Dog and Cat Feeding Guide
Getting the amount right is one of the simplest things you can do for your dog or cat’s health. Too little and they lose condition; too much and the extra weight creeps on quietly. This guide explains how to work out a starting amount, how to read the feeding table on the bag, and how to adjust over time. It’s general guidance only. If your pet has a medical condition, is on a prescription diet or you’re worried about their weight, please ask your vet.
Start with the feeding guide on the pack
Every complete pet food is formulated differently, so a cup of one food can carry quite different energy from a cup of another. That’s why the manufacturer’s feeding guide on the bag, tin or pouch is the source of truth for how much to feed. Use it as your starting point, then fine-tune using your pet’s body condition (see below).
How to read a feeding table
- Find the right column. Most tables list your pet’s weight down one side. Puppy and kitten tables usually add age (in months), and for puppies, sometimes expected adult weight too.
- Use ideal weight, not current weight. If your pet is carrying extra kilos, feed for the weight they should be. Your vet can tell you what that is.
- Check the units. Amounts are usually in grams per day. Cups vary a lot in size, so a kitchen scale is the most accurate way to measure, at least until you know what the right amount looks like in your scoop.
- It’s a daily total. Split the figure across the number of meals you feed in a day.
- Note any ranges. Where the table gives a range (for example, for less active or very active pets), start in the middle and adjust.
What changes how much your pet needs
Weight and size
Bigger pets eat more in total, but not in a straight line: a 30 kg dog doesn’t need three times what a 10 kg dog eats. That’s another reason to follow the table rather than scaling up yourself.
Life stage
Puppies and kittens need more energy and nutrients for their size because they’re growing, so feed a food made for growth until the manufacturer suggests moving to adult food. Large and giant breed puppies grow for longer and do best on a large-breed puppy food. Adult pets need maintenance amounts, and seniors often need fewer calories but may benefit from a food made for older pets.
Activity
A working farm dog or a dog that runs with you every day burns more than a dog who mostly naps on the couch. Indoor cats are usually less active than cats who spend time outdoors. Adjust within the range on the pack, and watch body condition.
Sterilised or neutered pets
Sterilised pets often need less food than the pack suggests for an intact pet of the same weight, and many gain weight easily after the operation. Some foods are made specifically for sterilised pets; otherwise, start at the lower end of the range and check their shape every couple of weeks.
Meals per day
- Puppies: small tummies do best with three to four meals a day while they’re young, dropping to two meals a day as they get older. Your puppy food’s pack and your vet will guide the timing.
- Kittens: several small meals spread through the day, reducing as they grow.
- Adult dogs: most do well on two meals a day.
- Adult cats: cats naturally prefer to eat little and often. Two or more measured meals work well; if you leave dry food out, measure the day’s amount in the morning so they don’t overeat.
Mixing wet and dry food
Many pets enjoy a mix of wet and dry food, and wet food is a handy way to add water to the diet, especially for cats. The key is to reduce both so the total stays the same. A simple way: decide what share of the day comes from each, then feed that share of each pack’s daily amount. For example, if you want half wet and half dry, feed half the dry food’s daily amount plus half the wet food’s daily amount. Some manufacturers print a mixed-feeding guide on the pack; where they do, use theirs.
Browse dry dog food, wet dog food, dry cat food and wet cat food.
Switching foods: the 7-day change
A sudden change of food can upset your pet’s tummy. Mix the new food in gradually over about a week, so their digestion can adjust:
| Days | Old food | New food |
|---|---|---|
| Days 1 to 2 | 75% | 25% |
| Days 3 to 4 | 50% | 50% |
| Days 5 to 6 | 25% | 75% |
| Day 7 | 0% | 100% |
If your pet has a sensitive stomach, take it more slowly and spend a few extra days at each step. If you see vomiting, diarrhoea that doesn’t settle, or your pet stops eating, go back to the old food and speak to your vet. If your vet has prescribed a new diet, follow their instructions for the change.
Treats: keep them to 10%
Treats are a lovely part of training and bonding, but they add up. A widely used rule is to keep treats to no more than 10% of your pet’s daily calories, with the other 90% coming from their complete food. If you give a lot of treats on a training day, trim their meals slightly. Small, low-calorie treats, or a few pieces of their own kibble from the day’s allowance, work well for training.
Check body condition every few weeks
The scale tells you part of the story; your hands and eyes tell you the rest. At a healthy weight, most dogs and cats:
- Ribs: you can feel them easily under a light layer of fat, without pressing hard, but you can’t clearly see them.
- Waist: looking down from above, there’s a visible waist behind the ribs.
- Tummy tuck: from the side, the belly tucks up behind the ribcage rather than hanging level or low.
If you can’t feel the ribs, cut back a little (around a tenth of the daily amount is a gentle step) and check again in two to three weeks. If the ribs, spine or hip bones are prominent, increase a little. Breeds and coats vary, so ask your vet to show you what a healthy shape feels like for your pet. Unexplained weight loss or gain is always worth a vet visit.
Senior pets
Many manufacturers move pets onto senior or mature formulas from around seven years, though large dogs tend to age sooner and small dogs and cats later. Older pets are often less active and may need fewer calories, while some lose weight and need more. Dental problems, joint stiffness or changes in appetite and thirst can all affect eating, so regular vet check-ups matter more as your pet gets older.
Water
Fresh, clean water should always be available. Wash bowls daily and refill often, especially in hot South African summers. Pets on dry food drink more than pets on wet food, which is normal. Cats can be fussy drinkers, so a wide bowl placed away from their food, or a water fountain, can help. A sudden increase or decrease in drinking is worth mentioning to your vet.
Never run out
Once you know how much your pet eats each day, you can work out how long a bag lasts and set up a recurring order to match. With Autoship recurring orders you choose how often your food arrives, get 35% off your first Autoship order (a saving of up to R400) plus R100 Zuki Bucks on your 3rd delivery, 5% off every Autoship order after that, and free delivery once your order reaches the free-delivery amount, and you can manage, skip or pause it in My Account.
This guide is general information and doesn’t replace advice from your vet. Always follow the feeding guide on your pet’s food and any instructions from your vet.