into account all nutritional elements such as proteins, fats and carbohydrates. When choosing a natural type of feeding for your pet, remember that it requires following certain rules and patience. Since the health of a pet depends on nutrition, and many cat diseases occur precisely due to a lack of certain substances in the animal’s body.
But a well-prepared diet made from natural products, suitable specifically for your pet, can be used by the owner for feeding on a regular basis.
Remember that not all foods are healthy for cats, so when creating a diet, make sure that it does not contain the following ingredients.
Prohibited foods for cats:
- fat meat;
- cow's milk;
– bread, pasta;
– sweets in any form;
– salt, spices;
- onion garlic;
- River fish;
- potato;
- mushrooms;
– legumes.
These products can cause poisoning, digestive upset, trigger allergies, etc.
Allowed products for cats:
– lean meat varieties (chicken, rabbit, turkey, beef);
– sea fish (preferably boiled);
- dairy products;
– yolk (raw or boiled);
– by-products, plant products (except prohibited);
– some types of cereals (rice, corn, oatmeal);
– oils – olive, flax, sea buckthorn.
It is important to remember that a pet on a natural diet needs to receive various additional microelements. To do this, your pet needs to add special vitamins, taurine and other supplements to their food, which your veterinarian will help you choose.
Pregnant and sterilized cats
Departure from dietary norms is possible, but only in special cases.
One of them is cat pregnancy. During this wonderful and tiring period at the same time, the fluffy beauty needs to receive additional nutrients that will allow her to feel great and be full of strength to bear and give birth to healthy kittens. To do this, the cat needs to get more calories, the easiest way is to gradually increase the usual portion, on average the increase should not exceed 20-30% of the norm. In addition, food manufacturers offer special foods for pregnant and lactating cats and small kittens, which are food enriched with essential nutrients that a cat needs so much during pregnancy. This food is quite high in calories, but the animal needs to be switched to it gradually.
Another special case is a neutered pet. For such pets, an increased appetite is not uncommon. If your pet develops fatty deposits in the lower abdomen, becomes less active, and becomes more and more lazy, then it is worth slightly reducing the amount of food or reducing its calorie content. For such pets, various brands have special lines - for sterilized animals, which use dietary types of meat.
By following these simple tips, you will be sure how much food your cat needs per day and protect your pet from overeating or constant hunger.
