Cat Nutrition.com

How much should I feed my cat?  How many calories are in one can/cup of "X" brand of cat food?   How many calories of carbs?  How many calories of protein?

I have found  excellent online resources that help break down and explain the nutritional calorie content of cat food by brand, including carbs, protein and calories per cup or can, of wet and dry cat food.  These resources may be especially helpful for owners with cats on diets, and anyone interested in determining how much food is necessary to feed your cat to maintain a healthy weight (most pet food feeding directions suggest feeding WAY TOO MUCH!)....   To determine the amount of calories an average healthy indoor adult cat must consume a day, multiply its IDEAL body weight by 20.  (25 for active adult cats).  This conversion is not applicable for kittens.  

Nutritional Information By Brand:

Dry Food:  http://www.geocities.com/jmpeerson/dryfood.html  Canned (Wet) Food:  http://www.geocities.com/jmpeerson/CanFoodNew.html & http://www.geocities.com/jmpeerson/CanFoodOld.html

And this website has "calories per cup/can" of many popular brands of cat food in a nice little chart, if you want to double check, or if the calorie information is missing from the chart above:  Dry Food:  http://www.petobesityprevention.com/images/Cat_Dry_Food.pdf   Wet Food:  http://www.petobesityprevention.com/images/Cat_Canned_Pouch_Foods.pdf

Note:  Some of these listings may be out-dated and/or estimated values.  To guarantee up-to-date and accurate information, it is best to contact the pet food company directly and ask for the calorie content, as well as the break-down of carbs, protein in terms of calories.

You can also try this nutritional cat food calculator here: http://www.scheyderweb.com/cats/catfood.html

When & how often should I feed my cat?

In the wild, cats eat many small meals throughout the day, but most of us have busy lives and can't be at home all day/every day to feed our cats four or more small meals a day.  Adult cats are adaptable and can adapt to a feeding schedule.  Many feed adult cats once, twice, or three times a day.  As long as your cat is getting enough of the right nutrients and calories, and enough water (water should always be made available), how often you feed your cat (and when) is entirely up to you, although choosing a schedule that is relatively steady from week to week is recommended.  Cats are highly intelligent and will come to expect "meal time"!