How much food?

[J B 1]

Our cat is newly diagnosed. This site has been of enormous help and comfort. Trying to figure out right type and amount of food. Have stopped dry food. Am feeding Fancy Feast which is what he was eating before. I am supplementing with cooked chicken as a treat. He weighs 10lbs. But how much of the canned food should he be getting?

 

[Noah & me (GA)]

It's for the best you've stopped feeding kibble. Almost all of us feed Fancy Feast but as far as cat food goes it's not high end stuff and not much actual nutritional value. What is important is that he eats and most cats prefer the nice stinky stuff. Usually some vet's idea of a 3 meal a day diet is not realistic and if they've been free feeding all their lives and if you suddenly switch to something not natural to them they won't like it much. I've had two diabetic cats that were free fed. As long as weight gain or loss is not an issue just give him what he wants. A lot of vets don't like hearing that but they're not the ones living with a cat howling for more food.
The chicken is a better idea than $4 per can good food that they won't touch.

 

[JanetNJ]

Our cat is newly diagnosed. This site has been of enormous help and comfort. Trying to figure out right type and amount of food. Have stopped dry food. Am feeding Fancy Feast which is what he was eating before. I am supplementing with cooked chicken as a treat. He weighs 10lbs. But how much of the canned food should he be getting?

Most 10 lb cats would eat about 2 cans a day. (20 calories per pound) If your cat is underweight or seems hungry you could give more because unregulated cats sometimes need more food because their bodies can not properly utilize the nutrients.

 

[TriciaK110]

Most 10 lb cats would eat about 2 cans a day. (20 calories per pound) If your cat is underweight or seems hungry you could give more because unregulated cats sometimes need more food because their bodies can not properly utilize the nutrients.

What if the cat is overweight? Do you still ration about 20 kcal/lb?

 

[Gracie85]

What if the cat is overweight? Do you still ration about 20 kcal/lb?

If you want to maintain at the cat's current weight, then yes, 20kcal/lb.
If you want the cat to lose weight, then you'd cut back a little bit. A very little bit at a time. The cat will be hungry all the time if you reduce the food too much. And a crash diet is not good for them.

 

[JanetNJ]

What if the cat is overweight? Do you still ration about 20 kcal/lb?

20 cal per pound of ideal weight. So if they are 12 labs, but ideally should be 10 you would do about 200 cal. Of course things like activity level plays a part too.