Determining how much to feed your cat comes down to your portion control and his body condition, according to nutritionist Joseph Wakshlag, DVM, Ph.D., at Cornell.
“First, keep an eye on him and monitor his intake in conjunction with veterinary advice. The best way to feed cats the right amount of food is to get a kitchen scale and measure the food out in grams. One cup of food can weigh between 70 to 120 grams so one has to be careful when switching between brands.”
Second, examine your cat. “If you can feel your cat’s spine and hips, there should be a layer of muscle between the hip bones and a slight fatty covering under the skin,” Dr. Wakshlag says. “That’s a good sign he’s at a healthy weight. But a clearer way to observe obesity might be to observe the ‘apron,’ the loose skin under the belly. If the apron is flapping around there is a good chance your cat is overweight. Normal average-sized adult cats should weigh about 8 to 10 pounds.”
