How Much Food Should Be Given To My Cat? Feeding Chart For Cat – 2023
Obesity is the most serious health problem facing indoor companion cats worldwide.
Even pet parents who do everything they can to keep their cat’s weight under control can find themselves pulling their hair out at how stubborn a cat who wants to be fat can be when given the opportunity.
Indoor cats lead a sedentary existence. They wake up, eat, take a nap, eat some more, lay in the sun, eat some more, and so on in an endless cycle.
Like, humans who obtain their food through hunting, foraging, or subsistence agriculture have fewer weight-related issues than those of us who shop at the supermarket.
Outdoor companion cats who hunt for their food have fewer weight-related issues than those of us who shop at the supermarket. Even if cat food is readily available, a freshly killed rodent is more appetizing to a cat, and they will go to great lengths to obtain some.
Cats are naturally sedentary creatures who prefer to nap rather than engage in physical activity. When they are not required to hunt for food, they are significantly more likely to gain weight.
With this in mind, many cat owners are left wondering how they can assist their feline companions in maintaining a healthy weight.
Feeding Chart
| Weight (lbs) | Daily Calories | Cups of Food (oz) | Wet Food (oz) |
| 1 | 25 | 0.4 | 0.6 |
| 5 | 125 | 2 | 3 |
| 10 | 250 | 4 | 6 |
| 15 | 375 | 6 | 9 |
| 20 | 500 | 8 | 12 |
Based on your cat’s weight, you can figure out how much food it requires. The number of calories your cat requires for their ideal healthy weight will determine each day. An adult cat’s calorie requirements are approximately 25 calories per pound of body weight.
An 8-oz. cup of dry food is approximately 500 calories on average. So, suppose we estimate that the average ten-pound cat requires approximately 250 calories per day.
The average cat will require approximately 1/3 – 1/2 of a cup of food, possibly less if your cat is particularly sedentary.
Is it better to eat dry or wet food or both?
Many cat owners provide their cats with wet food, and others provide a combination of dry and wet food. Wet food contains more calories per gram than dry food.
You must measure the amounts of wet and dry food if you are feeding your cat a combination of wet and dry food to ensure that your cat receives the correct number of calories.
6 oz of wet food, which is a little more than a can, contains approximately 250 calories. As a result, one can of cat food per day, supplemented with a small amount of dry food or treats, is sufficient for most cats daily.
The most difficult part is that different foods will provide a different number of kcals per ounce of serving size. To get a sense of how much caloric content is in a specific food, it’s critical to read the feeding instructions on the bag before giving it to your cat.
Body Type and Level of Physical Activity
It’s also important to determine your cat’s body type and level of activity. The Maine Coon is a giant cat that can reach a healthy body weight of 30 pounds.
Some cats, such as the Bengal, are also giants. Your cat will require more food than a small breed cat to maintain their size. If your cat is very active and enjoys playing, it will require more food than a lazy cat and prefers to nap all day.
If your cat is prone to playing by himself or herself regularly, consider increasing their food intake, especially if they are constantly hungry and begging for food.
If my cat is already overweight, what should I do?
If your cat is overweight already, it’s time to put them on a weight-loss program. Forewarning: they will despise it and will most likely tell everyone they know how much they despise it.
It will take some time for your cat to become accustomed to being on a diet. Because your cat will do everything to persuade you to feed them during the transition period, you will most likely need a lot of patience during this time.
If you’re used to feeding your cat whenever you want, you’ll have to stop doing that and start setting mealtimes for them, so they don’t overeat their food.
While this will add to your workload in the short term, it will benefit your cat in the long run, and they will thank you for your efforts.
How to Assist Your Cat in Losing Weight
Cats accustomed to free feeding do not generally enjoy the transition between free feeding and meal preparation. When your cat’s food bowl is empty, they will complain and beg for food, especially if they aren’t accustomed to seeing it that way.
If you really want to help your cat to get more exercise, you can hide food bowls around the house for him to find. Cats would hunt to burn off the calories they consumed in the wild.
Hide small portions of food throughout the house to encourage your cat to work off some of its calories by searching for hidden food. A feeding toy may be a good option if hiding food every day sounds like a chore you don’t want to add to your already-full plate of duties.
They have small holes in the bottom of the toys, and the cats must bat the toy and roll it around to get the food out of the holes. These methods simulate hunting for your cat and allow them to forage for food like their wild ancestors would have done to survive.
If neither of these options is feasible, consider spending more time with your cat. Chaser toys and laser pointers are excellent tools for getting your cat to move around.
Some automatic laser pointer toys can be programmed to help your cat get some exercise even when you are not there to supervise them. However, like people, most cats would prefer to spend quality time with their humans rather than playing with a robotic toy.
To Sum Up
The question of how to properly feed our pets is one that every pet parent must confront at some point in their lives.
It’s difficult to say no to those adorable little faces when they beg for food, but the health of our pets must always come first, no matter how difficult it may be.
While occasionally spoiling our pets isn’t a bad thing, we don’t want to make it a habit of allowing them to overindulge. Some pets can maintain self-control and avoid starving to death, while others require our intervention to remain healthy.
As long as your pets receive the proper nutrition, there is no right or wrong way to feed your pets. When it comes to numbers, even if you’re providing your cat with “too much,” it isn’t a problem if they aren’t gaining excessive weight.
If you have any concerns about your cat’s health or appetite, consult with your veterinarian. They can assess your cat’s requirements and ensure that everything is in working order underneath the hood.
They’ll assist you in creating the perfect meal plant to keep your cat in peak condition!
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