A must-read for cat lovers: A complete guide to cat diet – regular and quantitative feeding and the Pets Thing smart feeder recommendation

When does the cat eat? How many meals do you eat every day? How much should you eat?

Table of contents

• When does the cat eat? How many meals do you eat every day?
• How much should you eat?
• Pets Thing Automatic Feeder: A Smart Helper for Timing and Quantifying Food
• Pets Thing Automatic Feeder Main Benefits and Functions
• Why do you recommend Pets Thing’s automatic feeder?
• Summarize

When does the cat eat? How many meals do you eat every day?

One of the most common questions asked by novice cat owners is "When does the cat eat? How many meals should the cat eat per day? How much should the cat eat?" In fact, a cat's eating habits and needs vary depending on its age, weight, activity level, health status and food type. I want my master to eat healthily and happily.

Regular and quantitative feeding habits are crucial.

Cats' biological clocks and digestive systems actually tend to prefer "small, frequent meals." In the wild, cats hunt multiple times a day, eating small amounts of food each time.

1. Kittens (under 1 year old) :

• After weaning to 6 months : Kittens are in a period of rapid growth and require a lot of nutrition and energy. It is recommended to feed 3-4 meals a day, or even more. You can consider feeding dry food for a long time, and then combine it with 2-3 meals of wet food.
• 6 months to 1 year : Can gradually reduce to 2-3 meals a day.

2. Adult cats (1 to 7 years old) :

• It is most common to feed your baby two meals a day, for example one in the morning and one in the evening. This helps maintain stable blood sugar levels and also makes it easier for owners to observe changes in the cat's appetite.
• Some cats may be accustomed to three meals a day, which is fine as long as the total food intake is properly controlled.

3. Old cats (over 7 years old) :

• Old cats may have reduced digestive capacity and less activity. You can maintain 2 meals a day, but you may need to adjust the type of food (for example, switch to more easily digestible cat food) and the amount.
• Some older cats may need to eat smaller, more frequent meals to avoid overfeeding at one time, which can cause gastrointestinal burden.

“Free Feeding” vs “Timed and Quantified Eating”

How much should you eat?

There is no absolute standard answer to the amount of food a cat needs every day. It mainly depends on the following factors:

• Age : Kittens require more calories to support growth, while older cats require less due to their slower metabolism.
• Weight and body shape : Overweight cats need to reduce the amount of food, while underweight cats need to increase the amount of food. You can refer to your veterinarian's assessment of your cat's ideal body shape.
• Activity level : Active cats require more energy than quiet cats.
• Sterilization status : After sterilization, the cat's metabolic rate will decrease, and the food intake should be reduced by about 20-30% to avoid overweight.
• Food types and calories : Different brands, dry food and wet food have different calorie contents.
• Health status : Pregnant or lactating cats, or cats with specific diseases (such as diabetes or kidney disease) will have special dietary needs and must follow the veterinarian's instructions.

Basic method to calculate food intake :

1. Reference food packaging :

   Most cat food packages will list recommended feeding amounts based on your cat's weight. This is a good starting point.

2. Consult a veterinarian : The veterinarian can provide the most professional food intake recommendations based on your cat's specific situation.
3. Observation and adjustment : After starting to feed, weigh the cat regularly and observe changes in its body shape (you can gently feel the ribs, but they should not be too obvious; there should be a waistline when looking from top to bottom). If you are gaining or losing weight too quickly, you may need to adjust your food intake.

Pets Thing Automatic Feeder: A Smart Helper for Timing and Quantifying Food

For many cat lovers, feeding their cats at strict times and in fixed quantities can sometimes become difficult due to busy work, the need to leave home early and return late, or even short-term travel.

At this time, a useful automatic feeder is your best partner!

Pets Thing (petsthing.com.hk) provides a variety of automatic pet feeders. Its core function is to solve the troubles of cat owners in feeding:

https://petsthing.com.hk/collections/pet-automatic-feeders

Pets Thing Automatic Feeder Main Benefits and Functions

• Precise Timing :
  • You can pre-set daily feeding times, such as 7am and 6pm. When the time is up, the machine will automatically dispense grain.
  • This feature ensures that your cat can eat on time even when you are not at home, without disrupting its biological clock.
• Quantitative control :
  • Pets Thing's feeder can set the amount of food it dispenses each time. Most models can be accurately measured to a certain number of grams per serving (for example, 5 grams or 10 grams per serving), and you can allocate it to each meal based on the total amount of food your cat needs every day.
  • This can effectively prevent cats from eating too much and becoming obese, or not eating enough and affecting their health. This feature is especially important for cats who need to control their weight or have special dietary needs.
• Multiple Meal Settings :
  • In line with the cat's nature of "eating small meals frequently", many feeders can be set to feed up to 4-6 meals a day, or even more. It is very friendly to kittens, old cats or cats that need special care for their stomachs.
• APP remote control (some models) :
  • Some advanced models support mobile app connection. Even if you are away from home, you can monitor the feeding status through the App and even add food manually. It is very convenient.
• Voice recording (some models) :
  • Some feeders can record your voice and play it when feeding the cat, giving the cat a sense of familiarity that you are feeding it personally and reducing its anxiety.
• Hygiene and freshness :
  • Food storage barrels usually have a sealed design to help keep dry food fresh and prevent moisture and insects.
  • Food trays and food storage barrels are mostly made of food-grade materials and are easy to disassemble and clean to ensure the cat's diet is hygienic.
• Dual power supply protection (some models) :
  • Supports both battery and plug-in power supply modes. Even if there is a sudden power outage at home, the feeder with backup battery can still continue to operate, so you don’t have to worry about your cat going hungry.

Why do you recommend Pets Thing’s automatic feeder?

Because their automatic feeder is a perfect example of

The core advantage is " timely and quantitative payment ".

• For owners : Reduce feeding stress, enjoy greater flexibility in life, and be confident that your cat is well cared for.
• For cats : Establishing a stable eating pattern helps maintain a healthy digestive system and prevent health problems caused by improper diet (such as obesity, gastrointestinal discomfort).

For example, you can set the first meal to be automatically served at 7 am, a small snack at 12 pm (if necessary), and dinner at 6 pm. The portions are all pre-set, so you don’t have to worry about your cat eating too much at the “buffet”.

Summarize

It is the responsibility of every cat owner to establish a healthy and regular eating habit for cats. Understanding the dietary needs of cats at different stages and insisting on regular and quantitative feeding are the cornerstones of maintaining their health. The Pets Thing automatic feeder , with its precise timing and quantitative functions, humanized design and intelligent operation, is undoubtedly a powerful assistant for modern cat owners to practice scientific feeding. You may want to visit their website and choose the feeder you like to make your life and your pet's life easier and happier!

Remember, no matter what feeding method you use, the most important thing is to continue to observe the cat's reaction and physical condition, and consult a veterinarian for professional advice regularly.

I wish you and your cat a wonderful eating experience!