Feeding your pet - are you over (or under) feeding?

Pet owners have to navigate many decisions when choosing a pet food - however, care should be taken when deciding how much to feed. A study published in the Journal of the American Veterinary Medical Association (JAVMA), conducted in Canada by pet nutrition researchers at several universities, compared the recommended energy intake (REI) from cat food labels with the scientific equations commonly used by veterinarians to estimate a pet’s daily caloric need. The study found that the feeding guidelines on cat food labels can vary significantly and may not align with a cat's actual energy needs, potentially leading to a risk of overfeeding, obesity, or even malnutrition when followed. 

Cat Food

Key Findings for Pet Owners

The study's results showed that feeding recommendations often do not match the energy requirements calculated by veterinary standards. Here’s what pet owners should know:

• Potential for Overfeeding: The high end of the recommended energy intake (H-REI) range on many labels frequently exceeded the energy needs for a lean cat. For a 5-kg cat, 52% of the high-end recommendations surpassed the calculated need for lean cats. This discrepancy was even more pronounced for "all-life-stage" diets, where 65% of the H-REI for a 5-kg cat exceeded the lean cat benchmark. Pet foods formulated for “all life stages” have to meet the demanding growth stage, which requires a higher caloric and nutrient intake than most adult animals need for general maintenance. Feeding guidelines did not appear to take this into account and adjust intake for different life stages, suggesting a significant risk of overfeeding and obesity, the most common nutritional disorder in cats.

  
  

• Potential for Underfeeding: The study also found that the low end of the recommended energy intake (L-REI) was often below the level for inactive or obesity-prone cats. For a 3-kg (approx. 6.6 lb) cat, 57% of low-end recommendations were below this benchmark, and for a 5-kg cat, 32% were below it. This is significant because owners who are trying to manage an overweight cat may try to do so by feeding less than the package label guidelines. However, underfeeding can lead to a cat not getting enough energy and essential nutrients, which could result in malnutrition and weight loss. This is why specialised weight loss foods may be a more appropriate choice for weight loss in pets. 

  
  

• Dry vs. Wet Food: The study found that dry food labels often recommended higher energy intakes than wet food labels for a 5-kg cat. For a 3-kg cat, 50% of dry food labels' L-REI was below the minimum recommendation for inactive cats, while 58% of their H-REI exceeded the recommendation for lean cats. In addition, there was often a wide range between these high and low ends of the feeding guidelines for smaller cats, providing little guidance to pet owners. Research has linked dry food consumption to a higher prevalence of feline obesity, but other research has not found the same link when controlled for calorie intake. The perceived link may be due to package label feeding guidelines on dry foods suggesting higher intakes than those on wet foods. 

  
  

• Package-Specific Units: The use of less precise measuring units like "cups" or "cans" was also a factor, when compared to precise mass measurements like “grams”. Feeding guidelines that used these package-specific units tended to recommend higher calorie intakes for cats with lower energy requirements, which could make it more difficult for owners to measure food accurately and contribute to overfeeding.

Why This Matters

A cat's energy needs can vary greatly based on its age, activity level, reproductive status, and environment. While pet food labels can be a helpful starting point, they are often a "one-size-fits-all" approach that doesn't account for these individual differences. This study emphasises that relying solely on the package guidelines may not be sufficient for maintaining a cat's healthy weight. Pet owners should consult with their veterinary healthcare teams at all stages in their pet’s lifetime about their pet’s diet, including what and how much to feed. Veterinarians can provide a more specific caloric intake goal based on calculations, and can tailor this to individual needs based on the pet’s weight status. 

The Bottom Line

The JAVMA study confirms that feeding guidelines on cat food labels can be inconsistent and may not provide the precise guidance needed to prevent obesity or malnutrition. While this study was conducted on cat food labels, the most effective strategy for all pet owners is to use the label feeding directions as a starting point and then consult with a veterinarian to get a more specific feeding plan. Your veterinarian can help you determine the appropriate feeding amount for your pet based on its individual body weight, body condition, and lifestyle. Regularly reassessing and adjusting feeding amounts over time based on your pet's weight and condition trends is crucial for their long-term health.

You can learn more about healthy weights in pets and how to do a simple test to see if your pet is at their ideal weight here. 

Francisco, M. Poblanno Silva, et al. "Energy intake recommendations from cat food labels sold in Ontario, Canada, diverge from predictive equations for adult cat maintenance." Journal of the American Veterinary Medical Association 1.aop (2025): 1-8.