Food quantity depending on activity?

dlkhain · Sep 15, 2012

Hi,

Our two cats just turned 1 so we've switched to adult food in type and quantity, with a mix of wet and dry.

We've been following the guidelines at the back of the packets, but one thing that strikes me is that those guidelines don't consider the cat's lifestyle at all. Our two monsters spend a lot of time outside, chasing each other and galloping around - should they be allowed more food than a sedentary cat staying indoors?

Obviously, I wouldn't ask if it didn't feel like we're not feeding them enough. Breakfast is ok, we leave them biscuits for the day (which are all gone by the time we come home), but dinner is the one that brought this to my attention - they start prowling in the kitchen at 6.30pm, and as soon as the food is put down it's pretty much gone. Which makes sense to me if they're famished after a day of exercising.

Should I give them a bit more in the evenings if they've spent the day out, or do I risk overfeeding them?

just mike · Sep 15, 2012

dlkhain said:
Hi,

Our two cats just turned 1 so we've switched to adult food in type and quantity, with a mix of wet and dry.

We've been following the guidelines at the back of the packets, but one thing that strikes me is that those guidelines don't consider the cat's lifestyle at all. Our two monsters spend a lot of time outside, chasing each other and galloping around - should they be allowed more food than a sedentary cat staying indoors?

Obviously, I wouldn't ask if it didn't feel like we're not feeding them enough. Breakfast is ok, we leave them biscuits for the day (which are all gone by the time we come home), but dinner is the one that brought this to my attention - they start prowling in the kitchen at 6.30pm, and as soon as the food is put down it's pretty much gone. Which makes sense to me if they're famished after a day of exercising.

Should I give them a bit more in the evenings if they've spent the day out, or do I risk overfeeding them?

Those guidelines are meant to be just guidelines. To give you a general idea of the amount to feed on a daily basis based on weight and age or desired weight. Personally I feel the guidelines can be a bit misleading and tend to overstate the amount to feed.

I guess the questions I have would be, are your cats overweight or perhaps underweight? If they are at the correct weight and are healthy, I probably would not change the amount of food they are fed daily. You can always do a second feeding later in the evening if you desire but I would not increase their daily amount unless they begin to lose weight from their activities. Just stretch the daily amount into 3 meals instead of the regular 2. Their activity will begin to slow down a bit as they get older and at that time you may want to begin decreasing the amount of food they eat. By packets I'm assuming it is wet you are feeding the evening meal.

kittylover23 · Sep 17, 2012

dlkhain said:
Hi,

Our two cats just turned 1 so we've switched to adult food in type and quantity, with a mix of wet and dry.

We've been following the guidelines at the back of the packets, but one thing that strikes me is that those guidelines don't consider the cat's lifestyle at all. Our two monsters spend a lot of time outside, chasing each other and galloping around - should they be allowed more food than a sedentary cat staying indoors?

Obviously, I wouldn't ask if it didn't feel like we're not feeding them enough. Breakfast is ok, we leave them biscuits for the day (which are all gone by the time we come home), but dinner is the one that brought this to my attention - they start prowling in the kitchen at 6.30pm, and as soon as the food is put down it's pretty much gone. Which makes sense to me if they're famished after a day of exercising.

Should I give them a bit more in the evenings if they've spent the day out, or do I risk overfeeding them?

I agree with Mike, the guidelines are just guidelines (they are not carved in stone...:lol3

. I always fed my kitties 5.5oz to 7oz a day when they were on canned, but if they were running around and playing all day I would give them a little bit more. What are the guidelines on the packet that you have been following?

dlkhain · Sep 17, 2012

Hi there,

Thanks for the replies - yes, I realise there's room to adjust but was just wondering if there was an "accepted" way to bump it up based on how much activity the kittens are involved in.

Currently giving them one pouch of wet + 40grams of dried food each, every day.

... and topping up with another 10 grams in the evening if they've been running around and are quite vocal

minka · Sep 17, 2012

I also agree with Mike; I would not give them any more food unless they start to lose weight.
The thing with cats is that they are very good at giving off the "I'm starving and DYING!" act. But unless they are losing weight, it's just an act.
AND every time you give in and give them more food, you are only reinforcing the bad behavior. :nod::nod::nod:
Keep them at one pouch + 40 grams and check with your vet to find out what their ideal weights are and write it down. Then just always make it your goal to keep them there.

Food quantity depending on activity?

dlkhain

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just mike

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kittylover23

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dlkhain

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minka

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