How Many Pouches To Feed A Cat

Knowing how much to feed your cat can feel like a puzzle. Factors like age, weight, and how much they move around all play a part. This guide helps you figure out the right amount of wet food pouches for your cat. We’ll look at what top brands suggest so you can feed your furry friend just right.

How many pouches should I feed my cat?

Most cat food companies suggest feeding cats between two and four pouches a day. This changes based on your cat’s age, how big they are, and how active. It also depends if you give them dry food or treats on top of wet food.

For example, Natures Menu, a highly-rated wet food, says a 4kg cat needs about two pouches daily. You can find more details in our full wet cat food guide.

Natures Menu Beef and Chicken 4x12x100g

Complete, Nutritionally Balanced, Human Grade, and free from artificial sugars, colours, flavours and preservatives. Natures Menu is the top rated wet cat food in our wet cat food guide.

 

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Last update on 2025-06-21

How many calories should my cat eat?

Your cat’s daily calorie needs change with their age and activity. A growing kitten might need up to 275 calories per day to support their energy and growth. Adult cats usually need 200-300 calories each day. This range depends on their weight and how active they are. For cats that are overweight or on a special diet, they might need fewer calories, typically around 180-200 per day.

How many calories are in a pouch?

Pouches are not all the same size. Most hold between 70-120 grams of cat food. This means the calorie count can be different too. To find out exactly how many calories are in your cat’s food, check the back of the pouch. All the details are usually listed there.

Here’s a quick look at the calories and weights for some popular wet cat foods:

How many pouches do cat food brands recommend?

Each cat food has different ingredients, so recommendations can vary. We’ve listed the feeding advice from some popular brands below. These are the ones we mention in our guide to the best wet cat food.

Natures Menu Adult Pouch Multipack

For a 3-year-old cat weighing 4kg, with a healthy body shape, Natures Menu suggests 188g of wet food each day. That’s about two pouches. You can find exact recommendations for your cat using their handy calculator.

Scrumbles All Natural Wet Cat Food

Scrumbles recommends feeding between two and three pouches per day. The exact amount depends on your cat’s size and how active they are. Check their feeding guideline calculator to find what’s right for your cat.

Scrumbles All Natural Wet Cat Food with 70% Chicken

This hydrating, grain-free wet food is packed with 70% fresh British meat and came out as our top premium cat food pick.

 

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Last update on 2025-06-21

Whiskas Cat Food Poultry Selection for 1 year+

For an average 4kg cat, Whiskas suggests one pouch in the morning, one in the evening, plus 15-20g of dry food in between. If your cat eats only wet food, they recommend three pouches daily. You can split these into 2-3 meals, whatever fits your schedule.

Whiskas gives a clear breakdown for different cat weights and feeding plans, whether you use only pouches or a mix of wet and dry food.

Pouch feeding only:

• 3kg cat: 2 1/2 pouches per day
• 4kg cat: 3 pouches per day
• 5kg cat: 3 1/2 pouches per day

Pouch & dry food:

• 3kg cat: 1 1/2 pouches per day + 15g dry food
• 4kg cat: 2 pouches per day + 20g dry food
• 5kg cat: 2 1/2 pouches per day + 15g dry food

Whiskas Wet Food Pouches – 84x100g

Whiskas Adult Cat Pouches in gravy, a delicious all round meal designed for adult cats in their prime years, succulent, moist ingredients in every pouch.

£46.48

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Last update on 2025-06-21

Sheba Fine Flakes in Jelly Poultry Collection for 1+ years

Sheba suggests a 4kg cat gets three pouches daily if they eat only wet food. If your cat has a mixed diet, Sheba recommends two wet food pouches plus 20g of dry food.

How to weigh your cat

Most cat food recommendations depend on your cat’s weight. If you haven’t been to the vet lately, you can weigh your cat at home. Here’s a simple way to do it:

1. Put your cat in a cat carrier.
2. Place the carrier with your cat on a scale and note the total weight.
3. Take your cat out of the carrier. Weigh the empty carrier, or find its weight in the user manual.
4. Subtract the carrier’s weight from the total weight. That’s your cat’s weight.

How to determine your cats body type

Cat food instructions often assume a “lean” body type. What does that actually mean? Here’s how to tell your cat’s body condition:

• Very thin: You can easily see your cat’s ribs, spine, and hip bones. When you touch them, you won’t feel any fat under the skin.
• Thin: You can see your cat’s ribs, spine, and hip bones, but not as clearly as a very thin cat. You’ll feel very little fat when you touch them.
• Ideal/lean: It’s hard to see their ribs, spine, or hip bones, but you can feel them easily when you touch your cat. This is the healthy goal.
• Overweight: You’ll find it hard to feel their ribs, spine, or hip bones. There’s a layer of fat on their belly and at the base of their tail.
• Obese: It’s extremely difficult to feel their ribs, spine, or hip bones because of a thick layer of fat. You might also notice their tummy is closer to the floor when they walk.

Other things to consider

• Feeding your cat multiple times a day can be tough. If this is an issue, think about an automatic cat feeder. They let you set meal times, so your cat eats regularly and doesn’t overeat in one sitting.
• Most cat food brand guides don’t include extra calories from treats or table scraps. These extras can be high in calories and might lead to weight gain.
• If your cat starts gaining weight, try cutting back on treats first before reducing their regular wet food meals. If you have multiple pets with different dietary needs, there are ways to manage that too.