As a general average, if you are feeding a commercially produced high-quality dry food with a good quality protein source, then an indoor cat would be fed about 1/3 to 1/2 cup of food per day. This amount of quality food is approximately between 167–250 calories.
"From age six months to maturity, most cats will do well when fed two times a day." Once the cat becomes an adult, at about one year, feeding once or twice a day is appropriate in most cases. Senior cats, age seven and above, should maintain the same feeding regimen.
The mix is key: The right balance between dry and wet food
To meet your cat's energy needs with wet and dry food, we recommend dividing the total feed by 3 and then feeding as follows: Give your cat 2/3 of the amount of food in the form of wet food and divide it into two rations (e.g. breakfast and dinner).
Mixing wet and dry cat food for a meal or feeding them at separate meals is a good way to give your cat the variety she not only wants, but also needs.
How often should cats eat wet food? What do vets recommend? Wet food is not a special meal or an occasional treat. Cats can and should eat wet food every day because it agrees with the feline digestive system better than dry or semi-moist food.
Normal weight was defined as a queen under 4kg or a tom under 5kg, and overweight as over 5kg or 6kg respectively. Owners of overweight cats had a closer relationship with their cat, and were more likely to say the cat consoled and encouraged them.
As a guide, a 4kg cat who requires 135-180 calories per day will need around 32-55g of dry food, which is a huge difference to the 130-205g of wet food they would require! You should bear this in mind when measuring out your cat's food, or if you decide to mix wet and dry.
It varies depending on the breed but for most domestic cats, you can take 10 pounds (4-4.5 kg) as an ideal weight. Certain larger breeds can weigh as much as 25 pounds (11 kg) and smaller breeds can weigh as little as 5 pounds (2.2 kg).
Most cats need 4-5 ounces of canned food per day, total. Pate-style varieties tend to be higher in calories per can than the varieties that more resemble people food with chunks and gravies- this can be useful when trying to fine-tune the number of calories per day being consumed.
In general, you can feed an average-sized adult cat one 3-ounce can per 3 to 3½ pounds of body weight daily. You should adjust this amount depending on whether you also feed your cat dry kibble.
For a normal healthy 9 lb cat, the right amount of food is about a half cup of regular dry food (ballpark 350 kcal per cup).
Cats should eat at least two meals each day, about 12 hours apart. But a breakfast, lunch, afternoon, dinner, and right before bed schedule is an equally great option. If more than 12 hours elapses between meals, the stomach can become hyperacidic causing nausea.
The digestive system of a cat is built to eat 2-3 small meals a day. Grazing or free feeding is a term, which refers to allowing your cat access to dry food all day, everyday - can severely impact the longevity of their lives.
The ideal weight of a cat can vary depending on the breed; however, for the majority of domestic cats, 10 pounds or 4 to 4.5 kg is considered a healthy weight. Larger domestic cat breeds are usually considered to be any cat that weighs over 11lbs or 5kg and some, like the Maine Coon, can weigh up to 25 pounds or 11kg.
A 5kg cat requires approximately 150g a day, or, 1050g over a week.
If your cat is hungry all the time, it could be a sign of a serious health issue like hyperthyroidism, diabetes or cancer. This handy guide looks at possible causes of overeating, symptoms to look out for and what to do if you're concerned about your cat's feeding habits.
Ideal Cat Weight Based on Breed:
Domestic cat – 3.5 to 4.5 kg. Siamese – 2.2 to 4.5 kg. Persian – 3 – 5.5 kg. Maine Coon – 4.5 to 11 kg.
Most healthy domestic cats range in adult weight from 4-5kg, though significant variation exists. Some large bred cats (such as Maine Coons or Norwegian Forrest cats) may weight as much as 6-7kg and still be healthy, while smaller breeds (such as the Korat or Abyssinian) may be closer to 3kg.
Unlike dogs, most cat breeds tend to be roughly the same size, and a healthy adult should weigh around 4.5kg, although this can of course vary depending on the type of cat you have.
Feed your cat tuna like it's a treat, meaning only give your cat tuna occasionally and only up to 10% of their day's calories. As part of a balanced diet, you can safely offer one teaspoon of tuna a few times a week, or about one-half can per month.
Adult cats
As with kittens, feel free to offer your cat a variety of food such as fresh or cooked meat or fish. Meaty bones or fresh meat is a great source of protein, just make sure it's human-grade as some pet meat and bone products may contain preservatives that can be harmful for your cat.
Just take about a ¼ cup of filtered water and add it to the top of the bowl of kibble in order to moisten and enhance the flavor of the pet food. Cats often stand to benefit the most from doing this, as they frequently have issues with dehydration.