How much does your cat eat per meal time?

dan138zig

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Assuming you feed premium brand, how much? I'm asking because my cat only eats about 1 Tsp per meal time. I'm wondering whether it's because he doesn't like it or it's actually enough.

edit: this is for kibble only
 
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minka

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How old is your cat? How many meals does he eat? Has he always eaten that amount?
My cat eats 4.9oz per day, 2.45oz per meal.
 
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dan138zig

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How old is your cat? How many meals does he eat? Has he always eaten that amount?
My cat eats 4.9oz per day, 2.45oz per meal.
I assume you feed wet? Sorry for not making it clear earlier but I'm talking about kibble here. Yes he always eaten that amount, he enjoys wet more, but due to budget concern I only able to feed him wet 1-2 days per week. He is 2 years old. He eats about 4 times per day. The feeding guide says: 1/4-1/2 cup for 5-10 lbs cat ( my cat is 9 lbs), so I guess he kinda undereats since 4 x 1 Tsp is less than 1/2 cup.
 
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catspaw66

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Do you mean tablespoons instead of teaspoons?  4 teaspoons equals 5/64 or 1/12 of a cup.  That is one sixth the recommended amount.
 
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dan138zig

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I thought Tsp means tablespoon? tsp = teaspoon.
 

ldg

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...and when VERY shortened, "T" is tablespoon and "t" is teaspoon. ;)

Well, I found that most of my cats needed to eat quite a bit less than the recommended amount of food. When you hold your hands over your cat's shoulders and feel his rib cage with your fingers, is there a little bit of a fat layer there?

How long has he been eating this amount?

Has he been losing weight? Or is his weight stable?

Has he seen a vet, and did the vet say his weight seems a healthy one? Is 9 pounds what he should weigh? My healthy weight cats range in size from 7 pounds to 13 pounds. I had a 9 pound cat that needed to weigh 7.5.

Most of us are used to cats being fatter than they "should" be. We have several thin cats - one of which I was confident was the right weight. I was very surprised when the vet told me he could stand to lose half a pound! Cats are naturally lean animals. :nod:

Here is a body score chart that may help you determine if your cat is a healthy weight: http://vet.osu.edu/vmc/body-condition-scoring-chart

Now - my cats all have a swingy bit of skin at the abdomen, having been spayed/neutered.

Here is one of my cats from the top - at the time, she weighed 11.5 pounds and needed to lose a pound.


What food are you feeding? If it's EVO, that may be enough food.

But if you think he needs more food, would adding another meal help, since he doesn't want to eat much AT each meal? :dk:
 
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minka

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If he's been eating the same amount for a long time and hasn't lost any weight, then you are fine. However, 4 teaspoons does sound like a *very* small amount. I would double check the label on the spoon.
 

mewlittle

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my cat's eat 1/2 can 8-10am in the morning and 1/2 can 6-8pm and dry later and there at good weight
 

katluver4life

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Foods vary in calories per oz. To determine if your kitty is eating enough, your vet should be able to tell you what he considers what your cats optimum weight should be and his caloric needs per day to maintain that weight. Then you determine the calories per oz that is in the food your feeding to determine how much per meal he needs. If he tends to like small meals, adding more meal times may help. Most manufactures tend to recommend above what is really needed, and since your boy has been eating this way and seems fine for so long, not sure I'd be concerned. But doesn't hurt to have him vet checked to be sure he is at his good weight.
 
 

ldg

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...and in that vein, every cat has a different metabolism, and it depends upon their level of activity. But most adult indoor-only cats need about 20 calories per pound daily.
 

flintmccullough

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How-much-to-feed-your-kitty,depends-on-alot-of-factors.

Is-the-kitty-underweight-or-overweight-or-normal.Your-vet-can-best-tell-you-if-he-she-feels-kitty-needs-to-lose-weight-gain-weight-or-is-just-right.

You-should-be-able-to-tell,where,his-ribs-are,as-opposed-to-feeling-them,per-say.You-should-be-able-to-tell-where-the-bones-by-his-tail-are,like-a-cow,instead-of-actually-feeling-them,per-say.You-should-be-able-to-tell-where-they-are,as-opposed-to-bumpity,bumpity,like-you-ran-over-a-pot-hole.

It-depends-on-the-metabolism-and-level-of-activity-of-the-kitty.Just-like-people,each-kitty-is-different.Some-people-can-eat-like-a-truck-driver,and-not-gain-weight,some-just-look-at-food,and-gain-weight.A-very-active-kitty,with-a-higher-metabolism,would-need-more-food,than-a-kitty,that-has-a-lower-level-of-activity,or-slower-metabolism.

It-also-depends,on-what-the-kcal-(calorie)-count-is.If-its-a-premium-brand,it-would-be-listed-on-the-bag-and-can.If-your-feeding-wet-and-dry,you-need-to-look-and-figure-in,the-kcal-of-both.

The-feeding-guide,on-the-bag,is-just-that,a-guide.Its-a-place-to-start,and-you-adjust-up-or-down.In-most-cases,the-guide-rates-the-amount-high.

Mine-get-1/2-3.0-can-in-the-morn,and-one-brother-gets-1/4-cup-dry-at-night,and-the-other-brother-gets-1/8-cup-at-night.Brothers-from-the-same-litter,one-has-a-higher-metabolism,both-are-very-active.My-vet-figured-the-amount-to-feed,based-on-the-kcal.I-feed-a-higher-fat-and-higher-protein,they-are-show-cats,so-they-have-a-higher-degree-of-activity.I-wouldn't-want-any-more-weight-on-them,and,judges-don't-final,thin-or-too-fat-kitties.

If-your-sure,your-kitty-likes-what-you-feed,then-take-the-kitty-and-the-bag-and-the-can-to-the-vet.He/she-can-look-at-the-kcal,and-the-kitty,and-best-advise-you,how-much,to-feed-of-the-wet-and-the-dry,per-day.Then-you-divy-it-up,into-however-many-feedings-you-want.
 

sevenwonders

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... he enjoys wet more, but due to budget concern I only able to feed him wet 1-2 days per week. He is 2 years old. He eats about 4 times per day. The feeding guide says: 1/4-1/2 cup for 5-10 lbs cat ( my cat is 9 lbs), so I guess he kinda undereats since 4 x 1 Tsp is less than 1/2 cup.
Seems to me that the "Feeding Guides" always over estimate - afterall, they are in the business of selling food. 


By the way, don't hesitate to try Friskies Poultry Platter * for an inexpensive canned food.

Many of us feed it - in my case, I give it to the Ferals,

and they are healthy with very soft coats (at least the ones I can pet.)

Or try Grreat Choice Poultry Platter if you have a PetSmart nearby.
 
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dan138zig

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thank you everyone for replying and sorry for this late reply! now he's being free fed and certainly eats enough a day (about 6 meals). I guess he has a small stomach or something :/
 
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