Feeding guides on the bag are only a starting point, and following them blindly is a common reason cats become overweight. This article shows you how to estimate your cat’s real portion, judge body condition by hand, and build a feeding routine that keeps weight healthy. You will finish with a concrete number to start from and a way to adjust it.

Why portion control is so hard with cats

Cats are small, so small errors matter. An extra tablespoon of food a day can add up to significant weight gain over months. The bag’s feeding chart assumes an average, unneutered, active cat, but most house cats are neutered and less active, which lowers their real needs. Free-feeding dry food all day makes it worse, because many cats eat out of boredom rather than hunger.

The result is that a lot of cats are quietly overfed. Excess weight raises the risk of diabetes, arthritis, and urinary problems, and it shortens comfortable years.

How to estimate the right amount

Start with body condition, not the scale

The most useful home tool is a body condition check. Run your hands over your cat’s ribs: you should feel them easily under a thin layer, like the back of your hand. Looking from above, there should be a visible waist behind the ribs. From the side, the belly should tuck up, not sag. If you cannot feel the ribs, your cat is likely overweight.

Read the label properly

Feeding charts list a daily total, not a per-meal amount. Divide that total across all meals and treats. Wet and dry food have very different calorie densities, so if you mix them, you must count both. Treats should stay under roughly 10 percent of daily calories.

Weigh, do not scoop by eye

A kitchen scale is more accurate than a measuring cup. Studies of pet owners have repeatedly shown that eyeballing portions leads to large overfeeding errors. Weigh the daily amount once, then note what it looks like.

A real scenario

An indoor tabby named Miso weighed in a full kilogram over ideal. The owner had been free-feeding dry food. The vet set a target weight and a daily calorie goal. The owner switched to two measured meals weighed on a kitchen scale, moved most treats to a puzzle feeder to slow eating, and cut table scraps entirely. Weight came off gradually over several months. The gradual pace mattered: cats that lose weight too fast risk a serious liver condition called hepatic lipidosis, so slow loss under veterinary guidance is safer.

Common mistakes and how to fix them

Mistake	Fix
Following the bag chart exactly	Treat it as a starting point and adjust to body condition
Free-feeding dry food all day	Switch to measured meals
Not counting treats	Keep treats under about 10 percent of daily calories
Crash dieting an overweight cat	Aim for slow loss under veterinary supervision
Scooping portions by eye	Weigh food on a kitchen scale

Action checklist

• Do a hands-on body condition check for ribs, waist, and belly tuck
• Use the label chart as a starting estimate, then adjust
• Weigh the daily amount on a kitchen scale
• Split the total into set meals instead of free-feeding
• Count treats and table food toward the daily total
• Reassess body condition every couple of weeks
• Ask your vet for a target weight if your cat is overweight

Conclusion and next step

The right portion is the one that keeps your cat at a healthy body condition, not the number printed on the bag. Do a rib check today and weigh out one meal to see how your current serving compares. If your cat is clearly overweight or underweight, ask your veterinarian to set a target weight and a safe daily calorie amount before making big changes.

For a detailed perspective, see this detailed article.

Frequently asked questions

Wet or dry food for weight control?

Both can work. Wet food has more moisture and often fewer calories per volume, which can help some cats feel full. What matters most is the total daily calories and portion accuracy.

How many meals a day?

Two measured meals suit most adult cats. Some do well with several tiny portions or a puzzle feeder, which also slows fast eaters.

My cat begs constantly. Am I underfeeding?

Not necessarily. Many cats beg out of habit or boredom. Confirm weight with a body condition check before adding food, and try play or a puzzle feeder first.

How fast should an overweight cat lose weight?

Slowly. Rapid weight loss in cats can trigger a dangerous liver condition, so any weight-loss plan should be gradual and vet-guided.

References

American Association of Feline Practitioners (AAFP); World Small Animal Veterinary Association (WSAVA) body condition guidelines.