How many meals should a cat eat in a day?
Feeding Newborn Kittens to 4 Weeks Old
Newborn kittens nurse frequently—approximately every two hours during the first week of life and then gradually decreasing to four to six times per day. Daily weight checks are the best way to ensure they are getting all the food they need. Kittens should gain approximately a half to three-fourths of an ounce (15-20 grams) each day. If young kittens can’t get adequate nutrition from their mother, they need to be supplemented with or switched to a high-quality feline milk replacer, like PetAg KMR Kitten Milk Replacer Liquid, that’s fed per the instructions on the label.
When Can Kittens Eat Dry Food & Wet Food?
Kittens can begin to nibble (and play with) solid foods as they wean. To ease the transition, start with moistened dry kibble or wet kitten food.
To begin, mix one part warm water with three parts dry or wet kitten food (the mixture should resemble oatmeal). Reduce the amount of water and increase the amount of food over the course of the next two weeks.
Kittens are free to eat wet or dry cat food by the time they are six to eight weeks old. You can feed her a wider range of tastes and textures with wet or dry food, which will encourage her adventurous spirit. You can also give dry kibble by itself or a mix of wet and dry food.
After your kitten is completely weaned and eating solid food, select the option that best suits your needs and the advice of your veterinarian.
Above all, be certain that the dry or wet food you select is made especially for kittens.
How Much to Feed a Kitten
You now know what to feed a kitten, but how much should you feed her? You can find out how much to feed your kitten by consulting the kitten feeding guide on the back of the package.
When feeding dry kibble to your pet, you can feed her twice a day or spread out the entire day’s supply at once.
You could also feed her twice a day by dividing the wet food in half. Any leftovers in her bowl should be discarded. An open can of moist food can be kept in the fridge for up to 24 hours. Bring it up to room temperature before serving.
You can use the chart below to figure out how much to feed your kitten. To make sure your kitten is receiving the right number of calories each day, check the food packaging and speak with your veterinarian.
All cat food packaging is required to include feeding charts, but they don’t all look the same. To make sure you’re giving your kitten the appropriate amount based on her age and weight, pay special attention to the chart on the food label.
This is an example of a kitten feeding chart that looks like the labels on cat food:
| Age | Weight (lbs) | Dry Food Amount (cups) |
|---|---|---|
| 6 weeks | 2/3 to 1-1/3 | 1/4 to 1/3 |
| 7 weeks to 5 months | 1-1/2 to 5-3/4 | 1/3 to 1 |
| 6 months to 1 year | 5-3/4 to 12 | 2/3 to 1-1/4 |
Note: Amounts listed above are for a 24-hour period. The amount of food that kittens should eat depends on the formula and calorie content of each product. Look over the feeding chart located on the rear of the food container for your feline. For information on specific dietary requirements, speak with your veterinarian as individual needs can differ.
FAQ
How much should a 3 month old kitten be eating?
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Kitten Age
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Kitten feeding habits
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Amount of wet kitten food
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2-3 months
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Solid wet and/or dry food
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3-5 servings of wet kitten food
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3-6 months
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Solid wet and/or dry food
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4-7 servings of wet kitten food
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6-12 months
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Solid wet and/or dry food
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4-7 servings of wet kitten food
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Why is my 3 month old kitten always hungry?
How much dry food should I feed my kitten?
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Kitten weight (lbs)
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Kcal required per day (for growth)
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Mixed dry & wet
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2
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163
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⅛ cup dry food plus ¾ -1 can wet food
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4
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274
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¼ -⅜ cup dry food plus 1 ½ cans wet food
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6
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371
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¼ -½ cup dry food plus 2 cans wet food
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8
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460
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½ -⅝ cup dry food plus 2 ½ cans wet food
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How much should a 3 month old kitten weigh?