When and how often should I feed my pet?

Hungry dogs: peace and regularity

A dog is a creature of habit. Regularity makes your dog happier and more confident. Therefore, for feeding time, it is also important that he gets his dog food at set times during the day. It is often recommended to feed an adult dog once in the morning and once in the evening. Always have fresh water ready for your dog, preferably a clean bowl at each meal. Water may be left all day.

More often than twice dog food

Not all dogs do equally well on two meals. Small dogs have a faster metabolism and burn their energy faster than, say, a large labrador. So it is better to feed these little ones three times a day. This also applies to puppies: these chunks of energy are busy playing and romping around all day and therefore fly through their energy at lightning speed. Feeding three times is not only better for energy levels, but is also conducive to healthy growth and development. The very large breeds also struggle with two meals a day. These loebasses quickly suffer from bloating or a sensitive stomach. Therefore, break up the larger meals into several small portions spread throughout the day.

Gnawing cat stomachs

In the wild, a cat hunts small prey such as mice and birds several times a day. So instead of one big buffet, the wild cat eats several small meals. Whether a domestic cat also needs this depends on what it is used to. A cat is also a creature of habit, but unlike our barking friends, cats are a bit more flexible in how often and how much they want to eat cat food. There are even cats that do not eat their full food bowl in one sitting.

However, always keep in mind the pattern they are used to. If your cat has always had two meals a day, you should not suddenly switch to four small meals. Your cat is used to this amount and has planned its day around that. He knows exactly how much he eats and how much energy he gets from it.

Multiple small portions of cat food

It is best to teach your cat to eat several small portions a day from kittenhood. Like puppies, kittens have a small stomach, fast metabolism and burn their energy rapidly. To keep energy levels even and encourage good development and growth, it is wise to give a kitten a small portion at least four times a day. As your kitten matures, you can slowly switch to three to four meals a day.