How often should you feed a cat?

[bossychloe]

Hi, Please can someone give me advice on how much and how often you should feed a cat. My friend has two (very, very well fed cats - too well fed in my opinion) she feeds them three times a day and if forever giving them biscuits too. They barely move so it cannot be healthy, I think she is killing them with kindness but as I have never owned a cat she doesn't listen to me - I have read that they should only be fed once a day (mid morning) but should always have water available for them. Are there any cat lovers/experts out there to advise her?

[sqad617]

Ours would really sulk if they were offered food once a day.

The correct answer is once a day.......bot don't let our two cats hear that.

[DaisyMae]

I have a very healthy 15 year old cat - he was a rescue cat and had been living rough for about a year when he came to us. He has two meals a day and a dish of kibble always available to him. He is a very active cat and not at all greedy, he eats only as much as he needs and leaves the rest. I would have thought two meals a day was about right for a domestic cat, fresh water should be available all the time (I have one of those pet fountains which keeps the water fresh and clean). Having said that, some cats are naturally lazy, greedy, active, moody, happy - just like people really.

[caththecrazy]

I feed mine twice a day but I just split the daily requirements in half

but my kitten gets fed more cos she is sweet and still a baby!!!

[paraffin]

Despite my protests, my wife feeds ours 3 times a day:

morning, noon and night!

[Schutzengel]

It depends on the food being given. Most cat foods give the recommended amount per day, per cat or kitten. My two have Whiskas or Felix pouches, and for an adult cat this is 3 pouches per day. 8am, 1pm, and 6.30pm. They also have a small dish of Go-Cat crunchies available, but only eat a very small amount, just for the crunchiness I think. Both cats are large males, and are not overweight. The best guide to feeding the correct amount should be given on the packet or box being used. Some cat foods also state the recommended amount by the weight of the cat.

[gouldc]

Our two have a pouch of food each at 6.30, and another each at 6pm. In between they have a bowl each of crunchies (and water).

Very rare that all the food is gone during the day/night.

I occasionally treat them to prawns or fresh fish as well, but generally not more than twice a month. Both of mine are normal weight according to the vet (although I am concerned that they are abit skinny - both are very outdoors, so possibly more muscle than fat!)

[wolf63]

Most cats would be fed on demand if they had their way.

It is really difficult to ignore a cat that is digging its claws into you in an attempt to get food. They also sit and stare at you until you weaken and give them something.

Neither of mine are fat. Frankie is just a normal sized cat (he would eat all day if he could) and his sister Merlin is a curvaceous young lady but not at all fat.

I think that they would leave home at the thought of one meal per day. Maybe I'll try it! ;-)

[pastafreak]

ONE meal a day????
Or even 3-At SET times?????
Someones having a laugh. Caspar would throttle me if I 'starved' him in that manner. Mind you-he IS an indoor cat-so easily bored. He is also deaf.....so as far as he is concerned-'howling-WHAT howling..?'

He gets 3 pouches + dry....spread out in mini meals.....and he eats it all about 75% of the time. When he doesn't,it is because a particular brand no longer appeals.

[Schutzengel]

Hi Pasta. Caspar is gorgeous. I didn't realise he was deaf, although that makes sense as he's white. As an indoor cat he's much safer when he can't hear things that might harm him outdoors. Give him a big cuddle.
My two, Frankie & Felix, have sorted out their own meal times, It seems that they've decided that when hubby and I eat, then that should be their meal time too.

[wolf63]

I have given up trying to control the meals in our house.

They get fed when they wake me up in the morning.
They get fed when they wake up from their noon snooze.
They get fed when I have my dinner.

At each meal I put out half a sachet for each of them - but I think that Frankie scoffs all of it. They get (in total) 1.5 to 2
sachets each per day. They are indoor cats so I feel that this is enough. They don't.

There is always Iams left out for them. At night time they get 'sweeties' which is just a mix of cat sweets and dried food. This is fed on demand - Frankie drives me up the wall with his starving cat begging routine.

[bossychloe]

Thank you to everyone who has answered my question - I intend to print your replies and show them to my friend. Her cats are rescue cats who tend to be very demanding and always very hungry - but as they are very rotund I will try my best for their health (although I just know they're going to hate me!!) x

[squarebear]

We give our cats half a tin of food in the morning and the other half at around 6pm. If they want any more they can always hunt a few sparrows!