Kitten Feeding Guide: How Much, How Often, and When to Switch

How often to feed a kitten, how kitten calorie needs differ from adults, and when to move to adult cat food.

Kittens grow quickly and need a lot of energy for their size. They also have small stomachs, so they eat little and often.

Kittens need more calories per pound

Our cat calculator uses a factor of 2.5 for kittens under six months and 2.0 from six to twelve months, compared with 1.2 for a neutered adult. The estimate is based on your kitten's current weight, so enter today's weight and recalculate as they grow.

For example, a 2-pound kitten needs roughly 160 calories a day. That is about 2 cans of an 80-calorie wet food, or around 0.4 cups of a 400 kcal-per-cup dry food.

How often to feed

Typical guidance, though your vet may adjust it:

• Up to 4 months: three to four meals a day.
• 4 to 6 months: three meals a day.
• 6 to 12 months: two to three meals a day.

Very young kittens, under about 4 weeks, still need their mother's milk or kitten milk replacer. Ask a vet for help if you have an orphaned kitten.

Choose a kitten food

Look for a label saying the food is complete and balanced for growth or for all life stages. Kitten foods are higher in calories, protein, and certain nutrients than adult food. A mix of wet and dry kitten food works well for many kittens: see wet vs dry cat food.

Watch the growth

• Weigh your kitten weekly. Steady gain is normal, and a kitten that is not gaining, or is losing weight, needs a vet check.
• A kitten should feel solid, but you should still feel the ribs. A slightly round belly is normal in a young kitten.
• Do not free-feed. It makes it harder to notice problems and can lead to overweight kittens.

When to switch to adult food

Most cats move to adult food at around 12 months. Large breeds such as Maine Coons mature more slowly and may stay on kitten food a bit longer; ask your vet. Spayed and neutered kittens are prone to gaining weight, so watch portions after surgery as their energy needs drop.

General information, not veterinary advice. Kittens can become ill quickly, so contact a vet if your kitten stops eating, vomits repeatedly, or seems unusually weak.

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