Help! I don't know how much wet food to give Squeaky!

Hello all,
I am new to this board today! And I was reading all the great info on feeding a mixed diet of dry food to nibble on and wet food at meals...but no one mentioned how much wet food is appropriate. Can I get some advice?
Squeaky is about 1-2 years old (she was a rescue so we aren't positive) and is a very heathly and active girl...I want to add a picture but I'm just not sure how!!
Thanks!!

Originally Posted by simplysweet13

Hello all,
I am new to this board today! And I was reading all the great info on feeding a mixed diet of dry food to nibble on and wet food at meals...but no one mentioned how much wet food is appropriate. Can I get some advice?
Squeaky is about 1-2 years old (she was a rescue so we aren't positive) and is a very heathly and active girl...I want to add a picture but I'm just not sure how!!
Thanks!!

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It varies depending on the brand. If you look on the can's label, you will see a listing for either a Recommended Feeding Guideline or something similar. It will tell you how much to feed either depending on the cat's weight or age (i.e. some will say feed one can per 3 lbs. of body weight, double this if a kitten or pregnant/nursing mom - this is what is on Fancy Feast cans).

Each brand is different - so go by what is on the label

I've never understood the feeding guidelines as they always seem to say the heavier your cat the more you should feed which sounds like a contradiction.

For a normal weight healthy cat our cat rescue group usually recommends up to half of a 5.5 oz can twice a day (for up to 1 can total) or 2 of the smaller 3oz cans adjusting for the cat's appetite. That's a decent starting point at least.

Originally Posted by stephenq

I've never understood the feeding guidelines as they always seem to say the heavier your cat the more you should feed which sounds like a contradiction.

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To me that says it's needed for the larger animal to get sufficient nutrition..with the lesser quality foods the recommended amount will be higher A delicate 5 lb. adult cat would not require the same amount of food as a 15 lb. Maine Coon.

I think 1 5.5 oz can per day or 2 3oz cans per day is okay, if you are also feeding dry food. If you at any point decide to feed only wet, then you can give more.

I feed only wet, and between my two they get a 12 oz can a day split into two feedings. That's 6oz each daily. They both weigh around 7lbs.

I have several friends that feed wet and dry (50/50) and they feed a quarter to a half a cup of dry (depending on the size of your cat) and half of a 5.5oz can daily.

It really depends on the food, whether canned or dry, so you have to more or less go by the feeding guidelines. The cheaper brands require that you feed at least twice as much as the premium brands, and the cat's size, age, and activity level make a difference, e.g., I have a >13 lb. cat and a dainty 6 lb. cat (our "half cat"). He's an indoor cat who goes outside on a leash, while she's outside most of the day, and roams. They're both 6, and get one 3 ounce (85 gram) can of wet food daily, while he gets 30 grams of kibble, and she gets 15 - 20 grams. They maintain their weights on that amount. Our two school cats, sisters who weigh about 7 - 8 lbs., were each getting two 8 ounce cans of (supermarket) food a day (!), until I talked the custodian into using better brands. Now they each get two 3 ounce cans apiece, plus what they mooch off the students who really know better than to give them snacks, as they're both a little tubby.

I really appreciate the advice...
I'm going to try the small cans twice a day and see how she does with that...she has such a voice, she'll let me know if that's a problem!
Thanks again,
Sabrina

Originally Posted by vanillasugar

I have several friends that feed wet and dry (50/50) and they feed a quarter to a half a cup of dry (depending on the size of your cat) and half of a 5.5oz can daily.

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This is what I do too! Any more and they seem to be prone to vomiting! They get either 1/2 pouch or small can twice a day or 1/4 can each twice a day.

I give my two picky eaters each a heaping spoonful of wet 3 times a day as they will only eat enough if I give it to them in little doses. We go through about 1 to 1.5- 5.5oz. cans a day, depending on how much wet I can coax them into eating. They also get a little over 3/4 cup total of dry put out daily (split between 2 bowls) which they rarely finish.

Also, keep in mind that I am purposely trying to fatten a kitten up, so if this seems like a lot, the feeding methods I use are specifically to get her to gain weight. Which is finally happening!!