How much wet food to feed a cat

Highlights

• Small cats (7lbs/3kg) need 200–250g per day, or 2½–3 SHEBA® 85g pouches is the correct amount of wet food. Medium-sized cats (9lbs/4kg) need 250–300g and large cats (11lbs/5kg) need 300–350g. Cats weighing in at 14lbs or 6kg require 350–400g daily.
• Cats that are more energetic and active will require more food than indoor cats.
• Cats that are carrying babies require 25%–50% more calories a day to sustain their offspring.
• You should always offer a mix of wet and dry food, with the dry food being left out throughout the day for your cat to graze on.
• Symptoms of over- and underfeeding include, but are not limited to, lethargy, vomiting, and visible weight gain in the case of overfeeding; and a dull coat, tiredness, increased vocality, and visible weight loss in the case of underfeeding.

Wet cat food is a staple choice for any cat’s diet and has numerous benefits for your cat’s well-being. It is high in nutrients and protein, and its moisture content supports healthy hydration. How much wet food to feed your cat is dependent largely on their age and weight and primarily ranges from 2–4 sachets a day.

In this guide we’ll cover the benefits of wet food, how best to serve it and how often, how to work out the correct portion sizes for your cat, and symptoms of over- and underfeeding.

How much wet food should a cat eat a day

Not sure how much wet food to feed your cat? Well, the answer isn't strictly a one-size-fits-all guide. That's because the amount of wet food to feed your cat is driven by factors including their weight, age, health and how active their lifestyle is.

• Age: Kittens require more food per pound of body weight than adult or senior cats, as they need the extra calories and nutrients to support their growth and development.
• Weight: The right amount of food depends largely on your cat’s size, with larger or heavier cats needing more food, and smaller cats needing less.
• Activity Level: Very active cats will need more calories than indoor cats who exercise less and don't hunt.
• Pregnancy: Cats that are pregnant or nursing will need 25–50% more calories a day to support their growing offspring.

You should always monitor your cat’s weight to ensure you aren’t over- or underfeeding them and follow the instructions on the packaging regarding portion control if you’re unsure. How much wet food you should feed your cat may vary, but always ensure you offer a mix of wet and dry food, as both carry benefits for your cat’s diet.

Wet Food Feeding Guidelines by Weight

It's important to use your cat's weight as an accurate guide to the exact portion required. Calorie content will also vary between different varieties of wet food, so this needs to be considered. Our list below helps you work out how many grams of wet food to feed a cat with this calculation for small, medium or large cats when feeding them SHEBA® wet food products.

• Small Cat (7lbs / 3kg) – 200–250g per day. This is 2½–3 SHEBA® 85g pouch or tray, which is equivalent to 169–195 kcals per day.
• Medium Cat (9lbs / 4kg) – 250–300g per day. This is 3–3½ SHEBA® 85g pouch or tray, which is equivalent to 208–239 kcals per day.
• Large Cat (11lbs / 5kg) – 300–350g per day. This is 3½–4 SHEBA® 85g pouch or tray, which is equivalent to 244–280 kcals per day.
• Bigger Cats (14lbs / 6kg) – 350–400g per day. This is 4–4½ SHEBA® 85g pouch or tray, which is equivalent to 280–320 kcals per day.

*Average amount of food per day across all the sub-ranges of the portfolio. Our SHEBA® pouch or one SHEBA® tray can be replaced by 18-20g of dry food.

As well as their main meals, it's also important to account for the calories coming from treats. Feeding amounts are intended as guidelines only, and you should adjust the amount of food your cat eats according to the activity level of your cat, as well as their size and age.

So your cat always has something to look forward to, you can divide their daily calorie allowance of food and treats into portions for feeding throughout the day. Not only will it keep them interested, but it will more closely mimic what their feeding schedule would look like in the wild, with several small meals a day.

SHEBA® wet food should be served at room temperature, and surplus food can be chilled for up to two days to be eaten at another time. Be sure to always offer them fresh water along with their food too.

Why do cats need wet food?

Technically speaking, cats don't need wet food, but having evolved from wildcats, domestic cats are essentially meat eaters. Wet food is a good source of the protein they need to fulfil their active lifestyles, in comparison to dry food. Wet food is also a source of hydration, as cats often don't drink very much water. 80% of wet food is moisture that's absorbed into your cat's system. 

Wet vs dry food portions for cats

Most cats eat a blend of wet and dry cat food. Dry cat food is far more highly concentrated with calories than wet food and so should be given in smaller quantities. It is often a good idea to fill a bowl with dry food in the morning and to allow your cat to freely graze on it during the day. You can top it up as needed.

Wet food, though, is often the preferred food for most cats and boasts many benefits in terms of protein and nutrients. As a result, wet food should be fed to your cat multiple times a day, depending on their age and weight.

Wet food amounts for kitten vs senior cat

As cats age, so too do their needs. As a result, how much wet food you feed a kitten is very different to how much wet food you feed an adult cat. The differences in kitten and senior cat food habits are as follows:

Senior cats are not like kittens in that they are not rapidly growing. The most important thing for cats in their older life stages is to be provided with easily digestible foods. 

Why does my cat always want wet food?

A cat's instinct will often tell them to choose wet food, as it most resembles the prey that they would catch and eat in the wild. Wet food contains both the protein and moisture content that a cat naturally needs to be a healthy hunter, so it can often seem a more desirable option than dry food. Wet food carries a huge array of benefits for cats, like so:

• Provides Hydration: The moisture in wet food is great for hydrating your cat.
• Stimulates Appetite: Due to its aroma, moisture, and meaty texture, wet food mimics a cat’s typical prey in the wild, so it stimulates their appetite effectively.
• Aids in Weight Management: Wet food provides a higher volume per calorie, making cats feel fuller faster while still offering essential nutrients.
• Stronger Aroma/Palatability: The aroma of the food is close to that of natural prey, so it is appealing to your cat.
• Natural Instincts: Wet food is closer to the more natural food sources for a cat.
• Easier to Eat: Due to its moisture content, wet food is very easy to eat for most cats.
• Higher Protein/Nutrient Content: Wet food is packed with protein and nutrients that cats need for their bodies and coats and to sustain their health and wellbeing.

Signs your cat is overfed or underfed wet food

Knowing how much wet food to feed a cat is important for preventing issues of over or underfeeding. The signs of these are as follows:

Signs your cat is overfed:

• Weight Gain: The biggest sign of an overfed cat is visible weight gain.
• Loss of Waistline: A less visible waistline is also a sign of weight gain, with your cat filling out in response to being overfed.
• Inability to Feel Ribs: Too much food will lead to a thick layer of fat forming over the ribs, reducing the ability to feel them.
• Lethargy & Reduced Mobility: Overfeeding can cause tiredness, and excess weight gain can promote a reduction in movement.
• Vomiting & Diarrhoea: This is a sign that your cat’s digestive system is overloaded due to too much food.
• Begging: This is the result of a learned behaviour rather than your cat being always hungry, as your cat has become used to being fed too much or too often.

Signs your cat is underfed:

• Weight Loss: If your cat is not eating enough to sustain itself, it will visibly lose weight, with bones even becoming visible.
• Constant Hunger: Cats that are not fed enough may be more vocal in a bid to be fed and might let you know how hungry they are with constant crying.
• Lethargy: Without food, cats lose energy and will be less likely to engage in play or other energetic activities.
• Dull Coat: This results from insufficient nutrition, which is caused by insufficient feeding.
• Grooming & Hairballs: Increased grooming can sometimes be associated with a dull coat, while hairballs can sometimes be a sign that your cat’s diet lacks the necessary fibre or moisture to smoothly move the hair through their system.

How to Serve Wet Cat Food

Understanding how much wet food to feed a cat is just the beginning, and it's important you know how best to store and serve it too.

Cats prefer their food at room temperature, as it smells better to them this way. As a result, if your cat food is refrigerated, leave it out for 15–20 minutes before serving it to your feline friend.

Always follow the portion guidelines written on the packaging when deciding how much wet food to feed your cat, and break up their food with a fork before serving to allow them to consume it more easily.

In the wild, cats would avoid drinking near their food to steer clear of any potential contamination. Because of this, you should place their water bowl at least two feet from their food. For both food and water, wide shallow bowls that allow your cat to see their surroundings while they sustain themselves may make them more comfortable.

Will my cat drink less water if he eats wet food?

As wet food has such high moisture content, it is often the case that a cat will drink less water when their diet is wholly made up of wet food. This is nothing to worry about, as it most likely means they are getting the water they need through their food. Lots of cats don't like still or standing water and will seek hydration from their diet instead.

Now you know how much wet food to feed your cat and how it supports cat health and hydration; why not discover the delicious range of SHEBA® wet cat food in a range of flavours to satisfy every hungry cat's tastes?

How much wet food to feed a cat - FAQ

Is 2 pouches of wet food a day enough for a cat?

How much food your cat needs depends on their weight, activity level, and caloric density of the food. An average cat weighing 4–5kg needs 250–350g of wet food per day.

How much should a cat eat a day of wet food?

On average, a cat weighing 4–5kg needs to eat 250–350g of wet food per day. How much food your cat needs depends on multiple factors, though, and active or pregnant cats may require more, while sedentary cats may require slightly less.

How often should cats eat wet food?

Cats should be fed wet food every day as the bulk of their regular meals. This should be supplemented with dry food for them to freely graze on throughout the day.