How Much Wet Food Should I Feed My Cat?
Many cat parents know the signs of a healthy kitty: a good appetite, bright eyes and excellent coat condition, among others. But your cat’s happiness is just as important as physical signs of good health. So how can you tell whether your healthy cat is also a happy one? Let's explore a few signs of a truly happy cat.
Q: Do different cats need different amounts of wet food?
Dr. Donna Waltz: The volume of food a cat needs to eat depends on how many calories are in their food and the energy demands of the cat. Pregnant, nursing, growing and high activity cats often need more calories than neutered or sedentary house cats. Geriatric cats and cats with chronic disease may have a difficult time maintaining their weight and may benefit from increased calories.
Q: Can I find the amount I should feed my cat on the package?
Dr. Donna Waltz: Every bag or can of food has a section that recommends how much to feed. These calculations are based on the average need for a large population of cats. It is well documented that an individual cat may need up to 50% more or less than what is considered average. It is crucial to tailor the amount of food to help your cat achieve or maintain an ideal, lean body weight.
Q: How often should I feed my cat?
Dr. Donna Waltz: How often food is offered can be divided into as many small meals as is convenient. Left to their own devices, cats will eat up to 10 small meals a day — which is not often convenient for most pet parents. Some cats may have a preexisting condition, such as diabetes, that requires a more rigid eating schedule. If your cat has a special condition, it is strongly advised to work with your veterinarian to help understand when, how much and how often to feed your cat.
Q: How much food do growing cats need?
Dr. Donna Waltz: Growing cats may need up to three times the daily calories of adult cats. Make sure the food is formulated for 'Growth' or 'All Life Stages' to ensure it not only provides added calories needed for growth, but also contains the higher concentration of essential nutrients required for healthy growth.
Q: Do cats need wet food at every meal?
Dr. Donna Waltz: No matter what you feed your cat, make sure it's complete and balanced. Cats who eat more wet food drink less water and cats who eat more dry food drink more water. Any combination of wet and dry food can be nutritionally sound as long as fresh water is available.
Q: If my cat doesn’t eat an entire serving of wet food in one sitting, how long is it safe to leave out?
Dr. Donna Waltz: Since the canning process is the preservation method, opening a can or cup of wet food starts the clock on the food spoiling. If a cat doesn't eat their portion within an hour, it should be securely covered and refrigerated up to four days, and then whatever is not consumed during that time should be discarded. Stale food may cause aversions to food, making cats not want to try it again.
Q: My cat sometimes doesn’t eat refrigerated wet food leftovers. Would storing it in a different container help?
Dr. Donna Waltz: Try using a can-size specific lid to prevent drying. A better option might be to purchase a smaller size can that your cat can eat in one feeding, eliminating leftovers altogether.
Q: Do you have any other tricks for getting cats to eat leftover wet food?
Dr. Donna Waltz: A food aversion is difficult to reverse. In general, cats like food that has similar moisture and temperature to typical prey. They like wet food that is warmer; warming the food to room temperature or just above is one way to help cats enjoy their food. Be careful not to overheat the food as it could burn a cat's mouth or throat.
