General Chat

The guidance on the pack will be for an "average" cat of around 4kg in weight and with an "average" level of activity.

Some cats will eat more or less than this, but I would think that 1 pouch is a very small amount of food.

Cats that eat only dry food will appear to eat less volume as the calories in dry food are more concentrated, however they should drink significantly more water than cats fed on tins or pouches. Tins or pouches have a high water content (similar to that in fresh meat) and so cats will get some of their liquid requirements from the tin or pouch.

Its unlikely that a cat would "starve" itself or "gorge" itself, so if you go round to feed it, the bowl is licked clean and the cat is asking for more food then I would give it some more.

Changing it's diet might lead to the .....skoots lol

Mmmm difficult one, this... one of my old girls only has little bites, and probably eats no more than a pouch a day, but she is very healthy... she is almost 18... and has always been a small eater..... if she was an only cat, I would probably only feed her a pouch per day... the others are bigger eaters. And smaller!

I have 4 cats, I use 5 pouches a day, but there is always dry put down... sometimes I need to add more pouch food, as a neighbour's cat feeds regularly at our table, lol...

But... if the cat isn't scrawny looking, and that is all the owner puts down, then I would go along with that... a starved cat will look starved..... I would be tempted to put down what the owner said, and then watch carefully.

I have to say, I would leave more specific instructions, and my contact number... but if I gave instructions, I would want them followed. If you have agreed to look after them, then you have accepted those instructions.. I also have to say that I get in a professional pet sitter when I go away, to avoid just this sort of conundrum!!

Hope all goes well.

Love

Daff xxxxx

In my opinion, if the cat appears healthy and the owner has told you to feed one pouch a day, then you should go with the owner's instructions.

All cats, like people, are different. I previously had a big cat who didn't eat a lot and also had a small cat who could eat for England.

Like other people have said, cats will often have several ports of call for food on their daily rounds. Also, if a cat isn't happy at a person's home, then it will leave. Furthermore, like Lindy mentioned, it could be on a special diet.

By changing its diet whilst the owner (or should that be servant) is away, you will change its habits and when the owner comes back the cat could be dissatisfied with the original service and take to the road - cats are fickle little blighters.

If you are concerned about the apparent lack of food, you should have a word with the owner. But you should only feed the cat what the owner has said.

Ed

Oh Dear!

I love cats, but don't have one at the moment due to the busy road we live on.

Could the cat not be on a special diet that the neighbour has not told you about, although I do admit as to not knowing what quantity the cat has to be fed.

Just a thought!

Lindy

I had a cat who despite us limiting him to a tin of food a day weighed in at over a stone. Turned out he was nicking the neighbours cats food, was being fed pouches with another neighbour (who incidently had hated cats before she met him) and scrounging what he could off of passers by. (He'd sit on the front wall and meow and show affection to anyone who went by) He also limped from an altercation he had with a car. Most of the time the limp was imperceptable until it was feeding time.

He loved scrounging chips with tomato ketchup off my OH (who doesn't like cats)

He lived to the ripe old age of 22. Not bad for a stray kitten who'd been dumped!

Janet lol he does probably what you describe. Annie

My cat is a house cat and she eats very little but is healthy. Only had a small dish of dried food plus a few bits of whatever i have ie chicken etc.

The cat must be thin , if the owner only gives it 1 pouch a day ..poor cat !!!

Is it a house cat?r does it go outside?

Grannie of 10,
I agree with Jayne.
I give my cat a bowl of dried food and 3 pouches a day with plenty of water,

Perhaps he's like my friend's cat and "self caters" Or jumps in the neighbours cat flap and nicks their food. How big is the cat?

Thanks for answers i will go and get some dried food and give a couple of pouches. He will survive lol Annie

It certainly isn't enough. Cat should have at least 3 a day ( big cats may eat 4 or 5 pouches) plus maybe some dry food left down all the time for "snacks". Also remember fresh water everyday.

Good luck!
J.

No i have just been given these pouches. Dont know nothing about cats. Annie

Hi I have a cat and he is fed 2 pouches a day but also has dried cat food..I would think 4 pouches is too much - well my cat would not eat that much and the dried food seems to be more popular with my cat.

Hope this helps

Kathleen

but i have been asked to feed a neighbours cat while the owners are on holiday.Told me to feed one pouch a day.When i read the the box of food it says 4 pouches a day.Can someone tell me what they feed there cat as i dont want this one dying on me and one pouch i dont think is enough. Annie