Calories Count

• Adult cats need 20 to 30 calories per pound of body weight a day.
  
  

Older Cats

• Senior cats don't absorb fat as well as they did when they were younger and may need more fat in their diets to maintain their energy levels. They need the same amount of protein as younger cats do and should not be on protein-restricted diets.
  
  

Meat and Fat

• Cats are obligate carnivores and need animal protein and moderate amounts of fat. An adult cat should have about 12.5 grams of protein and 5.5 grams of fat each day.
  
  

Two Cans A Day

• Most cats need two, 3-ounce cans or one 5-ounce can of wet food a day. Very large or very active cats need more. Since wet food is mostly moisture and meat, it should not cause your cat to gain weight.
  
  

Dry Food

• The feeding instructions on the bag will tell you how much your cats need to meet their daily caloric requirements. In many cats though, the grains in dry food turn to fat, causing obesity. Your cat will stay slimmer on an all wet-food diet.
  
  

Feed Often

• Free-feed wet food or give your cat several small meals every day. Since cats evolved as predators of small rodents, eating many small meals in a 24-hour period, instinct tells our house cats they need frequent access to food.