Poll on how/how often you feed your cat

[Mama Soltera]

Just curious. It seems like everyone does it different and for different reasons. And wanted to try a poll.

I only put kibble for the always leaving food out because I figured if your cat has a raw or special diet it's not something you can leave out 24/7.

[slsurface]

It's my 3 yo job to feed his cat once a day (with reminding from mommy of course ). The cat gets 3/4C of dry food. Seems to be enough to last him all day.

[LaLaLaLa]

We just leave dry food out all the time for our cat. Very easy to maintain, and great when we're going away for the weekend. We don't have to figure out how to line up someone to come in and feed the cat. My parents have had catsitters in the past--they are expensive!

[PaisleyStar]

We feed 2x day. Our kitty is a former stray with an eating disorder, so if we feed too much, he eats it ALL. (revolting but funny story with this, but trust me, he just doesn't stop) And throws up. If we go too long without feeding (ie if we feed once a day), he throws up foamy stuff. Apparently this is not unusual for cats, they are not made to go long periods without food. So 2x day it is: morning and evening. Works well for us.

[Mama Soltera]

I actually only feed once a day but if we go on vacation I leave out a huge bowl of kibble.

I was realizing I've never heard a solid recommendation about how often to feed cats.

Kind of off topic, does anyone know if that canned salmon with bones would be good for cats? I know it's not raw but I was thinking that would be pretty easy and healthier than canned. Not for every day but just sometimes.

[Alyantavid]

We do dry cat food we get a local feed supply store. I typically fill up her bowl in the evenings, but if it's empty and she's meowing we'll feed her.

[tankgirl73]

We used to do dry food out 24/7, but one cat got FAT, and then we did lots of research on just how unhealthy dry food is for cats. It's usually loaded with carbs and other things not natural to a feline diet.

Plus, neither of them would drink enough water. Water dish changed frequently, ever-fresh cat fountain, made no difference.

We wanted to switch to a raw diet, but neither kitty took to it (too old to change their ways, apparently... some take to it, some don't). So we switched to canned-only, and grain-free only. High protein, all meat or with some veggies (they do eat grass after all), but no grains.

The difference has been very noticeable. The fat cat lost all her weight and is healthy and active again. Their fur is healthy and shiny... Yes, it costs more than grocery-store dry food. But it's worth it for their health. Just like I wouldn't feed my own children... say... Froot Loops, left out for them to graze on all day. Fortified with vitamins that they get all they NEED, so long as they have some milk for protein as well. I think it's a similar kind of thing...

Anyway, we usually feed them twice a day. About one can per day, so one-half can per cat. The feeding guidelines are on the can.

Here's more food for thought... some foods are more nutritionally complete than others. When we run out of the 'good stuff' and have to run across the street to the corner store to get the regular Purina or whatever to tide them over until we remember to take our stupid selves to the pet food store... they eat MORE. They are hungry and whining all day long, and will eat a full can each instead of a half can.

Even among the good brands we use, some will necessitate a half can each, others more like 2/3 of a can. It was a real revelation when we saw such a noticeable difference with their satiation according to which food they were eating!

Oh, and we also mix their servings with even more water... Like I said, they don't drink enough. Our male kitty got crystals a couple years ago, so we have to be extra-sure he gets enough moisture, that's when we started doing this. Basically they get SOUP for their meals lol... they lap it up eagerly. And it's about as far removed from dry food as you can possibly get lol...

[Kontessa]

We have a 9 year old healthy kitty, not over weight and have always left out dry food and of course water always. She gets people food as well, not because we feed it to her, but because we have three children and food gets left on the table for a bit or near the sink and she just loves licking a plate clean. She is a wonderful cat and very active and I am not worried about her diet.

[MamaFern]

we have an old cat who asks for food all day long. she is not over weight, but she sure likes to eat. we usually put food out for her a few times a day. the kids love this chore.

[Magali]

We leave dry food out all the time, and they get 2 cans of wet food/chunks of fresh meat once a day.

[chezlyryan]

I almost chose never. We have barn kitties that we feed once a day to keep them around, but they usually eat whatever and whenever they want.

[sunnysandiegan]

We feed a raw food diet to our kitten on a regular basis. Feedings are when she gets hungry. She typically likes to eat when we are eating and lets us know. I voted twice a day because that is the average. However, she has growth spurts like children do and very recently wanted to be fed every single time anyone was in the kitchen whereas the past few days she has only wanted to be fed once a day.

We feed her a rotation of raw meats/bones, changing the type every few days, and have catnip and cat grass growing where she can get to it at any time. She is an indoor kitty due to living on a canyon with an active coyote population. We do take her outside into our small fenced backyard on a harness and leash and let her play in the dirt and plants and sun herself on the warm patio, though, and she it!

[laohaire]

We do kibble 24/7. We tried the raw meat a few times but it wasn't easy and I didn't stick with it. However, lately I have been feeding them certain (cooked) meat scraps, like fat rinds that I used for broth (but there was still some fat/meat left), that sort of thing. They love that. I don't believe kibble is the best, I'm aware it's bad, but it hasn't gotten to the top of my priority list yet.