Page 51 - Raw Diet References Book 2019

37491_Cat_P01_16 07/24/06 4:53 PM Page 5

AVERAGE DAILY ENERGY NEEDS

CALORIES PER DAY
(Kilocalories per day*)

5 lb 10 lb 15 lb 20 lb

Kittens (after weaning) 200 — — —

Lean Domestic Cat 170 280 360 440
Overweight Domestic Cats 180 240 280 310

Exotic (wild) Cats 100–480 170–810 230–1,100 200–1,360
Pregnant/Nursing Cat
(4 kittens /4 kittens at 336 603 851 1,091
peak lactation)

*1 Calorie =1 kilocalorie =1,000 calories. The term Calorie that is used on food nutrition labels
is really a “food calorie” sometimes called a “large calorie.” It is equivalent to 1,000 calories
(or 1 kilocalorie) as calories are defined scientifically (the amount of energy needed to warm
1 gram of water 1°C). In Nutrient Requirements of Cats and Dogs, energy needs are expressed
in terms of kilocalories, which are equivalent to Calories in this document.

ENERGY NEEDS OF KITTENS

Before weaning, kittens need 20–25 Calories for every 100 grams
of body weight. Cat owners should start supplemental feed-
ings from 2.5 to 4 weeks after birth, because mother’s milk
is no longer sufficient.

ENERGY NEEDS OF PREGNANT AND
LACTATING CATS

New mothers typically suckle their kittens for 7 to 9
weeks and will lose weight while nursing no matter
what you feed them. That is why it is important to feed
your pregnant cat enough to allow her to increase her
body weight by 40–50% by the end of her pregnancy.
The energy needs of nursing cats generally increase with
litter size and through the fourth week of nursing. As a rule
of thumb, nursing mothers with more than two kittens need
between 2 and 2.5 times the calories they needed at the time of
mating. Lactating cats should be given free access to a highly palat-
able, high-calorie food.

5