The question of how much food a cat needs to receive every day is fully justified and in any case makes sense. Like humans, many pets today are overweight, leading to diseases such as rheumatism or diabetes. The so-called diseases of civilization, based on an excess of food, have already reached their favorite four-legged friends.
How to calculate the right amount of food?
The effects of obesity in cats appear quite quickly: animals lose some of their mobility, become less active and after a certain time begin to suffer from various diseases. A variety of cats diet supports health and provides them with a beautiful coat.
It should be noted that even wild felines cannot quickly get hungry, because You should not go on about your pet and feed him when he wants. Cats can live without food for several days. Fresh water is much more important than milk, as many still believe. Even if it seems to you that the pet is still hungry, do not be fooled.
You do not need to give the cat unlimited access to the feed at his whim, worry about his health and try to feed strictly on schedule. Sometimes, of course, the animal can be pampered, but not abused by it.
How much should eat dry food?
It has been proven that for most cat breeds, some food is needed around the clock in a bowl. A small portion of moist food is additionally served twice a day.
- Small kittens need a lot of energy to grow. Because they usually eat 2-3 times more than adults. Their daily need for food ranges from 250 to 350 grams.
- Older animals of normal weight need about 130 grams of food per day. Feeding dry food, which appears in a bowl in the morning and evening, is optimal.
- For animals with overweight, only 100 grams of feed per day is sufficient.
- Pregnant and lactating, as well as active breeds of cats, such as Bengalis, should have a full bowl, because they have a high need for food. They put up to 450 grams of food per day, divided into several receptions.
As a rule, on a pack with dry food there is a table by which you can determine how much food you need for a particular animal.
Dry food is cheaper than wet food and contains all the nutrients that are important to a cat. The bowl should be filled with high-quality dry food. High quality dry food fits without hesitation. as the only dish. He will provide any cat with all the necessary ingredients it needs. Thanks to high-quality dry cat food, the animal eats without harmful additives.
If you feed your pet dry food, it is necessary to ensure the water content in food from 8 to 10%, because animals satisfy their need for fluids mainly when they eat. You also need to provide a bowl of water and provide the cat with constant access to it.
How much to give wet?
The type and amount of food depends on the age and activity of the cat. Kittens need more liquid feed than adults or older individuals. Activity and breed of the animal are also crucial for the type and quantity of food.The boredom and stress of the animal lead to the fact that the cat often goes to the bowl and eats more and more, which, in turn, inevitably leads to obesity.
Compared to a dog that is omnivorous, cats are pure predators and gourmets. There are also differences in the number of meals.
While the dog is fed once or three times a day, the cat consumes a very small amount of food, but instead it goes to the bowl daily up to 20 times.
Experts claim that An adult cat weighing about 4 kilograms is supposed to eat from 300 to 400 grams of wet food per day. Of course, an active cat has a higher energy need than the old one, so the daily feed rate is indicative and must be adapted for the individual. However, if the cat refuses to eat or is often full, the cause may be illness.
It is important that the feed is always at room temperature and never stored outside the refrigerator. It is also necessary to accustom the pet to eating in a certain place and to provide him with food for the time of rest.
How to calculate the rate?
An adult healthy cat usually needs about 5 grams of protein per kilogram of weight. This applies to animals of the right complexion without signs of obesity. Therefore, if a cat weighs too much, it should receive less feed, and if it weighs less, the portions should be larger.
The need for energy in an animal increases if it spends a lot of time on the street. The active cat usually needs about 60 kilocalories per 1 kg of body weight, and an animal, which is mostly at home, only 40 kilocalories. The question of how much dry and wet food a cat should eat is a separate problem.
To maintain the right balance of nutrients, it’s best to live in the right rhythm. Knowing the protein content in food, you can easily calculate the daily portion, which must be divided into several meals.
For kittens
At the beginning of life, kittens consume only breast milk.. Therefore, it is not necessary to introduce new food into their diet until about 4 weeks. Mother's milk is rich in protein, which sufficiently supports the growth of the animal. If the kitten has been left behind and needs to be fed, the best solution is to give him a suitable milk replacer. You can't give cow milk to a little kitten - there is too little protein in it, but a lot of sugar.
Solid food can be administered from about 4 weeks of life of the animal. During this period it is better to give a small amount of wet food, which will give the cat the opportunity to get used to the snacks.
Gradually, the cat should try to feed a different consistency - dry, pre-cooked meat or fish. Portions should be smaller than for an adult cat.
For adult animals
The cat should receive several small balanced meals throughout the day. Owners often feed their pets 4 to 6 times a day, 50 grams each. A cat does not need to eat until complete saturation, so that its body can function normally.
Another solution is to feed the animal only twice a day, but over long periods, leaving unlimited access to dry food. A cat can eat it whenever it wants. However, if the pet is greedy, he can immediately consume the entire supply of food. Lack of any control can quickly lead to obesity, so watch out for your pet, and if he tries to eat everything at once, access to feed is better to exclude and continue feeding on schedule.
The average body weight depends primarily on the age of the animal. Before the age of five months, the cat should weigh about 2 kg. After 7-8 months, its weight usually increases to about 3 kg. An adult healthy pet should weigh about 4-5 kg.
To determine the rate of body weight is quite simple, for this you need to pay attention to the amount of fatty tissues of the pet, in particular:
- with sufficient weight, the cat should have a thin fatty tissue and slightly noticeable ribs;
- with a strong protrusion of the spine and ribs can be judged on the lack of weight;
- in the case when the ribs are almost impossible to feel, you can talk about excess weight.
Note that in order to control the weight, it is necessary to observe the diet, control the amount of food consumed and not forget about substances useful for animals.
How to understand that the cat does not have enough food?
A bowl of food for your pet can be left for the whole day, but you should not fill it up to full daily allowance immediately. If you leave the house and there is no one to feed the cat, you can give it half of the daily ration, and give the rest in the evening. Also note that you need to organize her unlimited access to water.
The body of these animals does not tolerate cow's milk, contrary to general opinion. because It is necessary to limit your pet from the consumption of dairy products.
The lack of food for the pet is reflected in its loss of weight and activity. But do not forget that the feed, on the contrary, can be a lot. Pets are less mobile than the street ones, therefore they require a more modest diet, it is easy enough to feed them.
What you need to know the new owners?
New pet owners need to make sure that the pet is healthy and happy. Cats, unlike dogs, can be quite picky when it comes to food, and if they don’t like the dish, they won’t eat it, even if they are hungry. That's why It is important to find a balance between the nutritional needs of the cat and its preferences.
When a person brings home a new cat, it is important to continue feeding her the same amount of the same feed and in the same schedule she was used to, and then gradually, literally in a tablespoon, switch to a new food and a new schedule.
The cat's sensitivity to thirst is significantly less compared to a dog. They do not voluntarily drink water like dogs.
But when cats do not consume enough water, they may develop urinary tract infections, like humans. Feeding a pet with high-quality wet food ensures that it receives water while eating.
If the owner follows all the recommendations, but still worries that the pet is not getting enough calories, it is recommended to examine the cat's back. If the vertebrae and ribs are visible, then this indicates a lack of nutrition, then it is necessary to increase the amount of food. But there is also a risk that the pet is just sick and it needs to be shown to the vet. If everything is fine, then you just need to change the diet and pick up for him another feed.
Note that different animals can take different foods - only certain foods are suitable for one, others eat everything. because If you find a certain type of food that your pet liked and fully meets the necessary requirements for caloric content, availability of nutrients and other parameters, then you should try to use only it, only occasionally making a variety in the diet of your pet.
About what and how to properly feed the cat, see the next video.
