How much to feed?
Discussion
Hi,
We have a 11-12 month old ginger cat in the household.
My housemate feels the need still to feed him 4x100g wet pouches a day! and he also has access to dry biscuits.
To me this seems excessive but I've never owned a cat before and, he isn't my cat I don't really have much say. He isn't overweight or anything, you'd probably class him as being slightly lean.
Are there any health repercussions to feeding that amount of wet food at his age? He should soon be offered adult food shouldn't he?
We have a 11-12 month old ginger cat in the household.
My housemate feels the need still to feed him 4x100g wet pouches a day! and he also has access to dry biscuits.
To me this seems excessive but I've never owned a cat before and, he isn't my cat I don't really have much say. He isn't overweight or anything, you'd probably class him as being slightly lean.
Are there any health repercussions to feeding that amount of wet food at his age? He should soon be offered adult food shouldn't he?
The biggest and most obvious health repercussion is obesity, which while he may not be now if he is continued to be fed that amount of food will soon catch up with him. There's then the health implications of obesity and so on.
In terms of how much, I usually find that pet food manufacturers tend to overestimate the right amounts, it's a balance of finding the right amount of food so that the cat isn't always looking for more but isn't starting to put on weight either. If you look above the cat you should be able to see a waist, and if you run your fingers along the body you should be able to feel the ribs without a large layer of fat over them, equally they shouldn't protrude.
If feeding wet pouches I would recommend 1-2 a day.
In terms of how much, I usually find that pet food manufacturers tend to overestimate the right amounts, it's a balance of finding the right amount of food so that the cat isn't always looking for more but isn't starting to put on weight either. If you look above the cat you should be able to see a waist, and if you run your fingers along the body you should be able to feel the ribs without a large layer of fat over them, equally they shouldn't protrude.
If feeding wet pouches I would recommend 1-2 a day.
He should be on adult food.
4 sachets plus dry is quite a lot. He is probably active enough at present to cope but I'd be wary that his weight will increase as he is reaching full growth, however cutting down his sachets may mean he eats more dry and that may be worse re: controlling his weight.
It all depends on what kind of eater, how active he is, what build he is etc! Does he come and go eating little and often or is he a gannet? Those that just eat everything need food (especially dry food) controlled and not free fed, those that pick or choose (grazers) can have food left down If he is very active he will prob burn it off but that may start to slow down a little as he grows out of kittenhood. He can certainly change to adult food.
Just out of interest has he been neutered?
It all depends on what kind of eater, how active he is, what build he is etc! Does he come and go eating little and often or is he a gannet? Those that just eat everything need food (especially dry food) controlled and not free fed, those that pick or choose (grazers) can have food left down If he is very active he will prob burn it off but that may start to slow down a little as he grows out of kittenhood. He can certainly change to adult food.
Just out of interest has he been neutered?
He is quite an active cat, he does shuttle runs up and down the street at times 
He 's quite good when it comes to his food in that he will leave some if he's full. Sometimes it's just a small bit he leaves, other-times he leaves half a pouch. With him pretty much at 1 year old I thought he'd pretty much be going on to adult food and less wet food.
And he has been neutered.
Cheers for the comments.
He 's quite good when it comes to his food in that he will leave some if he's full. Sometimes it's just a small bit he leaves, other-times he leaves half a pouch. With him pretty much at 1 year old I thought he'd pretty much be going on to adult food and less wet food.
And he has been neutered.
Cheers for the comments.
2 pouches and biscuits is enough for a tiny cat, mine! She is tiny and normally has between two and three pouches a day (morning, evening and late night if she comes in) plus a crunchy biscuit topping and cat milk, she still looks skinny as a rake and possibly underweight.
As others have said, a cat's condition is the best indicator of how much to feed, if the cat looks fat it is!
As others have said, a cat's condition is the best indicator of how much to feed, if the cat looks fat it is!
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