Your cat is miaowing at the bowl as if they hadn’t eaten for days, and you don’t know whether you’re giving them too much or not enough. Knowing how much a cat should eat a day isn’t about memorising a figure: the grams change with their weight, their activity and the calories in their food. Here’s a guide table and the sum for working out how many grams a cat should eat with the food you give them.
- Table by weight
- How to work out the grams
- Neutered or indoor cats
- Kittens and older cats
- Whether the portion is right
- Frequently asked questions
How much a cat should eat a day by weight
This table is for a healthy adult cat at the right weight. It’s based on the average energy needs set out in the nutritional guidelines of the European pet food industry and takes as an example a dry food with 380 kcal per 100 g and a wet food with 90 kcal per 100 g.
| Weight | kcal a day | Dry food only | Wet food only |
|---|---|---|---|
| 3 kg | 155-210 | 40-55 g | 175-230 g |
| 4 kg | 190-255 | 50-65 g | 210-280 g |
| 5 kg | 220-295 | 60-75 g | 245-325 g |
| 6 kg | 250-330 | 65-85 g | 275-370 g |
The lower end of each row is the guide maximum for neutered or indoor cats, and the higher end is the reference for active, lean cats. Dry and wet food are alternatives: never both full portions. These are averages: some cats need considerably less.
How many grams a cat should eat with their dry food
The grams change with the calories in each food. To do the sum with yours:
- Find their daily calories in the table, in the row for their ideal weight, not their current weight if they’re carrying extra kilos.
- Check the calories in their food. Not all packs show them; if they’re not there, ask the manufacturer.
- Divide and multiply by 100: daily calories ÷ kcal per 100 g × 100.
For example, a cat that needs 200 kcal and has a dry food with 400 kcal per 100 g will eat 50 g a day (200 ÷ 400 × 100). If you can’t get the figure, go by the instructions on the pack: the labelling of compound feed must include instructions for proper use, under Article 17 of Regulation (EC) No 767/2009.
Weigh the portion on kitchen scales: a few extra grams every day show up over the months.
If you mix dry and wet food
Split the calories; don’t add up portions. If your cat needs 200 kcal and has an 85 g pouch with about 75 kcal, that leaves 125 kcal for dry food: about 33 g of one with 380 kcal per 100 g. Count treats too: as a guide, they shouldn’t go above 10% of the day’s calories.
How much a neutered or indoor cat should eat
For cats that are neutered or live indoors, those guidelines give a lower range: a 4 kg cat may need between about 130 and 190 kcal a day, that is, between 35 and 50 g of a dry food with 380 kcal per 100 g.
Start within that range, weigh them once a month and adjust. If in doubt, your vet can set the amount.
How much a kitten or older cat should eat
A kitten needs much more energy per kilo than an adult: according to those same guidelines, between 2 and 2.5 times maintenance up to 4 months, between 1.75 and 2 times from 4 to 9 months and 1.5 times from 9 to 12 months. The adult table won’t work for them: follow the age table on a pack of kitten food and split the portion into several meals a day.
In older cats there’s no fixed figure: some put on weight and others lose muscle mass and appetite. Any change is worth a visit to the vet.
How to tell if the portion is right
The table is the starting point, but what confirms how much a cat should eat a day is their own body:
- Ribs: you can feel them when you run your hand over without pressing, but you can’t see them.
- Waist: seen from above, there’s a slight curve behind the ribs.
- Weight: once a month, weigh yourself holding them and subtract your own weight.
- Adjusting: if they’re gaining weight, cut the portion little by little, never suddenly.
A cat that stops eating can develop serious liver problems, so take them to the vet if they go a day without eating or if they lose or gain weight for no apparent reason.
Dry food provides little water: see how to get your cat to drink water. And if you’re unsure about the bowl, here’s the best material for their food bowl. For everyday life at home, have a look at our selection for pets.
Frequently asked questions
How many pouches of wet food does a cat eat a day?
If they only eat wet food and each 85 g pouch provides about 75 kcal, a 4 kg cat would have about three, or about two if neutered or living indoors. Check the calories in your brand.
How much should a 2-month-old kitten eat?
There’s no figure that works for all of them. Give them a kitten food, follow its table by age and weight and split it into about four meals a day.
How much chicken should a cat eat a day?
Chicken alone isn’t a complete diet for a cat. You can give it as a treat, cooked, with no salt, skin or bones, and counted within their daily calories. To feed home-cooked food every day, ask your vet for a plan.