How much wet food to feed a 10 lb cat

By Isabella Storyclaire

last updated January 15, 2025

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How To Calculate How Much Wet Food to Feed a Cat

Why Its Crucial to Calculate How Much Food to Feed a Cat

You might wonder why its important to determine the exact amount of wet cat food you should give your cat? As of 2017, an estimated 60 percent of cats in the US are classified as clinically overweight or obese. Thats about 56.5 million cats who are too heavy, and extra weight has a dramatic, negative effect on feline health.

Overweight cats are at an increased risk for congestive heart failure, skin disorders, infections, diabetes mellitus, complications associated with anesthesia and surgery, hepatic lipidosis (a potentially fatal liver disease), and some types of cancer.

Feeding cats wet food is never as simple as just opening up a can and letting them eat until theyre full. Indoor cats, in particular, tend to burn few calories throughout the day, and they become bored, which we all know can lead to excessive eating and weight gain. Pet parents need to take a strategic approach to measuring out cat foodto prevent or deal with weight gain in cats.

How Much Wet Food Should I Feed My Cat?

For starters, have your cat evaluated by a veterinarian. He or she will weigh your cat, identify your cats ideal weight, and determine the number of calories your cat should take in every day to reach that goal.

A pet calorie calculator can also get you into the ballpark. If your cat is severely overweight, your veterinarian may recommend a prescription cat foodfor weight loss; otherwise an over-the-counter weight control cat foodshould suffice.

Next, look at the label of your cats wet food. At best, the feeding instructions will be somewhat vague, and they certainly dont apply to every cat in every situation. It helps do some math. A wet cat foods caloric content should be listed somewhere on the label.

For example, American Journey minced chicken and tuna recipe provides 73 calories per 3-ounce can. If you cant find this information, look it up on the manufacturers website or give them a call.

Lets say your veterinarian has determined that your cat should take in 240 calories per day. In this example, you simply need to divide 240 by 73 to determine how many 3-ounce cans of the American Journey chicken and tuna recipe you should offer your cat daily.

240 / 73 = 3.3

Therefore, your cat needs to eat roughly 3 1/3 cans of this food per day.

Cat Food Portions Matter

Cats who have a hard time keeping slim should be fed several measured meals of cat food throughout the day rather than having 24/7 access to food.

How often should you feed your cat? You and your veterinarian can discuss the right frequency based on your situation. But, in general, cats do best when they eat multiple smaller meals throughout the daytwo at a minimum, but more might be better.

The math that you just performed can help inform your decision. In the example that weve used, the cat should be eating 3 1/3 cans per day. Wouldnt it make sense to feed three meals of one can each with the extra third of a can added to the last meal of the day? Whatever you decide, simply divide the number of cans you need to feed in a day by the number of meals you want to provide, and youll have the right portion for each meal.

If youre watching your cats weight, youll also need to subtract the calories provided by any treats you give as well as any dry food you offer. If it helps, keep a log of your cats daily caloric intake goals and then track the food and cat treatsyou give throughout the day to help keep your cats weight on track.

Small-Portion Wet Cat Food Trays

Foods that are already divided into meal-sized portions, like Sheba Perfect Portions grain-free multipack and Nutro Perfect Portions grain-free multipack can reduce the chances that you will inadvertently feed too much at any one time.

How Much Wet Food to Feed a Cat (With Feeding Calculator)

Wet cat food often gets a paws up from our feline friends. It is a savory meal choice, spiking the appetite of almost any kitty. Plus, it is easy to eat at any life stage. It has a high moisture content, which most cats lack in their daily diet. As you can see, there are tons of perks.

But because wet cat food is high in calories, you need to portion the meals correctly. So, how much wet food do you feed your cat? Lets calculate.

Benefits and Downfalls of Wet Cat Food

Wet cat food has its perks, but there are also some things to consider. Here are a few.

Pros:

High protein:Wet cat food typically has more protein than traditional kibble. That is because it has actual chunks of meat rather than processed proteins.

Moisture content: Cats suffer from dehydration more frequently than other pets. Wet cat food boosts their moisture intake.

Savory flavors: Cats love the aromatic flavors of wet cat food. It can appeal to the tastebuds of even the pickiest felines.

Mixable: You can mix dry kibble with wet food. It will give an extra kick of moisture to their daily meal. Plus, it keeps the crunch needed to clean your cats teeth.

Cons:

High calorie content: You have to be careful when it comes to wet cat food. It typically has higher caloric content than traditional dry kibble. Too much can cause your feline friend to pack on the pounds.

No crunch: Wet cat food doesnt have any crunch, which doesnt keep the teeth as clean. Dry kibble crunch reduces plaque and tartar buildup on the gum line. If you only feed your feline wet cat food, you have to make sure that you brush your cats teeth daily to avoid dental issues.

Low shelf life: When you open a can of wet cat food, you have to put it away in the fridge if the can isnt empty. Dry kibble lasts quite a long time. However, wet cat food only lasts up to three days in the refrigerator.

What Types of Cats Benefit Most From Wet Cat Food?

Any cat can enjoy wet cat food. But certain felines could use the upsides of this diet more than others.

Seniors: As our kitties age, their teeth arent in as good of shape as they once were. Wet cat food boosts their appetite so they can get the nutrition they needand wont have any trouble scarfing down.

Dental issues: If you have a cat who suffers from dental issues or missing teeth, wet cat food could be a great alternative to dry kibble. Even cats with several missing teeth can easily consume this food type.

Malnutrition: If you were trying to rehabilitate a cat that has suffered from a lack of proper nutrition, wet cat food could be a great way to get their body weight back up and running.

Picky eaters: We all have seen our cats snub their nose and walk away from a meal if theyre not interested. If you have a particularly picky cat, wet food can stimulate its senses.

Why Healthy Weight Is Important

Of course, chubby kitties are super adorable, but health is another story completely. If your cat is overweight, it can cause a whirlwind of complications for your pal, including:

Infections
Liver disease
Cancer
Congestive heart failure
Skin disorders
Diabetes

Managing weight correctly is the primary way to prevent these issues from manifesting. If youre trying to cut back on your cats daily intake, its important to seek exact measurements from your vet.

How Much Wet Cat Food Does Your Feline Need?

Your cat should ultimately have their food portioned according to their weight. Here are steps you can take to calculate how much your cat needs.

1. Weight

Weight is the number one determining factor when youre deciding how much wet food to give your cat. You calculate the calorie intake is based on how many pounds your cat weighs.

2. Pregnant/Nursing

When your cat is pregnant, they need all the nutrition they can get. That includes uptake of caloric value for the day. When theyre nursing, they also need a higher amount of nutrients to replenish their milk supply. After all, mothers are feeding an entire litter of kittens as well as themselves.

3. Age

Kittens, adults, and seniors all need a diet based on their life stages. Knowing what age bracket they fall under will help you determine exactly how much to feed them when you are trying to portion out the correct amount of wet food.

4. Health

Specific health issues or restrictions can cause a change in dietary habits. Depending on your cats health, it can change how often or how much you feed them.

5. Activity Level

Some cats are extremely active, while others will barely move unless provoked. How many calories your cat burns in a day speaks volumes about how much food they should have. If you have a particularly high-energy cat, they will need to eat more than a lazy cat that naps most of the day.

Complement this information by using our cat calculator here:

The exact amount of calories an individual animal needs to maintain a healthy weight is variable and influenced by many factors including genetics, age, breed, and activity level. This tool is meant to be used only as a guideline for healthy individuals and does not substitute veterinary advice

Additional Factors to Consider

Here are a few other things to think about.

Individualized portions: Certain cat food companies offer wet food and individualize portions. This can be especially good if you have a singular house cat and want to make sure youre feeding them properly. You always must read the labels to make sure you portion correctly anyway. Just because they are designed for adult portions doesnt mean that one serving will be an accurate measurement for your cat. Always offer food based on your cats weight, which can vary drastically between felines (our calculator can help with this).

Proper storage: If you dont use all of the portions in one sitting, be prepared to refrigerate and store the product as necessary. It would help if you placed the leftover servings in a storage container to keep the food from drying out.

Remove leftovers: Because wet food spoils within a few hours, its crucial to remove these remnants after your cat finishes their meal. It can cause bacteria buildup and make your cat very sick if they eat spoiled morsels.

Final Thoughts

Hopefully, with this information and our trusty calculator, you have determined how much wet food your kitty needs. Remember, wet food has several perks, but it does contain a higher calorie count than many dry kibble recipes.

Just make sure that you are portioning your cats food correctly to avoid obesity or underfeeding. After all, you want your little buddy to live a long life of unlimited mobility.

See Also:

Featured Image Credit: Krakenimages, Shutterstock

How Much Should I Feed My Cat? Vet Approved Feeding Chart

The information is current and up-to-date in accordance with the latest veterinarian research.

Learn more

Obesity is the number one health issue for indoor companion cats globally. Even pet parents who do their best to keep their cats weight under control can find themselves pulling their hair out at just how stubborn a cat can be.

Indoor cats live lazy lives, in general. They wake up and eat, take a nap, eat some more, lay in the sun, eat some more, ad infinitum. Like humans who get their food from hunting, foraging, or subsistence agriculture have fewer issues with weight than those of us who go to the supermarket, outdoor companion cats rarely have difficulty with their weight because they hunt for the food they eat. Even if cat food is available, a freshly killed rodent is often more exciting to a cat, and theyll go out of their way to get some.

When cats dont need to hunt for food, theyre at a massive risk of gaining weight. With that in mind, many pet parents find themselves wondering how they can help control their cats weights.

Feeding Chart for Adult Intact Indoor Cats (by Weight)

Important Note:The amount of calories each cat needs for healthy growth and development depends on many factors, including their age, breed, and activity level. These charts are general guidelines for healthy young cats, but we recommend confirming them with your vet.

You can calculate how much food your cat needs based on its weight. Your cats ideal healthy weight will determine how many calories they need a day. An adult cat requires about 25 calories per pound of body weight. However, factors such as age, sex, activity level, and reproductive state also play a role, so the exact number will change from cat to cat. This calorie calculator might help you determine your cats specific needs.

Each specific cat food has different caloric densities. You can find that information on the label, but for the sake of a general calculation, we can assume that a cup of dry food averages about 500 calories. So, if we estimate that the average ten-pound cat needs about 260 calories per day, that translates to slightly more than cup of dry food per day. This is an approximation, so your cat might need more or less food depending on their activity level and the actual calorie density of their food.

Image Credit: Ivonne Wierink, Shutterstock

Wet vs Dry Food vs Both?

Many pet parents feed their cats wet food, and some provide a mix of dry and wet food.Wet foodis less dense calorically than dry food simply because of the water content. If youre feeding a combination of wet and dry food, its important to measure out the amounts so that your cat is getting the correct number of calories. A 3-oz can of wet food averages about 70-78 calories, depending on the brand. So, a ten-pound adult intact male will need about 3 cans of wet food per day.

The trickiest part is that different foods will offer an additional number of kcals per kg. So, its essential to check the feeding instructions on the bag to get a feel for the caloric content of the specific food that yourefeeding your cat.

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Body Type and Exercise Level

Its also essential to assess your cats body type and exercise level. Some cats, like Maine Coons, are giant and can have a healthy body weight of up to 30 pounds. If your cat is of a huge breed, theyre going to need more food to sustain them. If your cat is very active and loves to play, it will need more food than a lazy cat and naps all day. If your cat tends to play by themselves often, consider increasing their food, especially if theyre usually hungry and begging for food.

What If My Cat Is Already Overweight?

If your cat is already overweight, its time to put them on a diet. Forewarning, they will hate it and likely will tell you all about how much they hate it. It will take your cat some time to get used to being on a diet. The transition period will probably require you to have a lot of patience since your cat will try everything in its power to get you to feed them. If youre used to free-feeding your cat, youll have to stop doing that and start giving them set mealtimes, so they dont overeat. While this may be more work for you overall, it will help your cat in the long run, and theyll thank you for it. Please keep in mind that it is very important for cats to only lose weight very slowly and gradually. If a cat loses too much weight too soon, a dangerous condition called hepatic lipidosis might develop. To avoid this, please work with your veterinarian to develop a safe weight loss plan for your cat.

How to Help Your Cat Lose Weight

Cats used to being free-fed dont generally like the transition period between free-feeding and meal-prepped-feeding. Your cat will complain and beg for food when their food bowl is empty, especially if they arent used to seeing it that way. One way you can get your cat to exercise more is to hide bowls of food around the house. In the wild, cats would work off the calories by hunting. Hiding small portions of food around the house can help your cat work off its calories by looking for hidden food.

If hiding food every day sounds like a chore you dont want to add to your repertoire, consider getting a feeding toy. These toys have small holes in them, and the cats must bat the toy and roll it around to get the food out from the inside. These methods simulate hunting for your cat and allow them to work for their food much like their wild ancestors would have. If neither is doable for you, consider playing with your cat more! Chaser toys and laser pointers are a great way to get your cat moving. You can even get automatic laser pointer toys that you can set up to help your cat exercise even when youre away. But just like people, most cats would prefer some quality playtime with their humans over a robotic toy.

While providing our feline companions with high-quality food is paramount, selecting the right food and water bowl is equally important. The modern yet practical design of our Hepper NomNom Cat Bowl combines cat-catered features, like whisker-friendly shallow dishes and slight elevation, with a contemporary style aimed at protecting your floors from messy eating and drinking. The NomNom is entirely dishwasher safe and was thoughtfully created with your cats health and well-being in mind.

Conclusion

How to properly feed our pets is a topic that every pet parent contends with at some point. It is hard to say no to those cute little faces when they beg for food but making sure our pets are healthy needs always to come first. While occasional treats arent a bad thing, we dont want to make a habit of letting our pets overeat. Some pets can control themselves and not eat themselves to death; others need us to intervene to keep them healthy.

Theres no right or wrong way to feed your pets if they are getting the proper nutrition. Even if you are providing your cat too much by numbers, it isnt a problem if they arent gaining excess weight. If youre worried about your cats health or appetite, speak with your veterinarian. They can assess your cats needs and make sure that everything is okay under the hood. Theyll help you craft a perfect meal plan to keep your cat in tip-top shape!

See also:

Featured Image Credit: ANURAK PONGPATIMET, Shutterstock