Quick Answers
Cats should eat multiple small meals throughout the day rather than one or two large meals. The general recommendation is to feed cats 2-3 times per day. Kittens and pregnant/nursing cats may need to eat more frequently. Feedings should be scheduled at the same times each day. Cats are grazers and do better with smaller, more frequent meals.
How Often Should Cats Eat?
There is some debate among veterinarians and pet experts about how often cats should eat. Here is an overview of the common recommendations:
2-3 Times Per Day
Most experts recommend feeding cats 2-3 times per day. This fits with a cat’s natural instinct to eat small amounts throughout the day. Wild cats hunt for multiple small prey animals to fulfill their nutritional needs.
Eating smaller meals more frequently helps to regulate blood sugar and metabolism. It also helps prevent gorging, which can lead to vomiting or obesity.
Kittens should eat more frequently, starting with 3-4 times per day. As they grow, this can be reduced to 2-3 feedings by 6-12 months old.
Graze Feeding
Some cat owners prefer to leave dry food out all day and allow cats to graze as desired. This can work well for some cats, but there are a few potential downsides:
– Cats may overeat and become obese.
– Food can go stale when left out all day.
– It makes it harder to monitor how much your cat is eating.
– Some cats may not self-regulate well and may need scheduled mealtimes.
If you do free-feed, use a cat food puzzle or ball to slow down eating and monitor your cat’s weight.
1 Meal Per Day
Feeding cats just once a day is not usually recommended. Since cats prefer to eat small amounts, getting all their food at once goes against their natural feeding patterns.
Some cats throw up their food if they eat too much at one time. Senior cats with medical conditions may need more frequent small meals.
However, free-choice feeding once per day can work for some healthy adult cats that self-regulate well. It’s a good idea to leave dry food out for grazing in addition to the meal.
Benefits of Scheduled Feedings
While free-choice feeding can work for some cats, there are benefits to sticking to a scheduled feeding routine:
Portion Control
Dividing your cat’s daily food into 3-4 meals makes it easier to control portions. You can better monitor if your cat is eating too much or too little.
Routine
Cats like regular routines. Feeding at consistent times creates a predictable schedule that reduces anxiety.
Health Monitoring
Noticing changes in appetite can alert you to potential health issues. This is easier when feedings are scheduled versus grazing.
Behavior Management
Scheduled feedings prevent annoying begging behaviors. Cats learn when to expect meals.
Easier Medication Administration
Giving oral medication is simpler when it can be timed with a meal.
How Much Food Should Cats Eat Per Meal?
The amount of food a cat needs at each meal depends on the cat’s age, size, and activity level. Here are some general guidelines:
Kittens
Kittens have high calorie needs to support growth and development. Kittens 3-6 months old should eat about 50-90 calories per pound per day. An 8-ounce can of wet kitten food contains around 250 calories.
So a 2 pound kitten eating 90 calories per pound would need about 180 calories at each meal, or around 3/4 of a small can of wet food. Adjust amounts as needed to maintain an ideal weight.
Adult Cats
Adult cats need 25-35 calories per pound per day. An average 10 pound cat eating 30 calories per pound would need 300 calories per day.
Split between 3 meals, this would equate to around 100 calories or 1/3 of a small can of wet food per meal. Portion dry food by volume using the feeding guidelines on the package.
Senior Cats
Senior cats are less active and have slower metabolisms. They usually need 20-30 calories per pound daily. Feed seniors smaller, more frequent meals to prevent weight gain.
Monitor their weight frequently and adjust amounts to maintain an ideal size. Wet food can help with hydration too.
Meal Size and Frequency for Other Situations
In addition to age, other factors can determine how much and how often to feed cats:
Pregnant/Nursing Cats
Pregnant and nursing mother cats need to eat kitten-sized portions frequently to support their kittens’ growth. Feed them about 50-90 calories per pound per day split into 4-6 meals.
Overweight/Obese Cats
To lose weight, obese cats should eat 25-35% less than their current intake split into 3-4 meals. This promotes steady weight loss.
Underweight Cats
Underweight cats need more frequent, calorie-dense meals to gain weight safely. Feed kitten-sized portions 3-4 times daily along with nutrient supplements.
High Activity Level
Active, working cats like barn cats need around 40 calories per pound daily. Split this into 3-4 meals to fuel their high activity level.
Medical Conditions
Cats with diabetes, kidney disease, and hyperthyroidism often do best with calculated calorie intake divided into 3-4 meals. Work with your vet on a tailored feeding plan.
Transitioning to Scheduled Feedings
If your cat is used to free-choice feeding, here are some tips for transitioning to a schedule:
– Start by offering food at your chosen mealtimes, but leave dry food out for grazing too. This allows your cat time to adjust.
– Gradually reduce the amount of dry food left out between meals over 2-4 weeks.
– Stick to consistent mealtimes, spacing meals 4-6 hours apart. This creates a predictable routine.
– Feed a portion of the daily calories at each meal, adjusting amounts based on hunger at each mealtime.
– Ensure your cat has enrichment between meals to prevent boredom or begging. Engage them with playtime, cat trees, and food puzzles.
– Be patient. It can take cats 2-4 weeks to adapt to scheduled feedings. Some cats adjust more readily than others.
Potential Challenges of Scheduled Feeding
Switching to scheduled cat feedings can come with some challenges including:
– Persistent begging – Some cats have a hard time breaking the habit of begging between meals. Stay strong and stick to the schedule.
– Aggression – A small percentage of cats become aggressive at mealtimes when fed on a schedule. Use caution with these cats.
– Vomiting – Eating too quickly or too much at once can cause some cats to vomit their food. Transition to scheduled feeding gradually.
– Finicky eating – Some cats become disinterested in food at mealtimes, preferring to graze. Make sure meals are calorie-dense.
– Disrupted routine – Vacations, job changes, etc. can disrupt your cat’s routine. Aim to stick to normal mealtimes whenever possible.
– Medical needs – Cats with certain health conditions like diabetes may do better with free-choice feeding. Talk to your vet.
– Decreased hydration – Without dry food available, some cats drink less water. Provide multiple fresh water sources.
Signs Your Cat May Need More Frequent Meals
Most healthy cats do well eating 2-3 times per day. But you may need to feed more often or change your cat’s diet if you notice:
– Significant weight loss or gain
– Excessive begging for food between meals
– Vomiting or regurgitation frequently after eating
– Lethargy, weakness, or other signs of malnutrition
– Increased thirst and urination
– Soft stool or diarrhea
– Decreased appetite or disinterest in food
– Increased time sleeping and decreased activity
Any consistent changes in your cat’s appetite, weight, or behavior warrant a veterinary exam to identify underyling causes. Their nutritional needs may need to be reassessed.
Tips for Feeding Multiple Cats
When you have multiple cats, it can be tricky to feed different diets and portions. Here are some tips:
– Feed cats in separate rooms with closed doors, or use baby gates to divide areas. This prevents competition for food.
– Use microchip-activated feeders that only open for specific cats. This allows you to control who eats what food.
– Feed cats in different elevations – some on the floor, others on cat trees/tables. This reduces fighting.
– Schedule feedings so one cat finishes before the next one starts eating. Don’t leave food out unattended.
– Monitor weight frequently to ensure all cats are maintaining a healthy size. Adjust amounts and diet as needed.
– Provide litter boxes, water, beds, scratchers, etc in multiple locations to reduce resource competition.
– Consider using calming pheromone diffusers and cat appeasing synthetic pheromones to ease anxiety/aggression.
Common Cat Feeding Mistakes to Avoid
It’s important to feed cats properly to prevent obesity, malnutrition, and behavior issues. Here are some mistakes to avoid:
– Leaving dry food out free-choice – This can lead to overeating and obesity. Better to schedule meals.
– Feeding only dry food – Cats need the moisture from wet food for hydration. A mix is healthiest.
– Changing food suddenly – Mix in new foods over 2-4 weeks to prevent an upset stomach.
– Feeding from a plastic or metal bowl – These retain odors and can harbor bacteria. Use ceramic or glass.
– Letting water and food bowls go empty – Refill them frequently with fresh water and food.
– Feeding other human foods – Things like milk, onions, garlic, etc can be harmful to cats.
– Not following vet recommended therapeutic diets if prescribed – These are formulated to aid specific medical conditions.
– Allowing moldy or spoiled food – Always discard wet food after an hour if uneaten.
– Feeding junk foods like chips, popcorn, etc – These provide no nutrition and can be dangerous.
– Leaving dry food to go stale – Refresh dry food every few hours.
Signs Your Cat is Ready for Bedtime Meal
Cats are natural hunters who tend to be most active at dawn and dusk. Paying attention to your cat’s behavior around mealtimes can prevent disruptive nighttime activity. Signs your cat is ready for her last meal of the day include:
– Yawning and stretching
– Looking sleepy and less energetic
– Curled up in favorite nap spots
– Following you around and meowing insistently
– Pawing or nudging food bowl
– Coming to sit near her feeding area
When you notice these behaviors starting in the evening (usually around 8 pm or so), it’s a good time to feed your cat’s bedtime meal. This helps satisfy their natural food-seeking instinct at dusk.
Make sure the bedtime meal is a smaller portion since their activity decreases at night. Wet food is ideal since it’s more filling. After eating, engage in relaxing playtime like wand toys. Then your cat will ready to sleep soundly through the night!
Making Feeding Time Enjoyable for Your Cat
Feeding time should be an enjoyable experience for your cat. Here are some tips:
– Choose a quiet, consistent spot away from high traffic areas. Cats prefer to eat undisturbed.
– Stick to a regular schedule for meals to create a sense of routine.
– Make sure the food bowl is clean and dry. Wash frequently.
– Offer a variety of wet foods in different textures, flavors, and aromas to keep things interesting.
– Warm canned food slightly to bring out the smell and taste. Never serve hot.
– Hand feed a few bites to begin each meal. This mimics “hunting”.
– Provide interactive food puzzles to make attaining food rewarding.
– Give cats choice and agency – feed in multiple bowls so they can pick and choose.
– Offer praise, petting, or play as positive reinforcement during or right after meals.
– Limit portions to avoid overeating and obesity. Better to give multiple small meals.
– Keep water bowls full and place them away from food to prevent contamination.
Following these tips at mealtimes helps satisfy your cat’s natural behaviors and keeps them healthy and happy. Just remember to be patient when transitioning to any new feeding schedule or routine. Consistency is key!
Conclusion
Most cats thrive when fed scheduled meals 2-3 times per day. This provides the small, frequent feedings cats naturally desire and prevents issues like obesity from free-choice feeding. Feed growing kittens and pregnant/nursing cats more often.
When transitioning from free-feeding to scheduled mealtimes, go slowly over 2-4 weeks. Stick to consistent feeding times, ideally spaced throughout the day. Portion meals appropriately for your cat’s age, weight, and activity level.
Monitor your cat’s weight, appetite, and behavior. Adjust the meal frequency and amounts as needed to maintain optimal health and happiness! Proper feeding is key to your cat’s wellbeing.