How much wet to feed

My cats eat mostly dry, but share a 3oz can between the 3 of them, twice a day.

I want to try switching them to canned only, but don't know how much to feed them. I know the packaging will say to give x amount per pound, per day, blah blah blah.

I have math issues. I need someone to spell it out for me please! :anon:

Sassy weighs about 12 pounds

Xander weighs about 13

Riley weighs about 13-14

None of them are overweight, per the vet, but it wouldn't hurt any of them to trim up just a little either.

So, if I fed them twice a day, how many ounces would I give each of them at each feeding? Please help me with the math here guys!

You made me just read my cans of cat food to see what they recommend. Of course each brand has a different feeding formula, so you may need to give us more information on what your brand recommends.

What I just read, is to feed them 1 to 1-1/2 ounce per pound of cat per day, preferably at least twice a day. You've got roughly 38 pounds of cat at your house. So:

If the cans say 1 ounce per pound per day:
For 3 ounce cans, you need close to 13 cans a day, or 6-1/2 cans per feeding (that's roughly 2 cans per cat per meal)
For 5.5 ounce cans, you need 7 cans a day, or 3-1/2 cans per feeding (that's roughly 1 can per cat per meal)

My Muddy is about 14-1/2 pounds, and he eats the better part of a 5.5 ounce can for breakfast each morning. So while that seems like a lot of food, it's probably not too far off. He nibbles on dry to make up the difference.

Momofmany said:

You made me just read my cans of cat food to see what they recommend. Of course each brand has a different feeding formula, so you may need to give us more information on what your brand recommends.
What I just read, is to feed them 1 to 1-1/2 ounce per pound of cat per day, preferably at least twice a day. You've got roughly 38 pounds of cat at your house. So:
If the cans say 1 ounce per pound per day:
For 3 ounce cans, you need close to 13 cans a day, or 6-1/2 cans per feeding (that's roughly 2 cans per cat per meal)
For 5.5 ounce cans, you need 7 cans a day, or 3-1/2 cans per feeding (that's roughly 1 can per cat per meal)
My Muddy is about 14-1/2 pounds, and he eats the better part of a 5.5 ounce can for breakfast each morning. So while that seems like a lot of food, it's probably not too far off. He nibbles on dry to make up the difference.

Click to expand...

Wow that's a lot of cans! I feed various brands. Wellness, Avoderm when I can, Fancy Feast & Meow Mix cups when I can't. Really don't think I can afford to feed that much wet right now, particularly if I want to give them only the good brands.

This may have to wait until I can find Sassy a home. Then it would just be the two of them and require less cans.

Just like the feeding recommendation on bags of dry food, the cans usually recommend way too much. In my experience, most indoor adult cats on a canned-food-only diet eat about 5-6 ounces a day each. You could split a 5.5-ounce can between the 3 of them 3 times a day and that would probably be fine.

Willowy said:

Just like the feeding recommendation on bags of dry food, the cans usually recommend way too much. In my experience, most indoor adult cats on a canned-food-only diet eat about 5-6 ounces a day each. You could split a 5.5-ounce can between the 3 of them 3 times a day and that would probably be fine.

Click to expand...

That is EXACTLY what I was going to post. :lol3: I'd just add - when you split the can, just give Riley a little more than a third of a can, and Sassy a little less. The meals wouldn't need to be evenly spaced. I feed am, pm, and before bed. :nod:

LDG said:

That is EXACTLY what I was going to post. :lol3: I'd just add - when you split the can, just give Riley a little more than a third of a can, and Sassy a little less. The meals wouldn't need to be evenly spaced. I feed am, pm, and before bed. :nod:

Click to expand...

Riley already gets more. He gobbles his down and then pushes Xander out of the last bit of his if I don't watch them until they're done :lol3:

Little piggy!

I feed my cats 5.5 oz can a day. Half in the morning and half in the evening. Sometimes I would give less than a quarter cup of dry at lunch. Not always

AlleyGirl said:

Riley already gets more. He gobbles his down and then pushes Xander out of the last bit of his if I don't watch them until they're done :lol3:
Little piggy!

Click to expand...

:lol3: Yup, know that one! That's my Billy! oink! oink!

Draco said:

I feed my cats 5.5 oz can a day. Half in the morning and half in the evening. Sometimes I would give less than a quarter cup of dry at lunch. Not always

Click to expand...

About how much do your cats weight? That amount might be doable for me with a little dry for snack at some point.

Willowy said:

Just like the feeding recommendation on bags of dry food, the cans usually recommend way too much. In my experience, most indoor adult cats on a canned-food-only diet eat about 5-6 ounces a day each. You could split a 5.5-ounce can between the 3 of them 3 times a day and that would probably be fine.

Click to expand...

The recommendations on the bags of kibble and on the cans of wet are meant as a guideline in most cases.  It's a double edged sword IMO.  The manufacturer is not about to recommend a smaller amount to be fed in case of liability.  Many folks believe manufacturers do this to sell more food.  I suppose that is possible but I'm not privvy to all that private corporate stuff that goes on in the board room or marketing strategy meetings I do know that it is meant as a recommendation, as I said.  Cat owners will have to determine, and take some responsibility oh how much to feed their pets.