How much wet food should your cat eat per day?

How much wet food should your cat eat per day – Once you find the proper type of wet food, the next challenge is to determine the appropriate quantity to feed your cat. While general guidelines exist for the amount of wet food that cats of any shape and size require, this amount varies from brand to brand and between different types of canned foods.

How much wet food should your cat eat per day

For instance, a 5-pound cat with a lean body type requires approximately 170 calories per day, while a 10-pound cat with a lean body type requires approximately 280 calories per day.

As a rough guide, a 3-ounce can of cat food typically contains around 70 to 100 calories. This means that the average adult cat will need to consume two or three cans of food per day. However, it is always essential to consider your cat’s size, age, and health when determining the amount of food they require.

If you want to find out the precise quantity of wet food your cat needs per day, read on.

Why is Wet Food Important for Cats?

Many veterinarians suggest that cats should consume exclusively or primarily wet food for various reasons. One main reason is that cats are obligate carnivores and are not designed to ingest many carbohydrates, if any. Dry food automatically contains more carbohydrates than wet food, and for many cats, consumption of dry food leads to obesity.

Secondly, most cats are not big water drinkers and may become dehydrated often. Wet food has a significant quantity of water in the diet, which improves kidney function, the urinary tract, and overall health.

Should You Feed Your Cat Both Wet and Dry Food?

Before deciding to feed your cat both wet and dry foods, you need to determine whether you will feed them a 100% wet diet or include some dry food. While the gold standard is to feed all-wet food to cats, some cats love dry food and will undereat if deprived of it. Additionally, dry food is more affordable, so mixing some dry food into your cat’s diet may be easier on your budget.

How much wet food should your cat eat per day

Feeding your cat a combination of wet and dry food may require some calculations to ensure that they receive the right number of calories. A good starting point is to look at the recommended daily food proportions for each type of food and divide them in half.

Once you have determined the wet-to-dry ratio, find out the calorie count of the food. Make sure you feed your cat a nutritionally complete and balanced diet that is AAFCO listed, then determine the number of calories per serving.

How Much Wet Food Does Your Cat Need?

The amount of wet food your cat requires depends on a few factors, including weight, body condition, age, and activity level. A lean, muscular cat with a large frame, for example, may weigh 15 pounds and require more calories to maintain a healthy weight. In contrast, a 15-pound cat with a petite frame will be overweight and need fewer calories. The overweight cat should be fed according to their ideal weight, not their current weight.

How much wet food should your cat eat per day

Age and activity level also play a critical role in determining the right number of calories a cat needs. A growing kitten requires much more calories than an adult or senior cat. Furthermore, a cat that runs and plays often will require more calories than a cat that remains sedentary most of the time. A nursing mother will need extra calories to produce milk and remain healthy.

If you want to calculate the exact number of calories to feed your cat, start by determining how many calories they require. The National Research Council provides a general guideline on the nutritional needs of cats:

Kittens

• Young kittens (2-6 months old) need plenty of calories to support their rapid growth. Refer to the chart above for general guidelines on this age group.
• Ensure you feed kittens food explicitly formulated for them since they have different calcium and other mineral requirements than adult cats.
• Nutritional needs begin to reduce after six months of age for most kittens as they grow more slowly.

Lean Domestic Cats

• A 5-pound cat with a lean body type requires about 170 calories per day.
• A 10-pound cat with a lean body type requires about 280 calories per day.
• A 15-pound cat with a lean body type requires about 360 calories per day.
• A 20-pound cat with a lean body type requires about 440 calories per day.

Overweight Domestic Cats

• An overweight 5-pound cat requires about 180 calories per day.
• An overweight 10-pound cat requires about 240 calories per day.
• An overweight 15-pound cat requires about 280 calories per day.
• An overweight 20-pound cat requires about 310 calories per day.

Pregnant Cats

• Pregnant cats should consume their regular diet and calorie intake until 4-5 weeks after breeding. They can then switch to a kitten or growth diet, and the amount of food to be fed should increase.
• A 5-pound pregnant cat requires about 240 calories per day.
• A 10-pound pregnant cat requires about 390 calories per day.
• A 15-pound pregnant cat requires about 510 calories per day.
• A 20-pound pregnant cat requires about 610 calories per day.

Nursing Cats

• Nursing queens should be free-fed a growth or lactation diet.
• Their calorie intake will depend on the number and age of the kittens.
• Some queens with large litters may need to eat three to four times their usual calorie intake.
• Unlike dogs, cats will consistently lose weight while nursing their kittens despite eating as much as possible.

Cat Food Guidelines

You can use the feeding recommendations on the package as a starting point for the amount of food to be provided to your cat. Some diet websites may provide more detailed feeding instructions per cat weight and activity level. Increase or reduce the amount of food you feed if you find that your cat is gaining or losing weight more than needed. Feed your cat more if they still seem hungry and are not gaining weight.

How much wet food should your cat eat per day

Three-ounce cans are a popular size for wet cat foods. They suggest feeding a can a day for every three to three and a half pounds of body weight. However, brands may differ from one another.

A healthy, happy cat must remain active and maintain a good weight.