Cat Feeding Guide: Wet, Dry and How Much
Wet versus dry, portion sizes, and why cats do better with several small meals.
Cats are obligate carnivores that evolved to eat many small meals and to get most of their water from prey. Both facts should shape how you feed them.
Wet, dry, or both
Wet food is roughly 75% water, which supports urinary and kidney health — a real advantage for a species that drinks poorly. Dry food is convenient, keeps well and works in puzzle feeders. Many owners do best with a mix: wet meals plus a measured portion of dry for grazing and enrichment.
How much
- A typical 4–5 kg indoor adult needs roughly 200–250 calories a day.
- Measure with scales, not the mug that lives in the bag.
- Reassess after neutering — energy needs commonly drop by a quarter.
Several small meals
Three to five small meals suits feline digestion better than one big bowl. A timed feeder helps if you are out, and puzzle feeders slow down fast eaters while giving them something to do.
Water matters
Place water away from the food bowl and the litter tray — cats instinctively avoid drinking beside either. Wide, shallow bowls prevent whisker fatigue, and many cats drink far more from a fountain.
Never feed
Onion, garlic, chives, chocolate, alcohol, raw dough and lilies in any form. Cow's milk causes diarrhoea in most adult cats.
