Cat owners! What is a normal amount you feed your cat a day!?

Question

Dry cat food! I was told to feed my cat 1 cup daily! My cat is gaining weight! I make him exercise and he is still gaining! How much do you feed and how big is your cat? Thank you

Oh! I forgot to mention. My cat is Big! I feed him the 1/3 of the cup 3 times a day! And this is the amout that the Dr. gave.

Thank you everone ! All of your imformation is spectacular! My cat is about 7 yrs old. The Dr. put him on this dry low-resedue food,no dairy and no meat! Common sense say's that at least he needs moisture! I definitly will make changes! He is getting into trouble constantly! That is his exercise! And his name is "BAILEY" sound familiar?

Answer 1

Most commercial cat food is full of carbohydrates, which will do the same thing in a cat as in a human... Within a very short time after excessive carb intake glucose levels rise rapidly because carbs are digested very quickly. When glucose levels are back down to normal, insulin levels are still near maximum and continually storing glucose in fat cells. As a result, glucose levels fall below normal, and hunger occurs again soon.

This is my kitty diet recommendation that I posted in response to another cat food related question:


Most commercial pet food (regardless of whether it's generic, grocery, or premium) is full of corn, which is of no nutritional value to cats and loaded with carbohydrates. (A veterinarian may tell you differently in an effort to persuade you to purchase food.) Overloading a cat on carbs will fatten him/her up just as it will a human. And some experts agree that too many carbohydrates can lead to a UTI.

This is what I recommend:

25-50% of your kitty's diet should consist of meat. The bigger your kitty, the more meat he should eat. I suggest boiling boneless chicken until it's cooked medium (pink). Serve the broth to kitty as well. Many cats do well on raw meats, but don't switch kitty to raw immediately. If you do it, it should be done gradually. (Don't feed kitty tuna or liver. Tuna can cause steatitis (yellow fat disease), and liver can cause vitamin A toxicosis. And large amounts of fat can cause pancreatitis, so go easy on the fat.)

Commercial foods should consist of no more than 25% of kitty's diet. A superior diet doesn't include ANY commercial food, but we all know that sometimes we're in a pinch for time and sometimes need something quick to toss in kitty's bowl.
This is okay as long as commercial foods are kept to a minimum. When buying commercial foods, check the ingredients. Don't buy anything that lists corn as the first ingredient. This always means that corn is the primary ingredient. Look for foods that list meat or poultry as the first ingredient. And remember- Don't buy into the myth that dry food cleans teeth. If you must feed commercial cat food, try to stick with canned.

Leave grains out if at all possible, with the exception of white rice. White rice can help with digestive problems, but use it sparingly. Veggies should be routinely added to kitty's diet. Of the veggies, include broccoli, carrots, leafy greens, and peas. But be sure to shred/chop and cook.
It's not necessary to feed all of the above veggies every day. You can feed one or two one day, one or two the next, and so on.

I usually tell people to avoid dairy products since cats are lactose intollerant, but occasionally feeding yogurt and cottage cheese (very sparingly) won't hurt and can sometimes help with an upset tummy.

And, while it's best to avoid feeding too many carbohydrates, cooked and mashed sweet potato occasionally fed in small portions is okay if your kitty likes it.

Eggs are a great source of protein and can be fed cooked or raw, but try not to feed eggs more than twice per week (especially if fed raw).

But remember, sudden changes in diet can cause any number of problems. So "ween" kitty onto his new diet by mixing the ''new'' food with the food he is accustomed to and gradually increasing the amount of ''new'' food, and decreasing the amount of ''old'' food, with time as you notice positive changes.

Some people will say that bones are necessary for calcium and will add that cats have always eaten them. Firstly, broccoli and green leafy veggies, for example, are good calcium sources. (And, as someone kindly reminded me not long ago, you can purchase bone meal powder which is a great natural source of calcium and phosphorus.) Secondly, no one can state with authority that no cat is ever harmed by a bone splinter. It can, and does, happen. I realize that cats eat bones in the wild, but it's better to be safe than sorry in my opinion.

Others will say that a cat should be fed a diet consisting completely of meat. However, too much fish and meat (animal protein) causes excessive acidity. (And too much plant protein causes the urine to be too alkaline.) It's important to consider this when choosing kitty's diet because the most common cause of cat UTI is urolithiasis (which is the formation of stones in the urinary tract.) Struvite is the most common stone and is made up of minerals such as magnesium, ammonium, and phosphate. The acidic and alkaline properties of these minerals upset the pH level in the urine, which is also influenced by the proteins present in kitty's diet.



(You'll have better luck with answers if you post this question in the cats category... Click on "Pets" and then "Cats".)

Answer 2

Your cat may have something wrong with him or her because if a cat is gaining weight even though
you feed it a cup of food. A cup would be right
but I am worried about your cat. Have your cat checked over and try 1/2 to 3/4 cup of food.

Dont feed your cat table scraps because this can be loaded with grease and in time it would kill your cat.

Answer 3

I have five cats. The rest of them are average weight, while one is about 20 pounds. He has some health issues along with the weight. He doesn't eat constantly, but sometimes I scoot him away or isolate him in a separate room.

Anywho, each cat has their own bowl. I feed them twice per day, once in the morning and again at night. I think it's about 2 cups each time. They're treated to wet food on the weekends.

Answer 4

You haven't mentioned the age of your cat, so I'm wondering if he is older (ten years, or more). If so, you might like to consider one of the cat foods that are lower in fat and calories. Various manufacturers make food that specifically is for overweight or older cats. Food made by companies such as Hills or Science Diet (which is a bit more expensive than the standard brands that are on supermarket shelves) has a better nutritional mix.

I am attaching a link to a site that has some information about cat food for overweight cats. Please note the suggestions for the amounts to give for weight reduction (a bit less than one cup per day, according to current bodyweight.)

Answer 5

My two cats eat a can of wet cat food in the morning a snack a little bit on dry food during the day. They are healthy size cats but not fat or skinny.

A cup sounds normal, though

Answer 6

cat owners normal amount feed cat day

Answer 7

Then cut back some more, try diet foods. If he continues to gain, I'd schedule a vet appointment. I don't know if cat's gain weight or not if they have diabetes or other issues, but if there is *anything* going on that could be causing it, it's best that it's found early.

Answer 8

My cats eat as much as they want, we keep the bowls filled most of the day. One of them is pretty hefty, one of the them is just a little pudgy, and the last one is very normal and skinny. They all lounge around the house all day and do nothing, maybe they have different metabolism, or the fat one is just greedy. So maybe you should feed your cat less or talk to your vet about a diet plan.

Answer 9

i give my cat a bowl with dry food , and a little saucer with , either some chicken or turkey in it

and i always make sure he has plenty of water

why i spoil the little rat i dont know , he still scratches me sometimes , thats why i call him " mad cat " lol

if the weight gain looks way to much on your cat , maybe a quick visit to the vet would put your mind at rest


all the best
Ian :)

Answer 10

I feed my cat about 1 cup a day, and he's fine. I recommend changing his food, maybe it's too high in fat for him, try a weight control food.