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How Many Cans of Wet Cat Food Should My Cat Eat Per Day?

How Much Cat Food Per Day

From soft pâtés to gravy-laden chunks of meat, canned cat food has a particularly delectable appeal for most felines. It’s the literal cat’s meow! Canned cat food is extremely palatable, and the premium texture of the food provides your cat with a scrumptious mealtime experience. A variety of flavors allows you to provide your cat with new meal options throughout the week.

If your cat loves lapping up a bowl of canned cat food, you might even find your adorable feline begging for more when mealtime is done, which leads to the question: How many cans of wet cat food per day is the right amount? It’s not always clear since, with the high moisture content of canned cat food, you’ll need to feed your cat more wet food than you would dry kibble.

How many cans of cat food per day you feed your cat has a lot to do with the food you choose, as well as the size and age of your cat. Let’s take a look at how many cans of wet cat food is the right amount to contribute to a healthy, happy cat.


How Many Calories Are in a Can of Cat Food?

As you consider how many cans of cat food to feed your cat in a day, it can be helpful to begin by understanding how many calories are in a can of cat food. While the total number of calories in a single can of cat food will vary based on the brand, type of food, and size of the can, the following is a rough estimate of most canned cat food:

  • In a 3-ounce can: 70–125 calories
  • In a 5.5-ounce can: 120–180 calories
  • In a 12.5-ounce can: 360–450 calories

Always read the label on your canned cat food to find out how exactly how many calories are in the particular recipe you have chosen. That will help you as you calculate the number of cans to feed per cat per day.

Choosing the Right Amount of Cat Food for Your Cat

Choosing how many cans of wet food per day for your cat is an important decision. Too little food and your cat might lose weight or even become ill. Too much food and your cat might become overweight or obese, which can lead to a variety of other health conditions.

To calculate the number of cans of cat food to feed your feline family member, start by determining if you have a 3-ounce, 5.5-ounce, or 12.5-ounce can. From here, always follow the feeding guidelines on the can. Most cans will provide you with a recommendation based on the weight of your cat and the amount of food in each individual can. It is also important to include any dry kibble you are feeding your cat along with the canned food in your calculation.

How Many Cans of Cat Food per Day for a Kitten?

For kittens, due to their small size, most cat parents opt to use one 3-ounce can of kitten food. Make sure to look for a recipe designed for kittens, as kittens have vastly different nutritional needs than adult cats. For example, Wellness® Complete Health™ Pâté Kitten Recipe is designed specifically for a growing kitten.

The feeding instructions for a 3-ounce can of kitten food are age dependent.

  • 0–11 weeks: feed until full 3–4 times per day
  • 11–26 weeks: feed ¾ of a can per pound of body weight per day
  • 26–52 weeks: feed ½ of a can per pound of body weight per day

Choose a Healthy Diet for Your Feline Family Member

Remember, all of these measurements are estimations. Make sure you pay careful attention to your cat’s body condition. Just like us humans, every cat is a little different when it comes to its metabolic rate.

If you notice your cat is gaining a little extra weight, you might consider decreasing its intake by 10%. If, on the other hand, your cat is losing weight, you might want to consider increasing its daily food intake by 10%.

Always speak to your vet to determine the exact caloric intake your cat needs or if your cat is suddenly gaining or losing weight. Highly active cats will need to eat more than sedentary cats. Not only that, but if your cat requires a specific diet due to an underlying health concern, you may need to lower or raise its food intake.

Your vet can help you determine whether or not your cat is in a healthy weight range and the specific amount of food that will help keep your feline companion on a path to wellness.


Wellness Pet Food Has You Covered!

If you are interested in feeding your cat a healthy diet, consider trying one of our canned foods. Choose from a variety of options, and rest assured that all of our recipes use high-quality proteins and are made with natural, wholesome ingredients. And best of all, every Wellness cat wet delivers a taste that 9 in 10 cats love*. Catisfaction Guaranteed. We are confident that with Wellness, your cat will love the taste but if for any reason your cat is the 1 in 10 who doesn’t, Wellness will always offer you a money back guarantee.

Try the Wellness® Complete Health™ Pâté Chicken & Herring Recipe, a protein rich meal that supports the 5 Signs of Wellbeing for adult cats. What are the 5 Signs of Wellbeing? Healthy skin and coat, optimal energy, immune health, healthy teeth and bones and digestive health from a highly digestible recipe. Alternatively, if you have a senior cat, give the Wellness® Complete Health™ Age Advantage recipe a try. This formula is designed for cats 7+ years of age to support healthy aging with the right balance of protein and fat, plus natural glucosamine and chondroitin to support joint health and optimal mobility as your cat ages.

If you can’t make up your mind, give our variety pack a try and let your cat decide! At Wellness, we believe that mealtime for your cat is more than just a bowl of food. It’s the foundation for a longer and healthier life. That’s why we craft delicious, healthy canned cat foods you can feel good about giving to your furry feline friend.

Don’t just take our word for it. With Wellness cat food, Catisfaction is guaranteed. 9 out of 10 cats love Wellness*!

* Based on Studies of Wellness Cat at an Independent Kennel. Data on File. 

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