How much food a cat should have depends first and foremost on its weight, its life stage and how active it is in everyday life. An adult indoor cat weighing four to five kilos has different needs than a growing kitten, a neutered cat with a more moderate daily routine or a senior cat in its golden years. That is why there is no single number that fits all cats - but there is an approach that makes it easy to hit the right daily portion for your particular cat. The key lies in taking your cat's weight and activity level as the starting point and then using the feeding guide on the meal you serve as a concrete point of reference.
The most important thing to understand is that the feeding guide always states the amount for a full day. So you first work out the total daily ration and then divide it across the number of meals you choose. Below we go through what determines the portion, how to read the guide correctly, and how to adjust when your cat gains or loses weight.
How to find the right daily portion based on weight and activity level
Start by weighing your cat, or have it weighed at the vet. Weight is the key figure, because all feeding guides are based on how much the cat weighs. Then look at the activity level. A cat with a high activity level that moves around a lot both outdoors and indoors burns more than a cat with a more moderate daily routine that spends most of the day indoors. So two cats of the same weight can have different needs, and this is where you use your knowledge of your own cat.
On every pack of ESSENTIAL FOODS meals you will find a feeding guide that translates the cat's weight into a concrete daily ration. Because our meals are prepared with a high proportion of carefully selected, human-grade ingredients and a well-thought-out nutritional profile, the feeling of satiety is good, and the portions are typically more measured than many expect. It is perfectly normal for the recommended amount to look smaller than you are used to - the quality of the raw ingredients means the cat gets what it needs in a smaller portion.
Why the cat's life stage changes how much it should have
A growing kitten has a markedly higher energy requirement relative to its size than an adult cat, because the entire body is being built up. That is why kittens eat relatively more and more often. As the cat becomes an adult, the requirement decreases, and the portion stabilises around maintenance. When the cat reaches its senior years, the requirement changes again, because everyday life often becomes calmer and the metabolism changes.
For the very young cat, meals for kittens have been developed to match the high energy requirement of the growth phase, while the adult cat thrives on meals for adult cats. For the older cat you will find relevant meals gathered under meals for senior cats, designed with the senior cat's everyday life, wellbeing and comfort in mind. Choosing a meal that suits the life stage makes it far easier to hit the right amount, because the nutritional profile is already tailored to where the cat is in life.
Neutered cats need a more measured portion
Neutering changes the cat's metabolism and appetite, and many neutered cats therefore gain weight more easily if the portion is not adjusted. This does not mean the food has to be dull or sparse - it means the nutritional profile must be adapted, and the daily ration must be kept precisely according to the cat's weight and activity level. Here it is especially important to measure out the food rather than fill the bowl by eye.
For precisely this group you will find relevant meals gathered under meals for neutered cats, where the nutritional profile is put together with the neutered cat's needs in mind. If you combine a well-chosen meal with a measured portion, you will keep your cat at a stable weight throughout everyday life far more easily.
How many meals should the daily ration be divided into?
Once you have worked out the daily ration, it should be spread across the day. Cats are by nature grazers that prefer to take many small meals rather than a few large ones, and that is why most adult cats do well with two or more servings a day. Kittens need to eat more often, because their smaller stomachs cannot hold the entire daily ration at once. What matters is that the total amount over the day corresponds to what the feeding guide states - not how many times the bowl is filled.
If you feed with both prepared meals and PÂTÉ, remember that together they make up the daily ration. So if you serve PÂTÉ as part of the day, it counts in the calculation, so the cat does not end up getting more than it should. Our cat pâté is cooked as complete meals and can be part of the daily feeding in a natural way, either on its own or together with the prepared meals.
How to adjust the portion if the cat gains or loses weight
The feeding guide is a solid starting point, but it is not a definitive answer for every individual cat. Some cats need a little more, others a little less. That is why the most important point of reference is how your cat develops over time. Follow its weight and keep an eye on whether its body condition and shape remain stable. If the cat slowly gains weight, the portion can be reduced a little, and if it loses weight for no reason, it can be adjusted up. Make the changes gradually, so the stomach has time to keep up.
If you notice that the weight is shifting a lot, or you are in doubt about what a healthy weight is for your particular cat, it is always a good idea to discuss it with your vet. If the doubt is instead about the feeding itself - amounts, choice of meal or how best to divide the daily ration - the ESSENTIAL FOODS nutrition advisers are ready by phone, chat and email to help you find the right daily portion for your cat.
Get off to a good start with a trial meal
If you need to work out which meal your cat thrives best on, it is often wise to begin on a small scale. With a trial meal you can see how the cat receives the taste and ingredients before committing to a larger bag, and at the same time you get a sense of how large a portion satisfies your cat. You will find the selection under trial meals for cats, and if you want to see the entire range of prepared meals gathered in one place, they are found under cat meals.
So there is no single universal answer to how much food a cat should have - but there is a safe starting point. Take your cat's weight as the basis, adjust according to life stage and activity level, use the feeding guide on the meal as a point of reference, and keep an eye on how the cat develops. Then you will hit a daily portion that keeps your cat in good shape and wellbeing day after day.