The purrfect portion: Your cat feeding guide

Updated 03/09/2024

Just like us, cats need to eat a balanced diet to stay fit and healthy. Knowing what to feed your feline family member is one thing, but understanding the amount to feed them and when is just as important. 

Underfeeding can cause kitties to lose weight and become nutrient deficient, and on the flip side, overfeeding can cause a string of health problems like diabetes and osteoarthritis. So the question remains, how much food should a cat eat? While it’s always best to speak to your vet about specific nutritional advice, this cat feeding guide is a great place to start.

Factors that affect how much to feed a cat 

When determining how much food to feed a cat, there’s no one-size-fits-all. Portion recommendations can vary as much as 50% more or less than the average depending on certain factors, so before you dish out your cat’s dinner, consider the following:

Age

Age is the most important factor in this cat feeding guide, and the way you feed your cat will change at each of their life stages. As a general rule, young kittens need to eat little and often in order to grow into strong, healthy adults, but by the time they hit 12 months of age, they’ll likely be ready for a more grown-up feeding routine. Senior cats often have age-related conditions such as kidney disease and so senior diets will have lower amounts of proteins, salt, and phosphorus to help older cats keep in top shape. 

Size

Just like age, size also affects the amount of food a cat needs to eat, and larger breeds will typically eat more food than their smaller furry friends.

Activity levels

For lively furballs who are always on the move, it’s no surprise they need more calories than those who spend most of the day lounging on the sofa. That’s why indoor cats, who might not get as much action, typically require fewer calories. 

Spaying and neutering 

Cats who have been spayed or neutered are more likely to gain weight, so it’s typical for pet parents to reduce portion sizes after the procedure. 

Health

Certain health problems can affect a feline friend’s appetite or metabolism, causing them to pack on the pounds or lose them rapidly. If this is the case, your vet can help tailor your cat’s diet to keep them feeling their best. Any sudden weight gain or loss must be checked out by a veterinarian, as testing or medications may be needed.

How much food should a cat eat?

Once you’ve considered these factors, it can be useful to have a rough guide to know how much to feed your cat. Here’s a cat feeding chart from the experts at WSAVA (World Small Animal Veterinary Association).

Cat feeding chart

So, in order to answer the question “How much should I feed my cat?” you’ll need to start by knowing their weight and the corresponding daily calorie intake. Next, check the number of calories listed on your cat food labels to determine the correct portion size. Let’s take a closer look at how often to feed your cat. 

How often to feed your cat 

Once you know how many calories to feed your cat, it’s time to work out how often to dish it out. Rather than feeding them their full daily calorie intake in one go, vets generally advise splitting your kitty’s calories into two or more meals throughout the day.   

Many pet parents will feed their cats a small portion of wet food once or twice a day with a bowl of dry cat food for them to nibble on. For instance, a 5kg cat might be fed two 80-calorie servings of wet food and about 100 calories’ worth of dry food each day. Since our feline friends usually prefer wet cat food, they tend to gobble up their wet food straight away and leave the dry kibble to snack on when needed.

Sticking to a consistent feeding schedule is crucial, regardless of how many meals you decide to provide, and aligning your furry family member’s mealtimes with your routine can help to maintain consistency. Your cat’s feeding schedule doesn’t have to change when you travel – getting an in-home cat sitter to step in when you’re away will ensure your furry friend’s mealtimes stay consistent. 

What to feed your cat

Cats are obligate carnivores, meaning they need a diet that’s rich in animal proteins to live a healthy life. Cats cannot be vegetarian, and if unable to get all their essential amino acids, they can develop heart disease. While other “treats” may be included, it’s important for pet parents to know that cats get all their nutrients from animal products.

Meet our veterinary expert, Corinne

This article has been checked by veterinarian Corinne Wigfall BVMBVS(Hons) BVMedSci(Hons). Corinne is originally from Wales and moved to New Zealand after graduating university. She started her career with a university based equine internship and moved onto mixed and small animal practice. Currently she splits her time between online tele triage and working in an after hours vet clinic.

Sources:

WSAVA (World Small Animal Veterinary Association)