How much food is enough for a cat in 1 week?
Your cat stares at the bowl. Empty again in 30 seconds. You wonder: am I overfeeding or starving my baby? The answer is not “a handful.” It is science, age, weight, and lifestyle. Feed wrong for one week and you start fat rolls or skinny ribs. Feed right and you get shiny fur, perfect poops, endless zoomies. Let’s break it down crystal clear. No guesswork. Just numbers that work.
The Golden Rule – Calories First, Grams Second
Cats need calories, not volume. Adult cat (4 kg) burns 200–280 kcal per day. Kitten under 6 months needs 2–3 times more. One week = 7 days × daily kcal. Example: 4 kg indoor adult = 240 kcal/day × 7 = 1,680 kcal/week. That is your target. Everything else (dry, wet, raw) just converts to this number.
Dry Food Only – Simple Math for Busy Owners
Most dry foods give 350–450 kcal per 100 g. Average 400 kcal/100 g is safe bet. 4 kg adult cat needs 60–70 g dry food daily. One week = 420–490 g total. That is less than half a 2 kg bag. Kitten 3 kg needs 80–100 g daily → 560–700 g per week. Buy 2 kg bag = one month supply for adult. Buy 500 g pack = perfect weekly portion. No leftovers, no waste.
Wet Food Only – Juicy but Tricky Portions
Wet food pouch (85 g) gives 70–100 kcal. Average 85 kcal/pouch. 4 kg adult needs 3 pouches daily (255 kcal). One week = 21 pouches exactly. Buy 24-pouch box = one week + 3 bonus days. Kitten 2 kg needs 4–5 pouches daily → 28–35 pouches/week. Choose 85 g pouches, never 400 g cans unless you have fridge space. Open can must finish in 48 hours max.
Mixed Feeding – The Vet-Recommended Gold Standard
50% dry + 50% wet keeps teeth clean and hydration high. Example for 4 kg adult (240 kcal/day):
- Morning: 30 g dry = 120 kcal
- Evening: 1.5 pouch wet (127 g) = 120 kcal Total week: 210 g dry + 10.5 pouches wet. Super easy to measure. Teeth stay cleaner. Pee smells less strong. Owners love this combo most.
Age-Based Weekly Chart – Copy-Paste This
- Kitten 8 weeks (0.8 kg): 200–250 kcal/day → 1,400–1,750 kcal/week → 5–6 pouches/day
- Kitten 4 months (2 kg): 400–500 kcal/day → 2,800–3,500 kcal/week → 10–12 pouches/day
- Adult 4 kg indoor: 200–240 kcal/day → 1,400–1,680 kcal/week → 420–490 g dry OR 21 pouches
- Adult 4 kg active/outdoor: 250–300 kcal/day → 1,750–2,100 kcal/week → 550–600 g dry
- Senior 4 kg low activity: 180–220 kcal/day → 1,260–1,540 kcal/week → 380–440 g dry
- Overweight 6 kg on diet: 180 kcal/day → 1,260 kcal/week → 45 g dry + 1 pouch daily
Treats & Extras – Yes, But Keep Under 10%
Treats max 10% of total calories. 4 kg cat = 24 kcal treats allowed daily. One dental stick = 70 kcal → that is 3 days of treat budget. One Churu tube (14 g) = 10 kcal → safe daily reward. Count every lick, every crumble. Skip “free feeding” treats. Obesity starts here.
Warning Signs You Are Feeding Wrong
- Bowl empty in <1 minute daily → increase 10–15%
- Food left every meal → decrease 10%
- Belly touches floor when walking → cut 20% now
- Ribs easy to feel, waist visible → perfect
- Poop hard & small → add wet food
- Poop soft & smelly → reduce wet, add fiber
Real Stories from Cat Owners Who Got It Right
Sarah fed her 5 kg Maine Coon 100 g dry daily. He hit 8 kg in one year. Switched to 70 g + 1 pouch wet. Lost 1.2 kg in 3 months. Now runs like kitten again. Tom gave unlimited dry to Persian kitten. At 6 months vet found bladder stones. Strict 4 pouches daily + water fountain. Stones gone in 8 weeks. Lan measured 21 pouches every Sunday night. Her British Shorthair wins cat shows monthly. Coat shines like silk.
Conclusion
One week of food is not “however much they eat.” It is exact calories for exact weight and age. Print the chart above. Stick on fridge. Weigh food every day for first month. Your cat will thank you with head boops, not vet bills. Perfect portion = perfect cat. Start this Sunday. Your furry overlord is waiting.
