Feeding cats: How often, how much, and above all what should cats eat?

Article by Veterinarian Sanja Polz

There are many questions surrounding cat feeding. These also include whether food should always be left in their bowl or whether they should be fed several times a day. And to make things more difficult: Cats are gourmets and fussy eaters. 

Many cat owners wonder how often they should feed their cat - especially when it comes to feline friends that race to the bowl as soon as you enter the kitchen. Generally speaking, your cat should eat two to three small meals a day. 

This is especially tricky with wet food, because cats usually leave some food behind, rather than eating a whole bag or tin of cat food. But make sure not to leave wet food sitting out on hot summer days. The high temperatures can result in quicker spoiling, making the cat food a health hazard. Our tip: Instead of emptying all the feed into your cat’s bowl at once, simply dispense the amount your cat will eat in one go. You can keep the rest in the fridge, but please do not serve it ice-cold!

Determine individual food quantity

There is such a wide variety of cat food available, all in different qualities and compositions, that it is impossible to set a blanket amount of food for cats. The feeding recommendation on the food you buy can be used as a rough guideline. However, it is important to consider the activity of your own cat: If your cat is an indoor cat and spends most of the day lounging around, it needs less than if it is always being curious and active. If your cat is an outdoor cat, it naturally needs more energy than a house cat. But beware of your outdoor cat also being fed by the neighbours!

As with us humans, metabolism slows down with increasing age – and a cat's urge to play also decreases. Thus, it needs less calories/energy from food. And because exceptions prove the rule, there are cats that seem to eat all the time and don't gain weight, or cats that tend to be overweight without additional food. 

What really matters when it comes to cat food?

The most important thing when choosing a cat food is, of course, the ingredients. Cats, unlike dogs, are born carnivores. That is why vets recommend food with a meat content of around 70%, preferably without grain, added sugar, preservatives or flavour enhancers. Picture it like this: The best food for a cat is a mouse. As many grains that can fit in a mouse's stomach is the guideline amount of carbohydrates in cat food. 

One particularity of cats is that their bodies cannot produce enough taurine by themselves - so they must receive the recommended amount of it from the food they eat.  

No rule of thumb

As you can see, there are many aspects of feeding and caring for your cat that need to be considered. The good thing is: You can easily check your cat's weight yourself at any time. Just step on the scales with your cat and then without - the difference is the weight of your cat!