How Much Should You Feed Your Cat? This Guide Tells You

how much should you feed your cat

Key Points

  • Diamond Naturals Kitten Food has a formula designed for the nutritional needs of young kittens.

  • It's a good idea to start your kitten out with at least some wet or canned food.

  • Elderly cats may have issues with palatability, which may be remedied by feeding a senior cat food.

tips for how much you should feed your cat

Rooming with a feline is so great, isn't it? They offer companionship as well as entertainment. Their silly antics are absolutely hilarious at times! It makes sense then that as a cat guardian, you want to take good care of your cat.

Caring for your feline means asking lots of questions. One of those questions pertains to food and diet. Have you found yourself wondering how much you should feed your cat? Read on for some helpful hints and tips.

Kitten Formula Dry Cat Food
$22.49

by Diamond Naturals 

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02/18/2024 12:01 am GMT

Key Highlights of Diamond Naturals Kitten Food

Diamond Naturals Kitten Foood has a formulation that's especially intended for growing kittens. The protein content is a bit higher than normal adult cat food because kittens expend so much energy when they're young. It's not a huge difference because, unlike dogs, cats don't slow down much as they age.

When your kitten learns to eat solid food for the first time, it's best to start them out on wet or canned food. This is a good transition, even if you decide to switch them to dry food at some point. You may even use a combination of wet and dry. Diamond Naturals Kitten Food has both varieties, though the canned food shows "adult and kitten." This is because canned food tends to be higher in protein and lower in carbohydrates.

Whenever you choose a cat food, look at the ingredient list. The first ingredient listed in Diamond Naturals is chicken — not chicken by-product, water, or any other type of filler. The company is family-owned and uses quality ingredients.

Which Cat Owners Should Buy Diamond Naturals Kitten Food and Why

If you have a new kitten in your household, you want to start them out with the most nutritional diet possible. Many options exist, so it's a tough choice.

You also want to think about your budget. Diamond Naturals isn't the most expensive cat food on the market, but it's not the cheapest. As far as price, it's "middle of the road." When you buy cheap cat food, as with anything else, you get what you pay for. The quality tends to follow the price point.

If you have concerns about both the price and quality of your kitten's cat food, Diamond Naturals Kitten Food is a good choice for you and your fur baby.

For first-time kitten owners, get a few cans of Diamond Naturals Kitten Food and try a bag of their dry food. It's only a six-pound bag, so trying it out isn't a big investment.

When deciding how much to feed them, there's a feeding guide on the back of the bag, though every cat has different tendencies and needs.

No Hard and Fast Food Rule

Before diving into some particular details, there’s one important thing to remember. Though there are general guidelines, there are no hard and fast rules. Each cat has individual differences, just like anything else. Keeping this in mind, let’s explore some of the best practices on feeding frequency from Cornell Feline Health Center.

Growing Kittens Need a Bit More Food

Young cats need a different amount of food than older cats. In fact, kittens should be fed a bit more food than mature cats. Allowing kittens to eat a larger portion of food helps them develop and grow as they head toward adulthood. You may find that your kitten needs to eat three times a day as they grow up. This is fairly typical since they need food to fuel their growth. how much you should feed your cat

Feeding Adult Cats

Once your cat turns about six months old, you likely consider them mature. That means they're no longer a kitten! As your cat gets older, you want to consider reducing meal frequency. Try feeding them two times per day rather than three.

Depending on the cat, you may also fill the food dish just once per day, as some cats are "grazers." If your cat tends to overeat, this may not be the best option for them.

Senior Cats

For the most part, you want to keep on feeding your cat once or twice per day as they enter their golden years. As long as your senior cat does well and gets a clean bill of health, continue to feed them like the mature cat they are.

As they age, you may see your senior cat losing weight. The palates of elderly cats sometimes change. It's a good idea to put them on a cat food specially formulated for senior cats. The food tastes better to them while they get the nutrition they need.

How Much to Feed Cats

As far as the amount of food to put in the dish, Kirkwood Animal Hospital provides some helpful guidelines. First, be sure to feed kitty a quality food with plenty of protein. Indoor cats likely require between one-third to one-half cup of food daily.

They also suggest feeding your cat a mixture of dry and wet foods. Try giving kitty about two ounces of dry kibble and roughly 2.5 ounces of canned food each day. Monitor your cat and adjust these amounts as needed. how much should you feed your cat

Consider Kitty’s Health

A number of medical conditions crop up with cats at times. This impacts nearly every aspect of their lives, including their dietary needs. When cats have diabetes, for instance, you need to time their food delivery with insulin. If your cat has some dental health issues and only eats wet food, you may need to feed them more often.

Cats and Food

These general guidelines help you figure out how much and when to feed your cat. Don’t forget to adjust these guidelines according to your individual cat’s needs. Your vet should be a trusted resource if you have specific questions about your cat’s diet. There is a study that suggests that the average healthy feline only needs one meal per day, but it seems that many cats would not stand for that—which comes as no surprise given most cats' love of eating! how much does my kitten need to eat?

Did you learn anything new and interesting about our feline friends? Share this article with other cat lovers that you know so they learn something, too.

Subscribe to Cattitude Daily for more feeding tips and other feline health information.

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