Owning a pet comes with a lot of responsibilities, especially when it comes to cats since they have sensitive stomachs and their bodies do not possess the ability to expel any toxins that they might accidentally consume. Fortunately, you can get readymade meals for your cats in the form of canned food, there’s a vast variety of cat foods to choose from, all of which provide the essential nourishment needed to keep your four-legged friend healthy and active. We’re going to be addressing the question “how much canned food to feed a cat?” this question is asked quite commonly by both first time and experienced owners since there are a lot of factors which determine what amount you should give to your pet and in what way.
Cats can be quite gluttonous and usually don’t say no to food, to keep your pet from getting fat it’s important to feed them in a controlled manner. The main factors to focus on when deciding on the amount you wish to feed your cat include its age, weight, whether you’re going to feed it dry food or wet food and whether it’s pregnant or not. Taking your cat’s activity level and the quality of the food you’re using into account should also be considered. Higher quality foods are richer in nutrients which reduce the amount needed per serving to fulfill your cat’s nutrient requirements.
Cat foods come in two primary types; there’s dry food that usually contains more protein but lesser water, and there’s wet food that has more water content, both have their own perks, and it’s best to alternate between the two. Many owners serve their cats dry food on a regular basis since it helps keep their teeth and gums clean. However, it’s important to serve your cat wet food once or twice a week to keep them from getting bored of their meals. A dry food only diet can also be followed, but in this case, owners should make sure that they use high-quality food and that their cat drinks plenty of water to keep hydrated.
The Animal Medical Centre in New York says that a healthy, active cat of 8 pounds should consume up to 240 calories per day, breaking it down to 30 calories per pound, the exact amount can vary depending on your pet’s activity and age. A typical 60z can of wet food contains around 250 calories, so a healthy cat should consume almost a whole can of wet food per meal. However, if you also give your cat dry food then you can adjust the portions accordingly, dry food contains 300 calories per cup, so based on the information given above adjust the servings.
Most owners feed their cats twice a day, once in the morning, and once in the evening, people also like to free feed them dry food or other types of edibles throughout the day. While the concept of free feeding is to give your cat a treat or two every now and then without keeping track of what amount it has eaten, but it’s better to keep a track of the exact amount it eats throughout the day since details about its diet can come in really handy when you’re taking it to the vet for a check-up. The best way to keep track of free fed food is to allot a measured amount beforehand and then hand it out to your pet throughout the day.
Once you’ve determined your cat’s diet taking care of your pet becomes a whole lot easier, and the biggest benefit of feeding your cat just the right amount is that it will stay more active and lead a healthier lifestyle overall. It can also help you keep diseases such as obesity and intestinal problems at bay, if you’re still having trouble with determining what amount to feed your cat then you can consult a vet, they’ll help you figure out the best diet for your pet.
