Plenty of cat parents find themselves pondering over how many pouches of cat food will meet their cat’s nutritional needs.
Indeed, there’s a multitude of factors to mull over.
First of all, you’ll need to determine the right calorie intake for your feline friend.
How Many Calories Does My Cat Need Per Meal?
Your cat’s calorie intake depends on a number of factors including age and weight.
The table below is based on recommended calorie-intake data from the Pet Nutrition Alliance.
| Weight | Calories (Neutered/Spayed) | Calories (Intact) |
|---|---|---|
| 2.0 kg – 3.0 kg (Kitten) | 118 – 160 Calories | 141 – 192 Calories |
| 3.0 kg – 3.5 kg | 160 – 179 Calories | 192 – 215 Calories |
| 3.5 kg – 4.0 kg | 179 – 198 Calories | 215 – 238 Calories |
| 4.0 kg – 4.5 kg | 198 – 216 Calories | 238 – 260 Calories |
| 4.5kg – 5kg | 216 – 234 Calories | 260 – 281 Calories |
| 5.0 kg – 5.5 kg | 234 – 251 Calories | 281 – 302 Calories |
| 5.5 kg – 6.0 kg | 251 – 268 Calories | 302 – 322 Calories |
| 6.0 kg – 6.5 kg | 268 – 285 Calories | 322 – 342 Calories |
As you can see from the above chart, correct calorie depends on a cat’s age, weight and activity levels
The latter is largely determined by whether or not the cat has been neutered or spayed. We’ll go into this a bit more later.
Although it’s suggested that a kitten might need as much as 192 calories a day, up to 270 may be required in order to aid development and growth. Fully-grown cats need between 160 to 342 calories per day.
So How Many Pouches Should I Feed My Cat?
Considering that a typical 100g packet of cat food holds approximately 70 to 100 calories, the goal should be to offer your feline friend around 3 to 5 packets each day.
Although the precise quantity hinges on the factors already discussed, a range of 3 to 5 packets should satiate your cat’s appetite and supply the necessary nutrients.
How Does Weight Influence Calorie Intake?
Your cat’s weight plays an important role in determining his dietary needs. The logic is pretty simple here.
The larger the cat, the greater the energy demands.
The amount of calories that a cat needs will obviously differ between each one.
To ensure that your cat is getting sufficient nutrition, you should therefore monitor his weight regularly, adjusting his diet accordingly.
How Does Age Influence Calorie Intake?
A common misconception is that older cats need less food than younger ones because their metabolism has slowed. But this isn’t actually true.
The effects of a slowing metabolism are offset by the fact that cats struggle to digest fat and protein. So, older cats (13+) often need the same amount of calories as a young adult cat.
Impact of Neutering or Spaying on Calorie Intake
It’s crucial to note that procedures like spaying or neutering can significantly influence a cat’s energy needs and consequently, the number of calories they require.
Because of these procedures, your cat probably won’t roam as much or embark on expeditions to find a mate.
This is because your cat will be less likely to roam, fight with other cats or go in search of a mate.
So it’s really important to reduce caloric intake after surgery so that your cat maintains a healthy weight.
How Much Food to Feed a Pregnant Cat
Pregnant cats need about 50% more food than they’d usually consume in order to get the calories and protein needed to support their kittens.
After about six weeks of pregnancy, they’ll feel a lot of pressure on the stomach, which will make it difficult to eat large portions of food. At this point, feed your pregnant cat four to six small meals per day.
Benefits of Pouched Cat Food
The healthiest cat food pouches don’t contain any fillers or artificial ingredients.
They also contain plenty of core ingredients and elements that can help your cat get all of its nutritional needs. Here’s a run-down.
Moisture
The moisture found in cat food helps with digestion, breaking down nutrients and preventing dehydration. This isn’t the case with dried food such as kibble.
Fat
Fat can provide your feline friend with the necessary energy it needs to lead an active life. Fat also helps with cell integrity and metabolic regulation. Cats need about 20 – 24% of fat in their food.
Protein
Protein is a macronutrient that’s very important for cats. They need it to build and maintain muscle mass and to assist in enzyme and hormone production. The average adult cat needs around 30g of protein a day.
Fibre
Cats need fibre in their diet because it helps to keep the digestive tract working properly. Fibre provides a good source of roughage, which is essential for maintaining a healthy digestive system. It gives cats important nutrients and can prevent constipation or diarrhoea.
Where to Buy Wet Cat Food with Healthy Ingredients
Establishing a Feeding Routine for Your Cat
The ideal number of meals for cats ranges from 2 to 5 day.
This will be influenced by factors like age and activity levels and applies even if you’ve put your cat on a weight-loss diet.
A lot of experts suggest putting food down once in the morning and once at night at the same time each day.
A consistent diet is thought to help cats maintain a healthy digestive system. There is however some debate about how long the interval should be between meals.
It’s been found that twelve hour breaks help prevent the stomach from becoming hyper-acidic. But there are plenty of cat owners who feed their cats at breakfast, lunch afternoon, dinner and before bedtime.
Hopefully, you’ve gleaned enough information from this article to ensure that your cat receives a healthy and balanced diet.
If you have any doubts or queries regarding feline nutrition you may want to contact a vet.
Useful Links
ASPCA – Cat Nutrition Tips
College of Veterinary Medicine, Cornell University – Feeding Your Cat
