how much wet food to feed my cat

An average adult cat would usually need around 4-5 ounces or 115-140 grams of wet food per day, but the amounts recommended are always approximate, as the appropriate portion size can vary if they’re more on the small or large side, if they’re pregnant and if they’re particularly active or sedentary.

How Often Should I Feed My Cat Wet Food?

You can feed your cat wet food daily. To find out how much wet food is appropriate for your cat, refer to the can or speak with your veterinarian. Generally, an adult cat of average size should be fed one 3-ounce can for every 3 to 3½ pounds of body weight each day.

Depending on whether you also feed your cat dry kibble, you should modify this amount. In addition, your veterinarian might advise feeding your cat varying amounts of wet food based on their weight, overall health, and other variables.

You can give wet food to your cat at any time of day. But it’s crucial to keep in mind that canned food spoils if left out for longer than an hour or a half. Therefore, if your cat doesn’t finish their meal, it’s best to feed them at a time when you can clean up after them.

Since dry kibble can be left out all day, some cat owners give their cats some in the morning so they can nibble on it while they’re at work. At night, they feed wet food and refrigerate any leftovers. Alternately, you could serve a combination of dry and wet food at each meal. It all depends on your schedule and your cat’s preferences.

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How Much Wet Food Should I Feed My Cat?

For starters, have your cat evaluated by a veterinarian. He or she will weigh your cat, establish the cat’s target weight, and calculate the daily caloric intake needed to achieve that weight.

A pet calorie calculator can also get you into the ballpark. If your cat is severely overweight, your veterinarian may recommend a prescription cat food for weight loss; otherwise an over-the-counter weight control cat food should suffice.

Next, look at the label of your cat’s wet food. The feeding guidelines will, at most, be fairly general and won’t apply to every cat in every circumstance. It helps do some math. The number of calories in a wet cat food should be mentioned on the label.

For example, American Journey minced 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 give them a call.

Assume your cat needs 240 calories a day, as determined by your veterinarian. To find out how many 3-ounce cans of the American Journey chicken and tuna recipe you should give your cat every day in this example, just divide 240 by 73.

240 / 73 = 3.3

As a result, your cat should consume about three-thirds of a can of this food each day.

FAQ

How much should I feed my cat wet food chart?

In general, you can feed an average-sized adult cat one 3-ounce can per 3 to 3½ pounds of body weight daily. You should adjust this amount depending on whether you also feed your cat dry kibble. Your veterinarian may also recommend feeding more or less wet food depending on your cat’s weight, health and other factors.

Is 6 oz of wet food too much for a cat?

Canned food is very good for cats but it is not as calorie dense as dry food. The average 10 pound cat can have 6–8.5 ounces of wet food a day, but they may eat it better divided into 2 meals. Adding warm water to the canned food can make it more tempting and increase their water intake, which is good for them.

Is it OK to give cats wet food everyday?

Cats can and should eat wet food every day because it agrees with the feline digestive system better than dry or semi-moist food. Wild cats hunt and eat bugs, rodents, and small birds. Their bodies are used to processing raw meat, which is high in protein and has almost zero carbs.

How much food should I feed my cat per day?

As a general average, if you are feeding a commercially produced high-quality dry food with a good quality protein source, then an indoor cat would be fed about 1/3 to 1/2 cup of food per day. This amount of quality food is approximately between 167–250 calories.