The question of how much food a cat needs to receive every day is quite 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 consequences of obesity in cats manifest themselves quite quickly: animals lose part of their mobility, become less active and after a while begin to suffer from various diseases. A variety of cats rations supports health and provides them with beautiful coat.
It should be noted that even wild representatives of the cat family can not quickly get hungry, because you should not go on about your pet and feed him when he wants to. Cats can live without food for several days. Freshwater is much more important than milk, as many still believe. Even if it seems to you that the pet is still hungry, do not let yourself be deceived.
No need to give the cat unlimited access to food at his whim, worry about his health and try to feed strictly according to the schedule. Sometimes, of course, the animal can be pampered, but do not abuse it.
How much should dry food be eaten?
It has been proven that for most cat breeds, some food is needed around the clock in a bowl. Twice a day, a small portion of moist food is additionally served.
- Little kittens need a lot of energy to grow.Therefore, they usually eat 2-3 times more than adults. Their daily food requirement is from 250 to 350 grams.
- Elderly animals of normal weight need about 130 grams of food per day. Dry feed that appears in the bowl in the morning and evening is optimal.
- For overweight animals, just 100 grams of feed per day is sufficient.
- Pregnant and lactating, as well as active cat breeds, such as Bengalis, should have a full bowl, as they have a high need for food. They are supposed to 450 grams of food per day, distributed in several receptions.
As a rule, on a pack with dry food there is a table by which you can determine how much food is needed for a particular animal.
Dry food is cheaper than wet and contains all the nutrients that are important for a cat. The bowl should be filled with quality dry food. High quality dry food suitable without hesitation as the only dish. He will provide any cat with all the necessary ingredients that he needs. Thanks to the high-quality dry food for cats, the animal eats without harmful additives.
If you feed your pet with dry food, it is necessary to ensure the water content in food is from 8 to 10%, because animals satisfy their need for fluids mainly with food. 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 food than adults or old adults. The activity and breed of the animal is also critical to the type and quantity of food. The boredom and stress of the animal leads 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 she goes to the bowl daily up to 20 times.
Experts say 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 requirement than the old one, so the daily feed rate is approximate and should be adapted for an individual individual. However, if the cat refuses to eat or is often full, the cause may be illness.
It is important that the food is always at room temperature and never stored outside the refrigerator. It is also necessary to teach a pet to eat in a certain place and provide him with rest for the duration of the meal.
How to calculate the rate?
A healthy adult cat usually needs about 5 grams of protein for every kilogram of weight. This applies to animals of the correct complexion without signs of obesity. Therefore, if the cat weighs too much, she should receive less feed, and if she weighs less, the portions should be more.
The animal's energy requirement increases if he spends a lot of time outdoors. An 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 issue.
To maintain the right balance of nutrients, it is 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, do not 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 and needs feeding, the best solution is to give it a suitable milk replacer. You can’t give cow's milk to a small kitten - it contains too little protein, but a lot of sugar.
Solid food can be administered from about 4 weeks on. 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 snacks.
Gradually, the cat should try the food of various consistencies - dry, pre-cooked meat or fish. Servings 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. The cat does not need to eat until fully saturated, so that its body can function normally.
Another solution is to feed the animal only twice a day, but in large quantities, leaving unlimited access to dry food. A cat can eat it whenever he wants. However, if the pet is greedy, he will be able to immediately consume the entire supply of food. The lack of any control can quickly lead to obesity, so follow your pet, and if he tries to eat everything at once, it is better to exclude access to food and continue feeding according to the schedule.
The average body weight depends primarily on the age of the animal. Until 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.
Determining the body weight rate is quite simple, for this you need to pay attention to the amount of fatty tissue of a pet, in particular:
- with sufficient weight, the cat should have thin adipose tissue and slightly noticeable ribs;
- with a strong protrusion of the spine and ribs, it is possible to judge about insufficient weight;
- in the case when the ribs are almost impossible to feel, we can talk about overweight.
Note that for weight control it is necessary to follow a diet, control the amount of food consumed and do not forget about substances that are beneficial for animals.
How to understand that the cat is not enough food?
You can leave a bowl of food for your pet for the whole day, but you should not fill it up to the full daily rate right away. If you leave home and there will be no one to feed the cat, you can provide her with half the daily ration, and give the rest in the evening. Also note that it is necessary to organize her unlimited access to water.
The body of these animals does not tolerate cow's milk, contrary to popular belief. because It is worth restricting your pet from consuming dairy products.
Lack of food for the pet is reflected in his loss of weight and activity. But do not forget that feed, on the contrary, can be a lot. Pets are less mobile than street ones, therefore they require more modest food, overfeeding them is easy enough.
What do new owners need to know?
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’s important to strike a balance between your cat’s nutritional needs and preferences.
When a person brings a new cat home, it is important to continue to feed her with the same amount of the same food and in the same schedule that she is used to, and then gradually, literally a tablespoon, switch to a new meal and a new schedule.
The sensitivity of a cat to thirst is significantly less than that of a dog. They do not voluntarily drink water like dogs.
But when cats do not consume enough water, they can develop urinary tract infections, as in humans. Feeding your pet high quality wet food ensures that it gets water with food.
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 insufficient nutrition, then it is necessary to increase the amount of food. But there is also a risk that the pet is simply sick and needs to be shown to the veterinarian. If everything is fine, then you just need to change the diet and choose another feed for it.
Note that different animals can take different food - one is suitable only for certain foods, others eat everything. because if you find a certain type of food that your pet liked and fully meets the necessary requirements for calorie content, the presence of nutrients and other parameters, then you should try to use only it, only occasionally adding variety to the diet of your pet.
About how and how to feed the cat, see the next video.
