The Ultimate Cat Feeding Guide

When it comes to feeding your cat, it’s important to keep their weight in mind when deciding how much food to give them. You’ll find guidelines on the packaging of the food that you buy to help you establish how much they need each day.

However, it’s important to take into consideration your cat’s activity levels. If they’re a fairly sedentary indoor cat who is an absolute home bird, then you may want to feed them at the lower end of their calorie range. However, if you’ve got an active outdoor cat who is always out and about, then they’ll require more energy. Always take this into account when treating your moggy throughout the day too!

Wet food contains more water than dry food, so it will look like your cat is eating more than if you were to feed them dry food.

As a general guide, a small 4kg cat will require between 135-180 calories per day, which equates to around 130-205g of wet cat food, however, this will vary depending on the brand and type of food you choose.

When it comes to feeding dry food to your cat, it’s important to remember that dry food tends to be lower in volume than wet food, so it may seem like you’re feeding them a lot less. Don’t be tempted to feed them any extra, though, as this may lead to weight gain!

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.

The best method for measuring out your cat's food is to use a digital kitchen scale. Weighing the amount of food your feline friend needs in ounces or grams is more effective than estimating the amount with the 'per cup' measurement, as you’ll get a more accurate reading.  

Use the guide above when measuring wet or dry cat food, remembering that the quantities will change depending on what you’re feeding your moggy, so make sure you always check the packaging of the food for a more accurate guide on how much to feed. If your cat eats both wet and dry food together, be sure to half their wet and dry food allowance with each helping!

If you’re wondering how often to feed your cat, there are a number of different methods depending on what you’re feeding them.

If your kitty solely eats dry food and likes to nibble at their food throughout the day, then you can measure it out and leave it out for them. Theoretically, you could do the same for wet cat food, but as it dries up an hour after being left out, most cats will refuse to return to it. For this reason, it's better to measure out wet food per meal.  

The amount of food you give your cat will depend on how often you feed them. Twice a day is usually advised, about 12 hours apart. However, smaller portions can be spread throughout the day if your cat prefers.   

If you’re feeding a kitten, four small meals a day is advised due to the size of their stomach. At four months old, this can be dropped to three meals, and then two meals a day once your cat is six months old.  

If you’re feeding a senior, their eating patterns will most likely change again and they may not require as much food.

It’s important to find out how much your cat weighs in order to find out how much to feed them. You can ask your vet to weigh them for you, or you can do it yourself at home with a digital scale.

If your cat refuses to sit on the scale for long, you could hold your kitty and then subtract your own weight. Or you could put your cat in their carrier, and then subtract the weight of the carrier to get an accurate figure.  

It’s important to weigh your cat regularly as complications can occur if your cat becomes under or overweight, but your vet will be able to offer further information regarding the right weight for the age and breed of your cat

Just like us humans, your cat needs a diet that contains all of the necessary nutrients for their health and wellbeing, such as proteins, vitamins, minerals, carbohydrates and fats.

Both wet and dry cat food will provide your cat with these nutrients, so the choice you make will be primarily influenced by their individual tastes. Some fussy felines prefer one over another, so you may need to try them out with both wet, dry and a mix of the two to see which they prefer.

However, there are a few notable differences between the two that may help you to decide which route to go down.

Some cats prefer wet food because of the aroma and texture. The soft texture is also helpful for cats who suffer from mouth pain and other dental issues, or who have difficulty eating dried foods for any other reasons. Because of this, wet food is often advised for kittens and senior cats. 

Additionally, wet cat food is a great option for those who are fussy drinkers as it’s an extra source of hydration!

However, the smell of wet cat food can be off-putting for pet parents, as it can be fairly pungent. Additionally, the smell of wet food can become noticeably worse the longer it’s left out, so it's best to discard anything your cat has left as soon as possible.

A wet food diet can sometimes lead to dental issues in cats because it can get stuck in their teeth, so you might need to add an extra teeth cleaning session to your cat’s routine to keep their dental health in tip-top condition (and their Cheshire cat smile shining bright). You can learn more about the signs of dental pain and tooth decay in this article by the PDSA, so visit your vet if you suspect your cat is suffering.  

One of the biggest benefits of dry cat food is that it can be left out all day for your kitty to graze on, which can be especially helpful for those who work full-time. But that’s not the only advantage – dry food is also good for your cat's dental health, as chewing hard kibble produces a brushing effect that can reduce the formation of dental plaque, similar to dental treats.

However, one of the main reasons why pet parents opt for dry food is because the smell isn’t as strong as wet food, so you’re not met with the smell of cat food every time you walk through your door!

One of the main disadvantages of dry food is that it isn’t hydrating like wet food, so a bowl of water should always be left out if feeding dry food. Additionally, some dry foods contain less animal protein than wet food, so it may be beneficial to occasionally treat your cat to wet food to ensure they’re getting the right nutrition.

Whether you opt for wet food, dry food or a mixture of the two, we’re sure your kitty will look forward to mealtimes and devour their food with glee. Concerned your kitty might get their claws into the wrong thing? Read our blog on what not to feed your cat here. If you’re looking for more cat care advice, then explore our blog to get your paws on all of the latest tips and advice.