How much a cat eats depends first and foremost on the cat's weight, age and activity level, and there is therefore no single number that fits all cats. A slim house cat of three to four kilos with a more moderate everyday life has a completely different need than a large, muscular cat that moves around a lot, just as a growing kitten eats significantly more relative to its size than an adult cat. The best starting point is therefore not a fixed gram figure, but the cat's individual needs, which you read off the food's feeding guide and adjust according to how the cat maintains its weight over time.
This is precisely why all ESSENTIAL FOODS' meals carry a clear indication of how much energy that particular meal contains, so you can find the right daily amount based on your cat's weight. The figure is a starting point, not a definitive answer. Some cats thrive on a little less, others on a little more, and it is the interplay between portion, activity and the cat's body condition that determines whether the amount is right.
How to find the right daily amount based on the cat's weight
The daily amount is always calculated based on the cat's weight and not on how much it would like to have itself. The guide on the packaging is based on an adult cat at a healthy weight, and from there you adjust up or down according to the cat's everyday life. A cat that hunts, climbs and plays a lot throughout the day burns more than a cat with a more moderate everyday life that spends most of the day resting indoors. If your cat weighs more than it should, the amount should be at the lower end, while a cat that struggles to maintain its weight often needs a little more.
Precise measuring is more important than many people think. Estimating by eye is easily deceptive, and just a small extra handful each day adds up over a week. If you use a THE ESSENTIAL CUP or a kitchen scale to measure out the portions, you get far more consistent feeding, and you notice more quickly if the cat suddenly eats more or less than usual.
How many meals should a cat have per day?
By nature, the cat is designed for many small meals throughout the day rather than one or two large ones. In the wild, a cat happily hunts and eats several times, and that habit carries over into the home. For most adult cats, it works well to distribute the daily amount over two or more smaller portions, so the stomach is not burdened by large portions at once, and so the cat has something to look forward to several times a day.
What matters is that the total daily amount stays within what the cat's weight and activity call for, no matter how many times you dish it out. If you spread the food over several small meals, you can benefit from using enrichment to make eating more natural. A THE LICKING MAT prolongs the meal and lets the cat spend time and use its senses on the food, which is especially beneficial for cats that would otherwise gulp down their portion too quickly.
How much does a kitten eat compared to an adult cat?
A kitten eats more relative to its body weight than an adult cat, because it is in constant growth and building up bones, muscles and a healthy immune system. This is precisely why a kitten needs frequent, smaller meals spread throughout the day, so it receives energy and nutrition continuously as it develops. Meals for kittens are formulated with a nutritional profile that matches this intense life stage, and the amount is gradually reduced as the cat approaches its adult size.
If you want to find meals and products suited to the very earliest life stage, you can see the entire selection for kittens. If you have just become a kitten owner, the KITTEN LOVE PACKAGE brings together relevant meals and products with the new kitten's needs in mind, so the beginning is as reassuring as possible.
How the senior cat eats differently
With age, the cat's needs change, and the appetite can fluctuate more than it did before. Some senior cats become less active and need a little less, while others may struggle to maintain their weight and thrive best on food that is easy to absorb and appealing to eat. Here it is less about a specific gram figure and more about following the cat closely and adjusting when everyday life and appetite change.
Meals for the golden years are formulated with the senior cat's everyday life and well-being in mind, and you will find them gathered under meals for senior cats. If you notice that your senior cat suddenly eats significantly more or less without explanation, it is always a good idea to have it checked by a vet, as a change in appetite can have many causes.
When the cat eats too much or too little
If your cat consistently eats the whole portion and seems hungry without it affecting the weight, there is usually nothing wrong. But if the cat gains weight over time, it is a sign that the total amount is too high relative to the activity level, and here it helps to measure the portions precisely and account for treats in the calculation. Treats count toward the daily energy intake, and even small amounts can tip the balance if they are given on top of a full portion.
If, on the other hand, the cat loses weight or leaves meals uneaten, it can be due to anything from fussiness to something that requires a professional eye. If you want to assess whether your cat is where it should be, ESSENTIAL FOODS' nutrition advisers can help you find the right amount and the right meal for your particular cat. They are ready on phone, chat and email and advise on feeding, food and nutrition, while persistent weight changes or lack of appetite should always be assessed by a vet.
The quality of the meal affects how much the cat needs
How much a cat should eat is closely connected to what the meal consists of. A meal with a high proportion of good, easily absorbable ingredients satiates and nourishes the cat in a different way than food with a lot of fillers, and therefore the amount the cat actually needs can vary from meal to meal. As a cat, it is by nature designed for a diet with a significant content of animal ingredients, and this is one of the reasons why the quality of the meal matters so much for both satiety and well-being.
ESSENTIAL FOODS' cat meals are prepared from human-grade ingredients and fresh produce and formulated with the cat's natural needs in mind. If you want to find the meal that suits your cat's taste and nutritional profile, you can explore the entire selection under cat food and find a portion size that matches your particular cat's weight and everyday life. Once the meal suits the cat, it becomes far easier to hit the right daily amount and keep your cat in healthy, stable condition year after year.