Taking care of your cat's diet is certainly one of the most difficult tasks for cat owners on duty. Unlike dogs, felines have an extremely discerning palate and do not usually eat everything they see in front of them. Precisely for this reason, it is important to keep in mind how many times a day the cat should eat and, above all, how much cat food and sachets should be used.To ensure the longevity and health of your pet, the Paws of the House we've put together everything you need to know when it comes to putting together your feline's diet. more!

Cat food: find out how many times a day your kitty should eat

When it comes to cat food, it is common for one of the most frequent doubts among guardians to be about how many times a day their kitty should eat. It turns out that, unlike dogs, cats are very demanding and always like to have a "fresh meal". That is: that handful of food put in the morning will certainly not be useful for your kitten in the late afternoon. For this reasonreason, it is important to know how best to offer cat food, taking into account the age of your friend:

- Kitten (up to 12 months): because it has a lot of energy, the kitten does not need a large amount of food, but several meals throughout the day. Therefore, the ideal is to feed your kitten about three to five times a day. It is worth remembering that as the animal grows, it tends to eat less and, therefore, it is necessary to reduce the number of meals gradually;

- Adult and elderly cats: In this case, it is important to feed your kitten at least twice a day, in the morning and in the evening;

- Neutered cat: neutered cat food should be divided into two or three meals, in which case the owner should avoid leaving the food available to prevent the animal from eating continuously and increasing the risk of overweight.

Although some owners choose to leave the food bowl full, so that the kitten can eat as needed, this may not be a good choice. Establishing certain times to feed your kitten is a way to monitor the cat's health, as changes in the animal's appetite may be indicative of illness. In addition, it is a way to prevent your friend from becoming stressed outwith sudden changes, as felines tend to be animals attached to routine.

How to give the right amount of cat food?

The amount of cat food that should be offered to your kitty can vary according to a number of factors. The age range, for example, is the main one. This is because the animal's growth phase requires different nutritional care than the adult phase, which directly influences the portion of food. A kitten weighing between 1.6 and 3.7 kg, for example, can eat about 25 to 40 kg of food.grams of cat food per day. On the other hand, an adult kitten weighing between 4 and 6 kg can consume up to 80 grams of cat food per day.

In addition to age, the quality of the cat food can also influence these values, as Premium and Super Premium cat foods tend to have different nutritional rates than Standard cat foods and can therefore be offered in smaller quantities. Generally, cat food packaging has general instructions based on the weight of the cats and serves as a "guide". Still, in case ofdoubts, it is essential to consult your pet's veterinarian.

Cat treats should be offered in moderation

Just like cat food, cat treats should also be offered in a controlled manner to avoid overweight in your kitty. Although there is no general rule for all felines, since some variables, such as size and breed, can influence the health of the animal, it is important that the guardian keeps in mind that cat treats cannot replace your pet's meals. If your kitteneats twice a day, for example, the ideal is that the snacks are offered only once and at a time that does not disturb the other meals.

An imbalance in cat food can be detrimental to the animal's health.

When it comes to feeding your cat, balance is key. It is important to know that leaving food at the cat's disposal or offering it only once a day are choices that can be extremely harmful to your kitty's health. The first, for example, can cause your pet to eat more than necessary and, consequently, become an obese cat, even with a routine that is not very healthy.On the other hand, a feline who only eats once a day is also not eating a healthy diet and may end up developing some diseases, such as feline hepatic lipidosis.