Amount of daily food for cats

The cats are carnivorous animals They prefer to eat several times a day instead of just one, just like they do in the wild. In addition, they do not usually eat more than the bill, but only eat what they need, but even so, the amount of daily food for cats It depends on several factors, such as age, size, physical activity or the personality of the animal, and it is our responsibility to provide them with a balanced and quality diet to prevent our cat from being overweight, or, on the contrary, malnourished.

In this article we are going to show you the keys to feed these companion animals correctly depending on the stage of their life, since it is very important to consider that the daily amount of food for adult cats will be different than that of baby cats or that of cats seniors.

Feeding of lactating cats

Lactating cats begin weaning around three weeks of age [1] so, until then, it is advisable not to give no food more than breast milk, since they do not need any other additional product that provides them with more nutrients. Breast milk contains absolutely everything that these small animals need, so do not worry about the kittens taking the amount of milk they need. If we see that baby cats are lamenting or restless, they may not have been satisfied and need more milk.

In the case of not being able to give them breast milk, we can use an emergency formula of infant formula, but the ideal is to use commercial substitutes of milk that can be obtained in veterinarians and specialty stores, but it is always advisable to breastfeed them naturally with their biological mothers.

From the fourth week, we can introduce some solid food / special feed for baby cats, shredded and soaked in water until it has a consistency of puree, so that they begin to get used to this food. The first weeks of life of cats are crucial for their proper development and growth. Around the 7 or 8 weeks, the cat will be completely weaned.

How much should a puppy cat eat?

From the 8 weeks (after weaning) and until the 4 months of life, it is necessary to give them to young cats several meals a day, for example 5 rations. Remember that puppies do not usually drink a lot of water, so you should alternate the dry feed with the wet feed to supply this lack of liquid. You can also moisten the dry feed with water or chicken broth or fish without salt, onion or condiments.

At this stage in the life of cats, their stomach is very small and they do not fit large amounts of food for each feeding, but as our pet grows, you will need a little more food each time In each meal. Thus, from the 4 to the 6 months of age, it is necessary to increase the feed ration in 10 grams per feed so that the animal does not lack food, but always trying not to pass so that the young pussycat maintains its ideal weight.

With regards to quantity of food, this will depend directly on the commercial food we use. It is important to note that the same amount of feed will not contain the same calories and nutrients in two different products, so we should always check the container table and follow the advice of the veterinarian. Nutritional needs may vary according to race, lifestyle and eventual medical conditions.

How much should an adult cat eat?

From the 12 months, our cat will be adult and, as we mentioned above, the amount of daily food will depend on the weight, physical activity and personality of the breed.

Wild cats make small meals according to prey, which they hunt by instinct. On the contrary, domestic cats can do between 10 and 20 daily meals, ingesting approximately 5 grams in each meal. It is very important for the cat to have food always available who needs it, a system called “ad libitum“

Therefore, you must check before the indications of the container where the exact amounts are detailed according to the type of food and the weight, distributing it throughout the day. If your cat manages the shots correctly, you will only have to worry about knowing the total daily amount and fill your feeder twice a day. If on the other hand your cat is obese or overweight, you will have to distribute it in several takes, to avoid anxiety.

The amount in grams of daily food for cats will depend on the nutritional formula of the product, you can not know exactly the grams. In any case, we present an example described in the feed packaging of Royal Canin Premim Adults – Coat:

• If you weigh 2 kg, between 25 and 40 grams of dry food per day.
• If you weigh 3 kg, between 35 and 50 grams of dry food per day.
• If you weigh 5 kg, between 40 and 60 grams of dry food per day.
• If you weigh 6 kg, between 55 and 85 grams of dry food per day.
• If you weigh 7 kg, between 60 and 90 grams of dry food per day.
• If you weigh 8 kg, between 70 and 100 grams of dry food per day.

Do not forget that these grammages are indicated for cats with moderate physical activity and without any feeding or health problem, for that reason, if for example you have a pregnant cat, it is advisable to provide the amount of food you ask for, as you need a greater amount of protein, fat and calcium for the proper development of pregnancy.

However, energy needs (kilocalories) can be calculated, since they do not depend on the feeding, they depend on the cat and the stage in which it is. A continuation we show you a table with specifications:

How much should a senior or senior cat eat?

From the 7 / 8 years our animal will go from being an adult cat to being an older or senior cat, and as a consequence, your ability to digest proteins and fats will decrease. Therefore, it is necessary to continue feeding 2 daily rations but providing high quality meals and easy digestion.

Apart from the ability to digest, we will notice other changes in our pet that is becoming increasingly greater, such as the quality of its coat that will become less bright; or the amount of daily physical activity, making the cat less active and calmer. Even so, this process is inevitable, but we can significantly prolong the life of our companion animal if we feed it in a correct and appropriate way to its age.

How much should a cat eat? – General considerations

If you are still wondering how much a cat should eat, it is necessary that you finish taking into account this series of things to know perfectly how to feed your pussycat:

• Cats are animals of customs, so it is recommended that they have a fixed daily routine as soon as they begin their adult stage.
• Following the routine, it is necessary to feed your pet in the same place and at the same time every day, in a quiet place and always away from his sandbox.
• To feed your pussycat, use a mat or an easy-to-clean surface to put a metal or ceramic container. Some cats prefer to eat in a flat feeder, and this helps them avoid eating too fast.
• If you have more than one cat, you must make sure that each one has their respective feeder at a considerable distance, so that they do not fight or eat each other’s food.
• Do not forget to keep an eye on the prohibited foods for cats, to avoid being eaten and have no health problems.

If you want to read more articles similar to Amount of daily food for cats, we recommend that you enter in our section of balanced diets.