How Much To Feed Your Cat
23.04.2026 - Reading time: 3 minutes
Most cats love to eat small meals several times a day. That's why it's important to know the right amount of food for your feline friend. How much wet food should go in the bowl? What should you consider when feeding a mixed diet? Feeding your cat correctly isn't difficult – if you follow a few tips.
Small, Frequent Meals
Many house cats seem to be constantly hungry. They eat a little dry food here, meow demanding a treat, and then get a tasty snack from the friendly neighbour . The somewhat peculiar eating habits of our feline friends have a simple explanation: If cats live on their own without a well-stocked food bowl , they only get food when they’ve been lucky enough to hunt. A mouse here, a bird there, or some other prey – a cat can easily manage ten to twenty mini-meals throughout the day. Cats eat as often as they can, but in smaller portions. However, the conclusion that cats only eat as much as they actually need turns out to be a myth: A house cat’s sense of satiety is not infallible.
There’s nothing wrong with giving your cat its daily ration of dry food in its bowl so it can eat as it pleases throughout the day. However, in this case, you should carefully calculate the amount of food your cat needs and not offer it any additional food.
If your cat prefers wet food , you should divide the food into several smaller meals. Your cat should be fed at least two to three times a day; any uneaten food should always be discarded, as it can spoil quickly.
How Much Does My Cat Need Per Day?
How much food your cat actually needs per day depends on many factors:
- Age: A young cat of 6 months with a high energy level needs a larger amount of food than an old tomcat who spends the day sleeping on the couch.
- Housing: Purely indoor cats that do not venture into nature have a lower calorie requirement.
- Neutering: Neutered animals have lower energy requirements but a greater appetite. Simply reducing the amount of food for neutered cats is not an optimal solution. To prevent neutered cats from becoming overweight, special food has been developed that is filling and meets their nutritional needs.
- Type of food: Dry food is more energy-rich than wet food , therefore the required amount of cat food is lower.
- Quality: High-quality food usually requires a smaller amount of food for your cat
The feeding recommendations for cats from the manufacturer of the respective food provide a starting point.
Food Amount At A Glance
A normally active cat needs around 65 grams of wet food per kilogram of body weight per day. Growing kittens and nursing cats have a higher calorie requirement. If fed exclusively dry food, the requirement is correspondingly lower: then only a quarter to a third of the daily amount should be given. Many pet owners mix dry and wet food. In this case, the respective food amounts must be adjusted. You can find suitable cat food calculators online.
The information in the table below should be understood as guidelines and adjusted accordingly:
Cat's Weight in Kilograms | Guideline Amount of Wet Food per Day in grams |
Up to 2kg | Up to 160g |
Up to 3kg | Up to 210g |
Up to 4kg | Up to 260g |
Up to 5kg | Up to 320g |
Up to 6kg | Up to 360g |
Important when feeding your cat exclusively dry food: It’s crucial that your cat has access to plenty of fresh water, as dry food contains very little moisture. Many cats tend to drink too little. A few simple tricks can help: Don’t place the water bowl directly next to the food bowl, and encourage your feline friend to drink more with a small indoor fountain. Some cats prefer eating out of a shallow bowl or plate, as a bowl with deep sides can irritate their whiskers.
