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The Right Amount: The Most Common Mistake

60% of cats in Italy are overweight/obese.

Cause number 1: wrong portions.

Common Question: "How much to give?"

Answer: precise formula.

Let’s see.

The Nutritional Requirement Formula

Basic Calculation

For neutered adult cats:

  • 40-50 kcal per kg of ideal weight per day.

For non-neutered adult cats:

  • 50-60 kcal/kg.

Puppies:

  • 100-200 kcal/kg.

Elderly cats:

  • 35-40 kcal/kg.

Example

Neutered adult cat, ideal weight 4 kg:

  • 160-200 kcal/day.

Translating into Food

Wet Food

100 g of quality wet food = about 80-100 kcal.

For a 4 kg cat:

  • 200 g/day in total.
  • 2-3 small cans.

Kibble

100 g of kibble = about 350-400 kcal.

For a 4 kg cat:

  • 40-50 g/day.
  • A small cup.

Mix

70% kibble + 30% wet food:

  • 30 g kibble + 80 g wet food per day.

The Adjustment Factors

Activity

Sedentary (apartment life, little play):

  • Lower requirement (-10%).

Active (daily play, active dog):

  • Higher requirement (+10%).

Age

Puppies (0-12 months): high requirement.

Adults (1-7 years): standard.

Elderly (7+ years): reduced by 10-20%.

Neutering

Neutered: -20-30% compared to non-neutered.

Tendency to be overweight post-neutering.

Specific Conditions

Overweight:

  • "Light" food.
  • Reduction 20-30%.

Underweight/recovery:

  • Increase 20-30%.

Pregnancy/lactation:

  • Drastic increase.

The Meal Distribution

Ideal Schedule

3-4 meals a day:

  • More "natural" (cats in the wild eat small frequent prey).
  • Reduces post-meal vomiting.

2 meals:

  • Acceptable.

1 meal:

  • Not recommended (digestive stress).

Practical Schedule

For adult cat:

07:00: 30% of daily total.

12:00: 20%.

18:00: 30%.

22:00: 20%.

Weighing

Scale

Weigh portions:

  • Kitchen scale.
  • 5-10 €.

Cost: minimal.

Benefit: accuracy.

Indicative Charts

For quality wet food:

Cat Weight Large Cans (170g) Pouches (85g)
3 kg 1-1.5 2-3
4 kg 1.5-2 3-4
5 kg 2 4-5
6 kg 2-2.5 5-6

The Signs of "Right Portions"

Stable Weight

Monthly weigh-in:

  • Same scale.
  • Same time.

Variation max 10% in the month:

  • Check portions.

Body Condition Score (BCS)

Ribs:

  • Detectable under light pressure = ok.
  • Not detectable = overweight.
  • Protruding = underweight.

Waist:

  • Visible from above = ok.
  • No waist = overweight.

The Signs of "Wrong Portions"

Overweight

  • Body Condition Score 7-9 out of 9.
  • “Round” belly.
  • Ribs not palpable.
  • Difficulty jumping.

Underweight

  • BCS 1-3.
  • Protruding ribs.
  • Dull coat.

What NOT to Do

❌ Always full bowl:

  • Cats tend to eat out of boredom.

❌ Extra snacks without control:

  • Add up calories.

❌ Same food for life:

  • Needs change.

❌ "Low-cost" food:

  • Often requires large portions to satisfy.

The Weight Loss Phase

For Overweight Cats

Gradual reduction:

  • 5-10% per week.
  • Never abrupt.

Quality "light" food:

  • Royal Canin Satiety.
  • Hill's Metabolic.

Time: months.

Important:

  • Never fast a cat (risk of hepatic lipidosis).

Diabetic Cats

Precise portions:

  • Calibrated.
  • At the same times.

Under veterinary control.

The Truth

The right portions:

  • ✅ Formula 40-50 kcal/kg (neutered).
  • ✅ 3-4 meals a day.
  • ✅ Weighing portions.
  • ✅ Adjustment for activity.
  • ✅ Monthly BCS check.

Strategy:

  • Calculate requirement.
  • Weigh portions.
  • Distribute 3-4 meals.
  • Check weight monthly.

Investment:

  • Scale: 10 €.
  • Time: 5 min/day.

Benefit:

  • Cat in shape.
  • Health preserved.
  • Increased life expectancy.

And remember: the cat does not self-regulate as many believe.

Precise portions = healthy cat.

Weigh, calculate, check. Three actions that save years of life.

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