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How much to feed a cat depends mostly on its ideal weight. The World Small Animal Veterinary Association (WSAVA) estimates that an average healthy 4 kg adult cat needs about 225 to 250 kilocalories a day (the "calories" on a food label). You turn that into portions using the calorie content printed on your cat's food, then adjust by watching your cat's shape.
Every cat's a bit different, and WSAVA says its figures are guidance only. Below you'll find the calorie table, a simple way to split the day between wet and dry food, how often to feed, and how to check your cat's weight at home. Your vet sets the final number.
How much to feed a cat by weight
Feed by calories for your cat's ideal weight. WSAVA publishes a chart of daily calorie needs for an average healthy adult cat in ideal body condition, and these are some of its rows:
| Ideal weight | Kilocalories per day |
|---|---|
| 2 kg (4.4 lb) | 160 to 170 |
| 3 kg (6.6 lb) | 200 to 210 |
| 4 kg (8.8 lb) | 225 to 250 |
| 5 kg (11 lb) | 250 to 290 |
| 6 kg (13.2 lb) | 265 to 330 |
If your cat is overweight, use its ideal weight, not its current weight. Ask your vet what that ideal weight is.
This table is for healthy adults only. Kittens, pregnant or nursing cats, and cats with medical conditions need different amounts. Cornell Feline Health Center points out that label feeding instructions are based on an average cat, which is how a quiet indoor cat in a downtown condo can end up eating more than it needs.
Turning calories into wet and dry portions
Find the calorie content on each food, then share the day's calories between them. It's usually printed per can or pouch, and per cup or per kilogram for dry food.
Let's walk through one. Say your vet's happy with 240 kilocalories a day for your 4 kg cat, and you want half from wet food and half from dry. If a pouch has 80 kilocalories, one and a half pouches gives you 120. You then measure out dry food for the other 120.
Treats come out of that total, too. Merck advises keeping them under 10% of daily calories. And for the first week or two, weigh the dry food on a kitchen scale rather than trusting a cup, because cups are very easy to overfill.
Cornell notes that wet food is typically 70 to 80 percent water and can be fed alongside dry food or instead of it. With all that water, a wet portion looks a lot bigger for the same calories, which some cats find more satisfying.
How often should a cat eat?
Most adult cats do well on one or two meals a day, while kittens need more. Here's Cornell's breakdown by age:
| Age | Meals a day |
|---|---|
| Kitten, up to 6 months | Usually 3 |
| 6 months to 1 year | Generally 2 |
| Adult, from about 1 year | 1 or 2 in most cases |
Merck adds that kittens usually move to adult food somewhere between 8 and 12 months. What about leaving food out all day? It suits some cats, but Cornell warns it can lead others to overeat and gain weight, especially in a home with several cats. If you do free feed, put out fresh food daily, and think about feeding cats in separate spots so you know who's eating what.
Is my cat at a healthy weight?
You can tell with a body condition score, which is how vets judge it. WSAVA's chart for cats runs from 1 to 9, with 5 as ideal: a well-proportioned cat whose ribs you can feel under a slight layer of fat, with a waist behind the ribs and only a small fat pad on the belly. WSAVA notes that a 6 may be acceptable in some cats, especially older ones.
On a too-thin short-haired cat, the ribs, spine and hip bones are easy to see, and the belly tucks up sharply. At the ideal, the ribs are easy to feel under a light covering, and you can see a waist from above. An overweight cat has ribs you struggle to feel, no waist, a rounded belly and fat over the lower back.
Merck notes that middle-aged cats are at higher risk of obesity, so revisit portions as your cat gets older. Weigh your cat every month or two and keep the numbers with the rest of their health information. The free PetGrid pet records app stores weight alongside vaccines and vet papers.
If your cat needs to lose weight, ask your vet first
Never put a cat on a crash diet. Cornell warns that underfeeding a cat, or feeding the wrong food, can cause serious problems, including hepatic lipidosis, a potentially life-threatening build-up of fat in the liver. Your vet can set a target weight, a daily calorie number and a pace of weight loss that's safe for your cat.
A cat that stops eating, or suddenly loses weight, should see a vet promptly. Don't wait to see if it passes.
Questions fréquentes
How much should I feed my cat a day?
An average healthy 4 kg adult cat needs about 225 to 250 kilocalories a day, according to WSAVA's guidance. Divide that by the calories in your cat's food to get the portion, then adjust based on body condition and your vet's advice.
How many cans of wet food should a cat eat a day?
It depends on the calories per can, which vary a lot between brands and sizes. Check the label, divide your cat's daily calories by the calories per can, and take off whatever comes from dry food or treats.
Is it better to feed a cat once or twice a day?
Cornell Feline Health Center says once or twice a day is fine for most adult cats. Plenty of owners prefer two meals, and kittens need to eat more often.
Should I leave dry food out for my cat all day?
It works for some cats but leads others to overeat, Cornell notes. Measured meals make it easier to keep a cat at a healthy weight and to notice when their appetite changes.
How do I know if my cat is overweight?
Feel for the ribs and look for a waist. On WSAVA's 9 point scale, an ideal cat has ribs you can feel under a slight layer of fat and a waist behind the ribs. If you can't feel the ribs or see a waist, ask your vet.
En bref
How much to feed a cat really comes down to three things: calories for its ideal weight, portions measured against your food's label, and regular checks of its shape. Treat WSAVA's table as your starting point and let your vet fine-tune it.
The PetGrid app is free for pet owners and keeps your cat's weight history ready for the next visit. Need a clinic? Its map can help you find a vet, and our guide on how to find a new vet covers what to ask.
Gardez les dossiers, les vaccins et les visites de votre animal dans un seul endroit sûr. L'application PetGrid est gratuite pour les propriétaires d'animaux, avec ou sans clinique.
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