How Often Do Cats Need To Eat – Sharing your life with a cat is certainly rewarding. There’s nothing quite like relaxing with your furry plush after a long day at work.
But parenting a pet also comes with a lot of responsibility, especially when it comes to determining how much to feed a cat. Feeding cats is more complicated than simply pouring a few kibbles here and there; there are several factors to consider, especially if you choose to feed your cat wet food. Determining how much wet food to give a cat can get tricky, but we’re here to help.
How Often Do Cats Need To Eat
You might be wondering why it is important to determine the exact amount of wet cat food you should give your cat? In 2017, an estimated 60% of cats in the United States are classified as clinically overweight or obese. That’s about 56.5 million overweight cats, and being overweight has a dramatic and negative effect on feline health.
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Overweight cats are at increased risk of congestive heart failure, skin disorders, infections, diabetes mellitus, complications associated with anesthesia and surgery, hepatic lipidosis (a life-threatening liver disease) and of certain types of cancer.
Feeding cats wet food is never as simple as opening a can and letting them eat until they are full. Indoor cats, in particular, tend to burn few calories throughout the day and become bored, which we all know can lead to overeating and weight gain. Pet parents should take a strategic approach to measuring cat food to prevent or manage weight gain in cats.
To get started, have your cat evaluated by a veterinarian. He or she will weigh your cat, identify their ideal weight, and determine how many calories your cat should consume each day to achieve that goal.
A pet calorie calculator can also get you to the basics. If your cat is severely overweight, your veterinarian may recommend prescription cat food for weight loss; otherwise, an over-the-counter weight control cat food should suffice.
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Next, look at the label of your cat’s wet food. At best, feeding instructions will be somewhat vague, and they certainly don’t apply to all cats in all situations. It helps to do calculations. The caloric content of a wet cat food should be listed somewhere on the label.
For example, the American Journey Ground Chicken and Tuna recipe provides 73 calories per 3-ounce can. If you can’t find this information, look it up on the manufacturer’s website or call them.
Let’s say your vet has determined that your cat should be getting 240 calories per day. In this example, you just need to divide 240 by 73 to determine how many 3-ounce cans of American Journey Chicken and Tuna Recipe you should offer your cat daily.
Cats that struggle to stay lean should be given several measured meals of cat food throughout the day rather than having access to food 24/7.
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How often should you feed your cat? You and your vet can discuss the right frequency for your situation. But, in general, cats do best when they eat several small meals throughout the day – two at a minimum, but more is better.
The calculations you just made can help inform your decision. In the example we used, the cat should eat 3 1/3 cans per day. Wouldn’t it make sense to feed three one-box meals each with the extra third of a box added to the last meal of the day? Whatever you decide, just divide the number of cans you need to feed in a day by the number of meals you want to provide, and you’ll have the correct portion for each meal.
If you are monitoring your cat’s weight, you will also need to subtract the calories provided by the treats you give as well as the dry foods you offer. If it helps, keep a journal of your cat’s daily calorie intake goals, then track the cat food and treats you give throughout the day to help keep your cat’s weight on track. .
Foods that are already divided into meal portions, such as Sheba Perfect Portions Grain-Free Multipack and Nutro Perfect Portions Grain-Free Multipack, can reduce the chances of you inadvertently feeding too much at once.
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And if your pet’s food comes in boxes and you have leftovers, the Petmate Kitty Kap can fit four box sizes. It will keep wet cat food fresh in the fridge until your cat’s next scheduled meal.
Dr. Jennifer Coates is an accomplished veterinarian, writer, editor, and consultant with years of experience in the fields of veterinary medicine… Proper diet and nutrition are important considerations for every cat owner. You want to make sure that sanitary requirements are met. On the other hand, you also want to prevent your cat from overeating, as obesity can lead to more serious health issues later on. Some cat owners choose the “free feeding” method, where the cat has free access to food at all times, while others apply “portion control” and feed their cat more than once a day. day. But following a cat feeding program, along with careful weight monitoring, can definitely help ensure that your cat is getting the nutrition it needs every day.
So what is the best cat feeding program? Cats are much like people, in that each cat can have different needs and requirements. How much to feed a cat, how often should you feed it, and what types of food are just some of the questions you might have. Knowing the basics of feline habits and physical needs can help you find an ideal feeding schedule for your cat. Here are some things to remember about cats:
· Cats are usually hungry 8 to 10 hours after the last meal. Feeding your cat once or twice a day is generally acceptable.
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· Kittens have different dietary needs than adult cats. Check out our detailed kitten feeding program and guide.
· Some cats are more finicky than others. You may need to combine wet and dry foods, switch food brands from time to time, and make adjustments based on your cat’s eating habits.
A cat’s daily calorie requirement depends on its weight. Referring to a cat feeding schedule chart can serve as a guide to ensure your cat is eating healthily.
How often should cat owners feed their pets? Answers would vary based on certain factors, depending on your cat’s age, health, preferences and habits.
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Kittens would need more food per pound and therefore, more frequent feeding times until about six months of age. Based on this kitten feeding schedule, kittens should be fed frequently as they grow. From six months of age, feeding your cat once or twice a day is considered sufficient and is common practice, as the cat maintains a healthy weight.
Diet and feeding will also need to be adjusted if your cat has a health condition. For example, veterinarians generally advise feeding diabetic cats when they are receiving insulin. In some cases, cats may develop gum or mouth problems, which would require finer kibble or canned moist food to help them chew more easily. Your veterinarian will offer feeding recommendations in case your cat becomes ill or has a health problem.
You may be wondering if it’s better to give your cat wet or dry food. Both types of food have their own benefits. You can certainly feed your cat a combination of wet and dry cat food for a healthier, more balanced diet. The varied textures could also be exciting for your pet. However, your cat may actually prefer one type over another and of course this is something you also need to consider.
Feeding your cat specific portions at certain times of the day has several benefits. On the one hand, you can schedule feeding, according to your own schedule, taking into account your cat’s eating habits. “Feeding for free” or leaving out the food available to your cat all day can be a cause of obesity. It would be a better idea to provide treats or snacks between meals if your cat is begging for food.
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Portion-controlled meal feeding also makes it easier for you to monitor your cat’s eating habits and immediately see if there is a health problem. If there are changes in appetite levels, or if you notice anything like your cat holding onto its food or eating quickly, you may need to have it checked out by the vet. If your cat is sick, it’s also easier to medicate with a meal.
Combining a wet and dry food diet can be good for your cat. Dry food is easier to store, but lacks the moisture found in wet cat food. The following cat feeding schedule template can help you better estimate how much and how often you should feed your cat.
So how does this power chart work? As you can see, the program takes into account your cat’s weight, daily calorie needs, and how much wet and dry food you can feed her.
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