Are kcals on cat food labels the same as calories for my cat's diet?

Food labels can be extremely confusing! The 1197 kcal/kg is a calculation of calories on a "dry matter" basis, which allows you to easily compare a compatible calorie count between different brands and types (wet or dry) of foods. Since canned foods have a very high water content, there is a much lower calorie count per can. To answer your question, yes, this means that there are 102 calories per can of food. Your vet will help you to determine Kitty's ideal body weight so that you can appropriately feed her for your weight loss goals. I hope this helps!

Getting cats to lose weight can be very challenging. Cats are obligate carnivores and cannot use carbohydrates efficiently, so they tend to be converted straight into fat. Any any dry food needs to have a good amount of carbohydrates in it in order to makes it "dry". So, even using low calorie biscuits, it can be very difficult to get a cat to lose weight. (And the bags generally recommend more calories than a normal cat needs.) My best recommendation for weight loss in cats is to change to a completely canned food diet. This website has some good information about cat nutrition. http://catinfo.org/ Some of the packets are actually also high in carbohydrates, so you have to read the labels carefully. It will seem odd that you are actually feeding a higher fat and higher caloric food in a canned food, but cats tend to lose weight that way. I generally recommend an average of 5.5 ounces of canned food per day for an average ideal body weight of 10 pounds for a cat. Good luck! I hope that was helpful. Thanks for using PetCoach.

Somehow this makes no sense, especially since you are mixing kcal and cal. Feed your kitty 3- 4 times a day (to be able to eat as much as necessary). Since a cat needs approximately 30cal/lb per day to maintain weight, her daily need to maintain the weight would be 150 cal. Your vet recommends 180 cal (not 1800), so she would need 1 2/3 cans of Merrick per day, ie split in 3-4 feed portions.

That's tough because cats hate exercising so you really have to make then adhere to a strict diet. First off make sure that you are feeding based on the resting energy requirement which can be calculated by the following equation: 30 x body weight (kg) + 70 Which gives you the number of kcals required per day. Then you need to look at the food and figure out how many kcal are in a can or cup. Once you figure that how you should be able to calculate amount to be fed per day. For an average cat: 30 x 5kg + 70=220 kcal If the food contains 315kcal/cup, 220/315=0.69 cups or about 2/3 of a cup. Also, the science diet metabolic diet is great for weight loss.

You're right, there are lots of ways of doing it. I like using the website below, but really you start by decreasing what Snoops is currently eating by 20% for 1 month and re-evaluate his progress. In general, cats will find more satiety eating wet food over dry food, and it is also lower in carbohydrates and higher in protein. I have had success using the "fancy feast" diet, which is one small can twice a day (making sure to choose the ones that sound like normal cat food, not spinach and cream or eggs and bacon!). If you don't see progress after 1 month, then discuss using a prescription weight loss diet with your vet. https://petnutritionalliance.org/cat.php

The amount of food they eat depends on how many calories are in that food. Pets should eat enough to maintain a normal body condition. You should be able to feel their ribs like your fingers on the back of your hand. They should have a waist from above and 'Tuck' from below. Adding regular dry food to the canned will only increase the calories they are getting and make them gain more weight. If pets are gaining weight, there are pet foods that are formulated for weight loss and to maintain an ideal body condition that are available from your veterinarian. Ask about weight loss foods and see what they suggest. Unfortunately, housecats are prone to becoming overweight as a lack of exercise and read access to food make a perfect situation to pack on the weight.

Check the labels on your cat foods and see if it gives you a calorie count. Most good pet foods will have that information. Calculate how many calories are in 1/3 of the dry food and compare that amount to the canned food to get an idea of the right amount to feed him to maintain his weight. If you aren't fond of math (like me!) a less precise method is to simply keep an eye on his weight and adjust the amount you feed accordingly. When you run your hands over his body, if the ribs can be felt with light pressure then he's a good weight. If you have to really feel around to tell where his ribs are, he could lose a little weight, and if the bones are felt with no pressure at all, he should get fed a little more.