75% wet 25% dry

I made a post recently asking about wet foods. My cats have taken to friskies wet (only the gravy kind) turkey and cheese is a favorite. I'm working on adjusting them to different brands. (Meow mix wet no sea food and fancy feast classics chicken.)

I have four cats. Three who eat together (one who doesn't do well with sharing and eats by himself.) So for this question I'm only talking about three adult cats. I already have the fourth cats figured out.

I want to get them more on wet (at least 75% of their diet) and wondered if I feed three adult cats two 5.5 ounce cans in the morning and two 5.5 cans in the evening with some dry left in their bowl would that in AVERAGE be a good amount? That would be over 20 ounces for three cats a day.

Of course I'll watch their weight the first couple of weeks and adjust as needed. I'm just trying to figure out how many cans to buy for three cats, since their food will be together.

These three cats are also my picky eaters. The one who eats alone likes all and any food given. haha

If you've read this far, thanks!

Also I read earlier in several posts about chicken soup. Is this something you make? Or literally chicken soup. Also is it given daily or as a treat? Thanks!

Generally, indoor spayed/neutered adult cats of average size need about 5-6 ounces of canned food a day. So 4 cans a day for 3 cats plus some dry would probably be too much. Unless one of your cats is exceptionally large . I'd try one can each and a few kibbles for a snack and see how that goes.

(Oops, I just noticed you're thinking of switching to Fancy Feast and Meow Mix, which only come in bitty 3-oz cans/trays. So 4 of those plus some dry would probably be about right)

On a related note, does Meow Mix wet even have any fish-free flavors? I just looked at the ingredients for someone else and I remember a lot of fish. . .

Chicken Soup for the Cat Lover's Soul is a brand of cat food. It's pretty good and reasonably priced, although I haven't tried their canned food--I think it's chunky and my cats don't eat the chunks. I mean, maybe someone was talking about actual chicken soup. . .but I think it was probably the brand name.

Thank you for replying so fast!

Two are small cats and one is 12lbs. The meow mix I looked at was beef and poultry. I only checked it out online but would further investigate in the store to make for sure!

Thanks for the clarification on the soup!

I plan on keeping them on friskies but possibly adding FF classic. It all depends on them! Also for variety meow mix.

Depending on the calorie count of the foods you are feeding, you may be overfeeding them with that plan. Most cats do fine on about 5.5-6oz of wet food a day with no dry. Most adult indoor neutered cats of average activity level need about 20 calories per pound of ideal body weight daily. So a 10 pound cat needs about 200 calories.

Okay thanks! I was more worried about not feeding them enough. But guess that is not the case!

A can in a half twice a day should be better, right? (16.5 ounces a day)

Also just a note if this is plenty for them I would gladly cut all dry!

Can you do one can three times a day? Sort of a before work, after work, before bed schedule? It will probably be more satisfying that way and help prevent any excess stomach acid issues from transitioning from being free fed to scheduled meals. Or if you can only feed twice a day, you could leave a little bit of kibble down overnight or during the day (whichever one is the longest time gap between meals).

I'm home all day (home maker) so I can definitely do whatever schedule would be best for them.

So three times a day, how many ounces in each feeding? (I don't want to get confused again.) haha

Oh wait (sorry didn't read that right), 1 can each feeding for all three right? 5.5 ounces three times a day sounds a lot better. Thanks!

I just looked at a cup of Meow Mix beef and poultry (I'm shopping right now ) and the first 2 ingredients are fish broth and tuna :/. It looks like all their flavors have fish. So if you're trying to avoid fish I think Meow Mix is out. The fish-free flavors of Friskies pate are Mixed Grill and Country Style Dinner, several others have fish far enough down the list that I think they should be OK. I think the Turkey and Cheese shreds are also fish-free, although the shreds are made of wheat gluten so it's not ideal (still better than kibble though). Fancy Feast. . .I haven't looked into all the flavors that are fish-free but I'm pretty sure Turkey and Giblets and Classic Chicken are.

Thanks for letting me know! I am trying to avoid fish!

They aren't interested at all in anything other than the gravy type, but I'm going to try mixing and get them use to it! Hopefully they transition well! I may pick up some FF classics chicken. Hopefully they take to it!

Wish me luck!

FF - Turkey&Giblet Classic is fish free

FF - Chicken Classic is not.  But it's down the list so your call.  I have a 24 case of both, and will go through the Chicken one but would likely scout around for an alternative chicken based, without any fish next time. 

Thanks for the clarification! I'll check out the turkey and giblet then because I'm trying to avoid fish at all costs. One of my cats has had two UTI's recently.

Roger that, can't blame you.