How to Feed a Cat by Weight

Feed your cat based on its weight and body type to keep it healthy. The amount of food, what type and how often you feed your cat each day depends on a variety of factors, including the cat's size and age. Once weaned, kittens under six months old need three or four feedings per day, while adult cats need two or three. You can increase the number of feedings for underweight adult or senior cats, and feed lower-calorie food to those that are obese.

Things You'll Need

  • Canned cat food
  • Dry cat food
  • Cat treats
  • Treat-dispensing toy ball
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Instructions

    • 1

      Determine your cat's body type. Feel its ribs to see if you can distinctly make out each one, which indicates an average-weight cat. According the to the Doctors Foster and Smith website, your cat is overweight if you cannot feel any ribs, while it is underweight if you can see the ribs. You can also feel the base of the cat's tail, spine, shoulders and hips. If you see bones, your cat is underweight; if you cannot feel the bones and your cat has a rounded shape, it is overweight. A cat with a slight tuck at the waist is at a normal weight.

    • 2

      Give an underweight cat canned food, which smells more pungent than dry food and will tempt it to eat. Sprinkle pulverized treats on the food to attract your cat. Feed the cat wet food two or three times per day to increase caloric intake. Provide bowls of fresh dry food between meals so the cat always has access.

    • 3

      Feed an overweight cat weight-control food specifically designed to make it feel full with fewer calories. Follow the dry-food manufacturer's feeding guidelines and measure the recommended daily serving in a measuring cup. Divide the amount into two or three feedings throughout the day.

    • 4

      Give an average-sized cat approximately 30 calories per pound of body weight each day. You can feed the cat wet or dry food, or feed a combination using the recommended serving guidelines provided on the packaging. Wet food usually contains about 300 calories, while dry food contains roughly 250 calories per cup.

    • 5

      Place some servings of the cat's dry food in a specially designed treat-dispensing ball to make it exercise to get food. These interactive toys, available at pet stores, dispense food when batted around the floor. Alternately, you can place a few nuggets of food around your home to keep the cat actively hunting for food.