How Much Should I Feed My Dog or Cat? Measuring Guide 🐾

You fill the scoop, give it a shake, and somehow your dog or cat keeps getting rounder. I'll say it: a measuring cup isn't good enough, and a plain kitchen scale beats it every time.

What you get here: how to weigh daily portions, when a slow feeder helps, and a quick hand check for extra weight.

To be fair to the cup

Cups are quick, and the bag lists amounts in cups. In a study of 100 dog owners, a proper one-cup dry-food measure was the most accurate of three devices. If your pet stays at a healthy weight, keep scooping.

Why I weigh it anyway

• Cups drift. In that study, portions ranged from about 48% under to 152% over target. Small portions erred most, bad news for small dogs and cats.
• Grams match the label. US pet food labels list calories per kilogram under "Calorie Content."
• Extra weight is common. In a 2022 APOP survey, vets rated 59% of dogs and 61% of cats overweight or obese. We see it nose to tail at the clinic.

How to weigh a day's food

1. Start with the bag's guide for your pet's ideal weight, then fine-tune it with your vet.
2. Set a container on the scale and press tare (reset to zero).
3. Weigh the whole day's food each morning, then split it into meals.
4. Keep treats under 10% of daily calories, as WSAVA and AAHA advise.

Hidden tip: pay training rewards out of that morning container. Pepper, my border collie mix, earns her breakfast at agility practice and never notices!

Where slow feeders fit

Where I'll give ground: a scale does nothing for the dog who inhales dinner. AKC warns fast eaters can choke, vomit or gulp air, and slow-feeder bowls make each bite take work. Feline vets suggest small meals in puzzle feeders for cats. Either way, they change the pace, not the amount.

Hidden tip: no slow feeder? AKC suggests spreading kibble across a muffin tin.

Is your pet overweight? The hand check

In dogs and cats, look for a waist from above and a tummy tuck from the side. Can't find the ribs? Ask your vet for a weigh-in before cutting portions.

Try it for one bag: weigh every portion and check ribs every couple of weeks. Then tell me the cup was close enough.

Cheat sheet: measuring pet food