A calm guide to feeding your cat

How much should my cat eat?

Turn over any pack of cat food and you’ll find a neat little table. A 4kg cat needs this many grams a day. A 5kg cat needs that many. It looks very precise.

Here’s the thing most of us were never told. That table is an average. It’s worked out for a “typical” cat, and the cat on your sofa is rarely typical.

So let’s talk about how to use it properly, and where a daily supplement fits in.

Start with the guide, then look at your cat

The feeding guide gets you into the right ballpark. After that, your cat tells you the rest. Four things move the number more than most people realise:

Age. Kittens are growing and need more energy for their size. Senior cats can go either way, so it’s worth keeping an eye on their weight as the years go by.

Neutering. Neutered cats often need fewer calories, and the weight can creep on quietly.

Lifestyle. An indoor cat whose main exercise is the walk to the food bowl needs less than a cat who patrols three gardens a night.

Body condition. This is the big one. You should be able to feel your cat’s ribs under a light layer of fat, and see a gentle waist when you look down from above. If you can’t, the portion needs adjusting, whatever the table says. Your vet or vet nurse can show you how to body condition score at home in a couple of minutes.

Weigh it, don't guess

A “scoop” of biscuits can vary more than you’d think. Kitchen scales take the guesswork out, and they make it much easier to notice if your cat’s appetite changes. Weigh your cat every month or so too. With cats, small changes matter.

Cats aren't small dog

Cats are obligate carnivores. They need certain nutrients, like taurine, that a complete cat food is formulated to provide. So feed food made for cats, and follow the guide for cats.

Check the label for the word “complete”. A complete food is designed to provide everything a healthy cat needs when fed at the right amount. A “complementary” food, like most treats and toppers, isn’t designed to be fed on its own.

Little and often suits most cats

Many cats prefer to graze, eating several small meals through the day rather than one big one. If your cat is happy with that, measure out the daily amount in the morning and let them work through it. For indoor cats, a puzzle feeder or a few biscuits scattered around the room turns dinner into a bit of a hunt, which they tend to enjoy.

In a multi-cat home, it helps to feed each cat in their own spot, so nobody is quietly eating two dinners.

Don't forget water

Cats aren’t always keen drinkers. Wet food adds moisture to their diet, and lots of cats prefer water that’s away from their food bowl, in a wide dish, or moving (hello, cat water fountain). Try a couple of bowls in different rooms and see what your cat chooses.

Treat count too

The calories that get forgotten are the ones given by hand. A common rule of thumb is to keep treats to around 10% of your cat’s daily calories, and to trim the main meal a little on heavy treat days.

Changing food? Go slowly

Cats have opinions, and a sudden switch can upset their tummy as well as their mood. Mix the new food in gradually over about a week to ten days, increasing it a little each day.

Where a supplement fits

Not instead of a good diet. Alongside it.

A supplement isn’t there to fix a poor diet or to treat a condition. It’s there to add targeted, everyday support on top of a balanced meal, for the things owners increasingly want to think about early: how their cat moves, how their skin and coat look, and how their tummy is getting on.

That’s where Koning & Ritter comes in. Our three cat formulas, Hip & Joint, Skin & Coat and Probiotics, are all fine powders built around algae-derived omega-3. Because they go into the bowl, they work with the feeding guide rather than around it. Weigh the food, add the scoop, serve

How much powder does my cat need?

The amount depends on your cat’s weight. On each product page, choose your cat’s weight band (up to 3kg, 3 to 6kg, or over 6kg), and you’ll see the daily serving. The same guide is on the pack, and there’s a measuring scoop in every pack.

Scoop, sprinkle. Done. (but gently)

Every cat is different, so take it at your own cat’s pace. Start with a smaller amount mixed into food your cat already loves, and build up to the full daily serving over a few days. Wet food tends to hide the powder best. Keep the scoop near the food bowl, add it as you serve, and it quickly becomes part of the furniture.

Quick questions

Do I need to change my cat’s food? No. Our powders are designed to mix into their usual meal.

Can I give my cat a supplement made for dogs? Cats aren’t small dogs. Use products made for cats, and check with your vet before adding anything new, especially if your cat has a health condition or takes medication.

Can I use more than one formula? Check the guidance on the pack, and if you’re unsure, ask us or your vet.

My cat has gone off their food. Should I wait and see? No. A cat who stops eating for more than a day needs a call to the vet. Cats can go downhill quickly if they don’t eat.

A few honest notes

Supplements are not a substitute for veterinary care, and they don’t replace a balanced diet. Cats are good at hiding it when something’s wrong, so if you notice a change in your cat’s appetite, weight, thirst, behaviour or litter tray habits, please speak to your vet first.

We take your cat’s wellbeing seriously. We can still give a fluff.

Goodness today for everything ahead.