How much should I feed my cat?

Of all the animals you may have around the house, cats are often the most mysterious and difficult to predict.

Some of the most perplexing cat behaviours are their feeding habits. As a pet parent, understanding how much to feed your cat and how often to feed your cat will help prevent them from becoming overweight and ensure they receive the proper nutrition.

How much to feed a cat

How much to feed your cat depends on several factors that make up your cat’s metabolic needs.  Some cats require many calories to support their body makeup, while others go through a small amount of food per month.

To figure out how much food your cat needs, you’ll want to consider the following:

• Their breed

• Their age

• Their weight

• Their activity level

• What you feed them (wet food, dry food, etc.)

• Whether they are pregnant or nursing

In general, indoor cats need fewer calories than outdoor cats because they are less active, but of course, that still leaves the question: how much food does my cat need?

Cat food safety

Can my cat eat...

Enjoying a slice of watermelon and wondering if your cat can have a bite? Check out our food safety database. We're adding new foods weekly!

Check food safety

To start, you’ll want to understand if your cat is currently over-or underweight by finding out what their body condition score (BCS) is. You can do this by assessing the chart below or by having your veterinarian perform a physical examination on your cat.

Most scoring charts have a range between 1 and 5 or 1 and 9, with the lower numbers on the chart indicating a cat is too thin and the larger numbers on the chart showing a cat is overweight. The goal is to have a cat with a body condition score in the middle of the scale.

If your cat is at a healthy weight, they are receiving the right amount of food, and you can continue feeding them as you have been. If your cat is too thin, make sure there is no medical cause for their weight loss.

Health conditions that cause weight loss in cats

Some common cat health conditions include:

• Kidney disease

• Hyperthyroidism

• Lymphatic cancer

• Parasites

If your veterinarian gives your pet a clean bill of health but says they are too thin, you may need to feed them more or switch to a different diet that provides more nutrients. Your veterinarian is an excellent resource if this applies to your cat.

Also, keep in mind that cats that are not spayed or neutered tend to have leaner body types.

Our article on pet nutrition can help if you're lost.

If you have a new cat and are unsure how much to feed them, an excellent place to start is reading the label on their food. These recommendations are helpful, but often need a small adjustment.

For a typical cat, the amount of food recommended on the label should be reduced by 20%. The amount of food suggested to feed on the back of the bag is often based on very active pets, which is typically too ambitious for most of our house cats.

By making a 20% reduction, pet parents can generally feed the proper amount for their pets.

Food type is also essential. It can be overwhelming when deciding what brand to feed. Again, your veterinarian is the best resource when making this decision. They can make a recommendation based on your pet's individual health needs.

Of course, cat insurance can help with issues like this.

How to feed a pregnant cat

Pregnant cats typically eat more than usual, and by the end of pregnancy, they'll usually eat 50% more than normal, but sometimes they need double.

The best bet here is to follow your vet's advice.

How often should I feed my cat?

How often you should feed your cat will also be based on their individual needs.

Cats, like humans, tend to fall into two categories of eaters:

• Those with self-control who can have food available at all times,

• And cats with no self-control who will eat an entire bowl of food repeatedly with no sense of stopping.

Options to feed your cat can include:

• Free-feeding, which is good for cats that tend to graze and will naturally eat when they're hungry. The key here is to not put out too much food at a time.

• Slow-feeder, which works for cats that eat too quickly.

• Splitting the recommended amount of food for a day over two or three sessions.

• Automatic feeders which allows pet parents to pre-measure an amount of food. You can track calories very closely for this and it's a good option if you aren't home for part of the day.

How to feed multiple cats

One challenge is when multiple cats are in a household, especially if they have different eating habits. If you have any cats in the home who will eat uncontrollably, then all your cats should be on the “gluttonous eater” schedule, which ensures that all cats receive enough food without being overfed.

It also ensures that the food bowl will not be emptied by the food-loving cat, leaving the grazers with an empty dish when they decide to eat.

Above all else, a regular, predictable feeding schedule is crucial for your cat to know when they'll be fed. This keeps their metabolism in tip-top shape.

Top-quality cat insurance

Purr. Pounce. Ouch.

We protect your cat from any unexpected accidents - even if they always land on their feet.

Protect your pet