When we bring a kitten to our home, then two questions are always in our mind about the food we feed him. Questions like “What is the recommended frequency for feeding a kitten?” And “What quantity of food is necessary for my kitten?” These are all crucial issues that you must take under your consideration if you wish that your kitten grows up healthy and well developed. In this guide, you will find those answers in detail and receive recommended feeding schedules for your kitten based on their age and size. We will also discuss the best times for feeding and emphasize special items that should be avoided so your kitten continues to grow & thrive in its new home.
How much food does your kitten need?
A kitten will need a different amount of food 3 to 4 times per day depending on its age, breed, activity level and the type of food it is provided. You should always follow the instructions for feeding a kitten on your chosen cat food. The label on the food will tell you how much to feed – usually based on the age of the kitten. In order to decide the amount of food you can offer in every meal, you should divide this translated daily total into however many meals are on the menu. Kittens must be fed about 3 to 5 pouches of kitten reputation food every day (approximately four weeks of age) at intervals which implies that they should not go for long without being fed. Each of these pouches should be spaced out evenly over 4–5 small normal meals so that they get a good meal throughout the day. Usually they contain 85g of kitten food, give or take depending on the brand. This is so very important to be sure you are giving the appropriate amount for growth and development at this age. You can however feed your kitten on a mix fed wet and dry basis, in which case you just replace one of the wet pouches with 20-25g of dry kitten food. This replacement in proportion guarantees that the feline is consuming the right nutrition without eating way too much. In helping you to find out the right feeding schedule, below chart gives you a general idea of how often to feed a kitten and in what quantity based upon wet kitten food. This chart is just an average and should be accompanied by the feeding instructions on the label of your chosen cat food brand. This article will show you how to make sure your kitten is getting enough food to grow up fit and well.
Kitten Age: Up to 1 Month
- Feeding habits: Kittens get all their nourishment from mother’s milk.
- Feeding Recommendations: no-supplementary feeding is required at this time
- Meals per day: N/A
- Amount of wet food: N/A
Kitten Age: 1-2 months
- Feeding habits: Kittens begin the transition to solid foods, both dry and wet.
- Feeding Recommendations: Available for free feeding. *You might need to moisten dry food and see if the cat will eat it.
- Meals per day: Available most times*
- Amount of wet food: Refill as needed*
Kitten Age: 2-3 months
- Feeding habits: Kittens eat solid food, dry or wet.
- Feeding Recommendations: Introduce feeding at scheduled mealtimes. Adding moisture to dry food also helps.
- Meals per day: 4-5 meals
- Amount of wet food: 3–5 Servings per Day.
Kitten Age: 3-6 months
- Feeding habits: Kittens eat both dry and wet food.
- Feeding Recommendations: Feeding them at the same time every day.
- Meals per day: 3 meals a day
- Amount of wet food: 4-7 cans of wet food
Kitten Age: 6-12 months
- Feeding habits: Remains on solid wet or dry foods
- Feeding Recommendations: Establish long-lasting dietary patterns
- Meals per day: 2 times per day
- Amount of wet food: Serve 4-7 servings of wet food per day
What is the Best Time to Feed My Kitten?
When observing how often to feed your kitten, you should seek out a pattern then commit to continuous feeding times in equally spaced intervals. Maybe, you start out with what humans typically eat — three meals per day (I am not including snacks). You will then decide on how many other meals need to be had in accordance with your kittens’ needs and when they would be spaced out in the day. On the other hand, if you have a young kitten that currently eats 5 times a day; add one during the afternoon and another at night in 24 hours
Should I Allow My Kitten to Eat Freely?
It is important to ensure that your kitten receives the correct nutrition to promote healthy growth, but not so much that they become overweight. Long hair kitties should be on Kitten food until they are 1 year old and free fed (meaning that their dry food is available all day for them to eat at their own pace, written as ad libitum), wet morning and evening. The majority of kittens are very good at self-regulating their food intake but some might overeat, which can lead to obesity. Free-feeding is also something you may want to try, and just see if it works best for your kitten. As your kitten gets older, say between three to six months, it puts more emphasis on the regularity of meals. Follow the feeding instructions on your kittens’ food to how much and when they should eat. If you’re still unsure of how much your kitten should be eating, then weigh your kitten or talk with your vet since the weight will provide a reasonable estimate for how much food they’ll need each day.What Are the Advantages and Disadvantages of Free Feeding Kittens?
Free feeding also should be done with very young kittens due to the fact they can down their food too quickly and could develop problems such as a bloated stomach. But with some kittens a method like this can result in over feeding and thus too much weight gain. Dehydrated dry diet is allowed on a free choice basis for some pet owners with set meal times for canned diet. You must also learn how your cat eats to determine if free feeding is right for your kitten. This is an area that should be watched closely and something you can consider when deciding if free feeding would work well for your kitten.Foods NOT TO Feed Your Kitten
This will seem logical to us although we have to remember that our diets and kitten diets are similar in some ways however fundamentally different. Well, kittens require certain nutrients which are either missing or inadequate in human food and some cat safe human foods can be dangerous to even toxic for our kitten.
Some foods can be toxic to kittens and adult cats including onions, garlic, chocolate, grapes, raisins as well as caffeinated beverages. You must also avoid feeding raw meat, liver, fish or eggs because they can contain harmful bacteria. Kittens have different nutritional needs not just from adult cats, but also even from adult cat food.
Most kittens and cats are lactose intolerant, so contrary to popular belief, milk and other dairy products should not be used. Even if a kitten drinks its mother’s milk for the first few weeks of its life, their digestive system isn’t created to handle dairy products or any other type of substitutes when they grow up as adult cats.
If you’d like to learn more about how to feed your kitten properly, also read through this article: “What Can I Feed My Kitten?”
How frequently should I give my kitten wet food?
Different breeds of kittens, as well as their age, will also influence how often they should be fed wet food. This means that a growing kitten of around eight weeks will thrive on maybe 3 to 5 pouches of wet food per day and need feeding is every two to three hours. Once they grow up to 6 months, your kitten will slow down in growing and the number of meals reduces to two to four meals a day. If you are feeding a combination diet of wet and dry food that amount should probably be halved. If you need help deciding, visit our article about this dietary preference — “Wet vs. Dry Cat Food: Which One Is Better?” The first thing to think about when deciding how frequently to feed your kitten is when you are able to feed her. If, for example, you are out all day at work you may be interested in “free feeding” your kitten or perhaps getting him an automatic feeder to feed during regular times. It’s also a good idea to leave a little more kitten food out at night and for breakfast so they have enough if there are lags in feeding. If you would like more information on “Which Foods Are Best for Them?” and the “Differences between Kitten and Adult Cat Food” be sure to visit our resources to ensure your kitten is getting a complete, balanced diet that meets their nutritional needs.Newborn kittens (up to 1 month) need to be bottle-fed every 2–3 hours, even during the night. Their stomachs are very small, so frequent feeding is essential for proper growth and development.
Solid food can be introduced around 4 weeks of age. Start by offering a gruel made of wet kitten food mixed with kitten formula. Gradually decrease the amount of formula as your kitten becomes comfortable eating solid food.
Kittens between 1–2 months old should be fed 4–5 times per day. At this stage, they are still transitioning from milk to solid food and need small, frequent meals to support their rapid growth.
Free feeding can be convenient for kittens because they tend to eat small amounts throughout the day. However, it can also lead to overeating, especially once they transition to solid food. For better portion control, it’s usually recommended to stick to a set feeding schedule, offering meals at consistent times throughout the day.
Free feeding can lead to overeating, which may cause obesity or poor eating habits. Additionally, dry food left out for long periods can become stale and lose its nutritional value. Setting meal times ensures that your kitten is getting the right amount of fresh, balanced food.
A 3–6 month old kitten should be fed 3–4 times per day. By this age, they are more active and growing quickly, so they need a balance of nutrients at regular intervals. Offering meals in the morning, midday, and evening is a common approach.
Most kittens can transition to adult cat food between 10–12 months of age. However, larger breeds, like Maine Coons, may need kitten food for up to 18 months. Consult your vet to determine the right time based on your kitten’s growth and development.
Yes, wet food is a great option for kittens as it helps them stay hydrated and is easier to digest. Kittens can be fed wet food 2–3 times a day, depending on their age and portion sizes. Wet food can also be mixed with dry food for added variety.
Yes, mixing wet and dry food can be beneficial. It provides a balance of hydration from the wet food and the dental benefits of dry food. Make sure you monitor portion sizes to avoid overfeeding when combining the two.
Avoid feeding your kitten the following: chocolate, onions, garlic, raw eggs, raw meat, cow’s milk, grapes, and raisins. These foods can be toxic to kittens or cause digestive upset.