There’s no one size fits all answer to this question. The
amount of food your cat needs will depend on your cat’s
size, age, exercise habits and metabolism. Additionally, the
same amount of food could equal a different number of
calories depending on the cat food brand you choose.
A good place to start is to check the label of your cat
food. Most containers include serving size recommendations
based on your cat’s weight. Use this as a ballpark estimate
and revise it based on your cat. For instance, if your cat
is a little heavier, you may want to use the lower end of
the serving recommendation. If your cat is at a healthy
weight, use the middle of the recommendation. Reassess your
cat on a regular basis to determine if you need to increase
or decrease meal serving sizes.
Consult your veterinarian, who should be able to give you a
more precise calorie recommendation for your pet. Your vet
may also be able to recommend the best cat food for your pet
or give you a list of healthy cat foods. Finally, keep in
mind that calories come from cat food and treats. Treats
should make up no more than 10 percent of your cat’s daily
calories.