How Much Wet Food Should I Feed My Cat?
Adobe Stock/Svetlana Rey
Wet food can be an important part of a cat’s diet, due to its higher water content and lower calories per volume than dry food. But if you’ve never fed your cat wet food before, you may be wondering how much wet food to feed a cat.
The amount of wet food you feed a cat depends on several factors, including whether your cat is also eating dry food and treats. Here’s how to determine how much, and how often, to feed your cat.
How Much Wet Food To Feed a Cat
Many pet food manufacturers include feeding guidelines on their cans of wet food; however, these guidelines may not be accurate for your cat. That’s because the amount of food you feed your cat depends on several factors, including age, activity level, health status, and genetics.
For example, your cat may naturally have a faster metabolism for their age and weight than another cat of the same age and weight. Similarly, cats with hyperthyroidism may experience an increase in metabolism requiring that they eat many more calories per day than a healthy cat of the same age and weight.
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Age: Age is one of the most important factors that determines how much wet food your cat needs. Young, growing kittens need about twice the calories as mature cats do.
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Weight: The more a cat weighs, the more energy they need each day for normal body functions and maintaining lean muscle tissue.
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Activity level: All cats have a baseline metabolism, a resting energy requirement for maintaining their body functions and muscle tissue even before factoring in activity level.
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Pregnant or nursing: Female cats who are pregnant or who are nursing kittens will need about 25–50% more calories per day—and thus more wet food—than other adult female cats.
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Spay/neuter status: When a female or male cat is spayed or neutered, their baseline metabolism will drop by about 30%. This is important to keep in mind if you’ve just had your cat spayed or neutered, so they can maintain a healthy weight.
Wet Food Feeding Chart for Cats
The following daily feeding chart assumes you’re feeding your cat wet food that contains 70 calories per 3-ounce can, that wet food is the only food source in your cat’s diet, and that your lean cat is spayed/neutered.
Talk with your veterinarian to determine the proper food portions for your kitten.
| Kitten | Lean Cat | Overweight Cat | Pregnant | Nursing | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 5 pounds | 320 calories 4 ½ cans | 160 calories 2 ¼ cans | 130 calories 1 ¾ cans | 260 calories 3 ½–3 ¾ cans | 260 calories 3 ½–3 ¾ cans |
| 10 pounds | 550 calories 7 ¾ cans | 275 calories 4 cans | 220 calories 3 ⅛ cans | 450 calories 6 ⅓ cans | 450 calories 6 ⅓ cans |
| 15 pounds | 20 calories 10 ¼ cans | 360 calories 5 ⅛ cans | 300 calories 4 ¼ cans | 585 calories 8 ⅓ cans | 585 calories 8 ⅓ cans |
| 20 pounds | 880 calories 12 ½ cans | 440 calories 6 ¼ cans | 370 calories 5 ¼ cans | 715 calories 10 ¼ cans | 715 calories 10 ¼ cans |
How Often To Feed Cats Wet Food
How often your cat is fed wet food may depend on their needs.
If your cat is on an all-wet-food diet, they may get two or three meals of wet food per day.
If your cat is only being supplemented with wet food and is also eating dry food, they may only eat wet food once or twice during the day.
Other cats may only need to eat wet food when they’re having dental issues, when they have nasal congestion, or when a special diet has been prescribed to help them recover after a hospital stay.
You may also choose to feed wet food to your cat as a treat on special occasions or to help them take medication.
How To Serve Wet Cat Food
Every cat is different. Some cats may like wet food cold from the refrigerator, some may prefer room temperature, and still others may prefer wet food that has been warmed in the microwave to improve its flavor and scent. Warming up wet food is particularly helpful for cats with nasal congestion who may not be able to smell as well as normal.
In any case, ensure the wet food is left out for your cat to eat for no more than four hours at a time. When wet food sits out for too long, the food can spoil and become stale.
How To Store Wet Cat Food
Here are some tips for storing your cat’s wet food:
- Keep unopened wet cat food in a cool, dark location, like the pantry.
- Always check the expiration date (don’t serve spoiled food!).
- Once opened, cover the can of food with an airtight can cover or lid and refrigerate it at 37 degrees Fahrenheit or below.
- Throw out open, unused food after three days.
Why Cats Need Wet Food
Wet food has many benefits for cats, including:
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Weight management: Because wet food has fewer calories per volume compared to dry food, wet food is great for cats who need to lose weight. Cats can eat just as much (if not more) wet food and receive fewer calories.
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High moisture content: Wet food contains about 70% more water than dry cat food. This can be helpful for cats with kidney disease, who need more water in their diet to support kidney function.
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Easier to chew: Wet food can be lifesaving for cats with severe dental disease. Because some may need extensive tooth extractions, the soft texture of wet food allows them to eat more comfortably and maintain balanced nutrition.
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Lower in carbs: Wet food is often much lower in carbohydrates than dry food, making it a good choice for cats with diabetes, who do better on low-carbohydrate diets.
The Best Wet Cat Food
When choosing the best food for your cat, it’s helpful to look at major pet food brands, such as Purina®, Hill’s®, Royal Canin®, or Iams®. These companies offer research into their diets and conduct feeding trials to ensure their diets perform as intended.
When looking at the label on the cat food, look for the nutritional adequacy statement from the Association of American Feed Control Officials (AAFCO). This ensures the kitten diet is complete and balanced specifically for their life-stage.
Below are some wet cat food options, but your veterinarian can help you choose the best food for your feline.
- Hill's Science Diet Adult Savory Chicken Entree Canned Cat Food: Contains ingredients that help support a healthy weight and eye and heart function in cats 1–6 years old.
- Purina Pro Plan Adult White Meat Chicken & Vegetable Entree in Gravy Canned Cat Food: Contains antioxidants for immune health, taurine and vitamin A for healthy vision, and vitamin E and linoleic acid for healthy skin and coat.
- Royal Canin Feline Health Nutrition Kitten Loaf in Sauce Canned Cat Food: Contains protein, carbohydrates, and fats to promote healthy growth and development in kittens, antioxidants for immune health, and prebiotics for digestive health.
- Hill's Science Diet Kitten Liver & Chicken Entree Canned Cat Food: Contains taurine for healthy eyes in kittens and fiber for healthy digestion.
- Hill's Prescription Diet k/d Kidney Care Chicken & Vegetable Stew Wet Cat Food: Contains a proprietary mix of prebiotics that help support the immune system and kidney function.
- Purina Pro Plan Veterinary Diets DM Dietetic Management Wet Cat Food: Contains antioxidants for immune health, and is designed to be highly palatable to cats with diabetes, who often struggle with appetite.
