How Much Wet Food Should I Feed My Cat?

Many cat owners think of wet food as a treat because their cats love it so much. In reality, you can feed your cat more wet food on a regular basis, not just as an occasional treat.

It can be tricky to determine how much wet food your cat should eat at a time, though. The total amount of wet food you feed her can depend on several factors, such as how much dry kibble you feed, her overall health and more.

How Much & When to Feed Wet Food

You can feed your cat wet food daily. Check the can or consult with your veterinarian for feeding recommendations. In general, you can feed an average-sized adult cat one 3-ounce can per 3 to 3-1/2 pounds of body weight daily.

You should adjust this amount depending on whether you also feed your cat dry kibble. Your veterinarian may also recommend feeding more or less wet food depending on your cat’s weight, health and other factors.

You can feed your cat wet food any time of day. It’s important to remember, though, that canned food cannot sit out for more than a half hour to an hour or it will spoil. So, it’s best to feed at a time where you can clean up after your cat if she doesn’t eat it all.

You can leave dry kibble out all day, so some owners serve it in the morning for their cats to graze on while they’re at work. At night, they feed wet food and refrigerate any leftovers. You could do the opposite of this or even serve a mix of wet and dry food at each meal. It all depends on your schedule and your cat’s preferences.

How to Store Wet Cat Food

If you only feed your kitty half a can or she doesn’t eat everything you put on her plate, you can store it in a sealed container in the refrigerator for up to 3 days, according to Purina Senior Nutritionist Jan Dempsey. If you have a lid for canned goods, you can use that as well. Store unopened cans at room temperature.

Unopened cans will keep for up to two years in the pantry. Product shelf life may vary, however, so check the manufacturer’s website for more information.

How to Serve Wet Cat Food

Most cats will enjoy wet food at room temperature. Your cat may not like cold food, so after refrigerating it, you may want to set it out for about 15 minutes to allow it to come up to room temperature before serving.

Your cat may also enjoy a combination of textures, so try mixing her wet and dry cat food. To keep things interesting, consider adding a topper or complement to her wet food. This adds even greater variety and makes mealtime more exciting.

These additions are a great way to supplement your cat’s diet and treat her to something special. Just remember not to exceed her total daily calorie recommendations, Dempsey advises. “Refer to the brand’s website for further directions on combining wet and dry food. This will tell you how much to decrease dry kibble as you add wet cat food to her diet,” she says.

How to Choose a High Quality Wet Cat Food

You want nothing but the best for your kitty, so you want to choose the highest quality wet cat food possible. To do so, look for cans stating they are “complete and balanced.” This means they will meet all your cat’s nutritional requirements to help keep her healthy.

Some cats are picky, so you may need to try several different varieties and brands before you find something your kitty loves. Once you do, you can feel confident making wet food a regular part of her diet. Purina offers a variety of wet cat foods your cat is sure to love. Shop all our wet food varieties here.