How Much Wet Food Should I Feed My Cat?

Most adults cats need about 260 calories per day and wet cat food typically contains about 70-100 calories per 2.5 – 3 ounce can. The average 10lbs, healthy cat would thus need to eat 2-3 cans of wet food per day on an all-wet food diet. Ultimately, the right amount of wet food depends on your cat’s age, weight, activity level, health, and whether they also eat dry food. Your veterinarian can help determine the ideal daily calorie intake for your cat.   

Wet cat food is a nutritious way to help support your cat’s overall health while increasing their daily water intake. However, feeding too much or too little can affect your cat’s weight and long-term health. 

How Much Wet Food To Feed a Cat

There are several factors that determine how much wet food a cat should eat per day. Every cat has different nutritional and energy needs, and those needs can change throughout their life. To determine how much wet food to feed your cat, take into consideration factors like their age, weight, health status, and what other food or treats (calories) they eat per day. 

• Age: Age is one of the most important factors determining how much wet food your cat needs. Young, growing kittens need about twice the calories as mature cats do. 
• Weight and body condition: The more a cat weighs, the more energy they need each day for normal body functions and maintenance of lean muscle tissue. A cat’s ideal weight and if they are underweight or overweight are important starting points to consider.  
• Nutrition and calorie content of the food: This is one of the most important factors. The food should be complete and balanced, especially if it is going to be used as a cats primary diet. Too many or too little calories per day can result in health problems.  
• Other foods and treats: If your cat eats dry food in addition to the wet food, then you will need to adapt the amounts they eat to equal the number of calories they need per day. Treats, meal toppers, and table food should all contribute too. 
• Activity level: All cats have a baseline metabolism, a resting energy requirement for maintaining their body functions and muscle tissue even before factoring in activity level. More active cats generally need more food to support their activity than cats who are less active.  
• Pregnant or nursing: Female cats who are pregnant or who are nursing kittens will need about 25–50% more calories per day—and thus more wet food—than other adult female cats. 
• Spay/neuter status: When a female or male cat is spayed or neutered, their baseline metabolism will drop by about 30%. This is important to keep in mind if you’ve just had your cat spayed or neutered; you’ll need to decrease their food intake so they can maintain a healthy weight. 
• Health status: Certain medical conditions such as obesity or kidney disease can increase or decrease a cat’s nutritional needs.  

Wet Food Feeding Chart for Cats 

The following daily feeding chart assumes that you’re feeding your cat wet food that contains 90 calories per 3-ounce can, that wet food is the only food source in your cat’s diet, that your cat is spayed or neutered, and that your cat is already an ideal, healthy weight.

How Often To Feed Cats Wet Food

Most cats do well eating 2-4 times per day. The exact feeding schedule for cats should be based upon their age, health status, and what else they eat daily such as dry food, meal toppers, table food, or treats. 

Kittens under 1 year of age usually eat more often than adults as they are still growing and their body is still adapting to regulating their blood sugar levels. Adult cats should eat 2 times per day, preferably morning and evening.  

Healthy cats that indulge in wet food can have that wet food during every meal or just at one sitting. That decision is up to the pet parent. As long as the cat is getting the correct amount of calories, wet food can be their only meal source.  

For cats who are not eating well due to feeling under the weather, congestion, or those with health problems affecting the kidneys, bladder, teeth/gums, a wet food diet fed multiple times per day would be recommended. Cats that are not eating well or cannot smell their food will often gravitate towards wet food since it has a stronger aroma. Those with dental issues might prefer wet food because it’s easier to chew. If they have a kidney or bladder issue, wet food contains a high moisture content which is highly beneficial for their condition.  

How Wet Food Benefits Cats

Wet food can be beneficial to any cat's diet regimen as it provides important nutrients while also contributing significantly to increasing their daily water intake. Its soft texture, appetizing aroma, and high moisture content make it appealing to most cats, especially those that are picky eaters or have a decreased appetite.  

Provides Hydration 

Dehydration is a common problem for cats. Cats are inherently not great water drinkers as they prefer to get the majority of their moisture from their food. Wet food provides a significant amount of water which dry food does not, thus providing your cat with extra hydration. 

Stimulates Appetite  

Wet food is often more appetizing to cats and thus will stimulate them to eat more readily than the other options. Wet food is more aromatic, flavorful, and palatable than dry food and cats rely heavily on their sense of smell in the decision whether they want to eat.  

Aids in Weight Management 

If your cat is more on the hefty side, increasing their wet food intake can help with weight loss. Most wet cat foods are lower in carbohydrates and calories while having higher levels of protein which can aid in weight management.  

Easier To Chew 

Cats with dental or gum disease benefit from wet food because the consistency is easier to chew. Wet food puts less pressure on the teeth and gums to help with discomfort associated with eating. 

Offers Enrichment 

Wet food provides both mental and sensory enrichment for cats because it involves several of their natural, instinctual behaviors. It’s a strong sensory experience, providing both variety and a natural foraging opportunity. Wet food can also be used in a lick mat or food puzzle as a form of enrichment or to slow down their eating habits.  

What To Consider When Choosing Wet Cat Food

Choosing the right wet food for your cat is more than just picking texture and flavor. A cat’s age, life stage, health needs, and overall diet should be considered along with other factors such as the research that’s gone into the food and how healthy it is for your cat. Your vet team is a great resource to help you decide what the best wet food for your cat is.  

Company Research 

Choosing a pet food company can be overwhelming! It’s important to do your research when choosing a wet cat food, as quality of food depends on more than just the list of ingredients. How the company formulates the food, then how they go on to manufacturer, test, and monitor it is equally as important. Look for a wet food from a company that employs veterinary nutritionists to formulate the diet to ensure its complete, balanced, and safe for your cat.  

Cat’s Age 

A cat’s nutritional needs change throughout life, so age is important to consider when choosing wet cat food. Wet cat food comes in specific formulations for kittens (all-life stage), adults, and seniors, and is designed to balance the nutritional needs of that specific life stage.  

Ingredients 

Ingredients are important when choosing a wet cat food because they help you understand the nutrient profile and if it’s appropriate for your cat’s needs. Cats are obligate carnivores, meaning it’s essential to provide them with plenty of protein both animal-based and otherwise.  

The first ingredient should always be a high-quality protein such as chicken, beef, turkey, fish, or in special circumstances a plant-based protein like soy. These proteins provide vital amino acids that cats need to be healthy as well as other vitamins and minerals. Healthy amounts of carbohydrates, calories, and fat are important as well. 

Activity Level 

Your cat’s activity level plays a part in choosing wet food as an option for their meals as it influences how many calories, they need to maintain a healthy body weight. Active kitties who burn more energy will need more calories than unactive cats. 

Health Status 

Cats that are overweight or obese would benefit from an all-wet food, portion-controlled diet for weight loss as it contains less fat and carbohydrates than dry food. All-wet food diets are also a great choice for those with health conditions that would affect the urogenital system like kidney disease and urinary tract infections, as well as bladder stones and urine crystals. These conditions require a higher moisture diet which wet food provides.  

Texture 

Wet cat food comes in a wide variety of textures such as pate, chunks in gravy, stews, mousse, minced, shredded/flaked, and sliced/cubed morsels. Cats can have strong preferences on how the food feels in their mouths, and many factors affect their wiliness to eat certain textures like palatability, age, dental and overall health.  

How To Serve Wet Cat Food

Serving wet cat food involves a few simple factors to encourage your cat to eat consistently and make mealtimes enjoyable for all. Using a clean, shallow dish free of any plastic is ideal for most cats. Make sure the dish is wide enough that their whiskers are not brushing up against the sides too much as that can cause a sensory overload and food aversion (whisker fatigue).  

When serving wet cat food, temperature can affect how appealing it is to a cat. Cats often prefer room temperature or slightly warmed up food as it can enhance the food’s aroma. Always ensure the food is not too hot after heating to avoid facial and mouth burns.  

Other factors like portion control, ensuring the food is and remains fresh, and establishing a routine are important factors to consider when serving wet food to cats. 

How To Store Wet Cat Food

Here are some tips for storing your cat’s wet food: 

• Keep unopened wet cat food in a cool, dark location, like the pantry. 
• Always check the expiration date. (Don’t serve spoiled food!) 
• Once opened, cover the can of food with an airtight can cover or lid and refrigerate it at 37 degrees Fahrenheit or below. 

• Throw out open, unused food after three days.