How much should a kitten eat?

There’s nothing quite like bringing home your first kitten. It’s very exciting, but you wouldn’t be alone if you found it a little bit scary too, as you’re now responsible for the health and well-being of a tiny animal. As pet lovers ourselves, the Closer Pets team have all sorts of helpful advice to keep your kitty happy and healthy, and one of the most important things to get right is their diet. 

What and how often you feed your kitten will determine how healthy, active, and playful they are. In this blog, we’ll cover how much you should feed your kitten, how often you should feed your kitten, and how these things might change as your little one grows bigger!

The importance of knowing how much to feed kittens

Balance is essential when deciding how much to feed your kitten. They’re always hungry and will eat anything you put down for them, but feeding them too much can upset their stomach and potentially lead to early obesity. Feeding them too little, on the other hand, means they won’t have the energy and nutrition for their body to develop. 

Striking the right balance is key! It might sound tricky to get right, but we recommend following the instructions on your chosen kitten food closely. Most kitten food will be portioned appropriately with feeding instructions printed on the side of the packaging. Simply follow this guidance, and you’ll be well on your way to supporting your kitten as they need!

How much to feed a kitten at 3 months

It’s common for kitten owners to have milestones in mind when it comes to their pet’s growth. Eyes open at 2 weeks, canines appear at 4 weeks, and by 3 months, they will be an energetic, curious juvenile. At this important stage of development, it’s important to feed your kitten enough food to support their transition into adulthood.

We recommended feeding your 3-month-old kitten between 250 and 360 calories a day. This amount will support their growth, so be sure to check your packaging details to determine the right portion for your kitten.

How many times a day should a kitten eat?

How often you feed your kitten is just as important as how much you feed them and what you feed them. Striking a balance between providing enough food to meet their needs and avoiding overfeeding might not sound easy, but we have all the guidance you need!

• Between 8 to 12 weeks: We recommend feeding your kitten three or four small meals. This gives their small stomachs a steady stream of nutrients, little and often, so they have energy throughout the day.

• From 3 to 6 months (12 to 26 weeks): You can reduce meals slightly to three times per day.

• From 6 months to a year: You can reduce their feeding schedule to twice a day. By this age, your kitten’s stomach will be big enough to last between breakfast and dinner time.

• From a year onwards: Your kitten is now an adult, so they can be fed as an adult cat once or twice per day.

To help you keep track of how often to feed your kitten as they grow older, here’s our handy kitten feeding chart to help you know how much food your pet needs to stay strong and healthy:

Keep in mind that this chart is a general guide only. Actual feeding amounts will differ depending on the size, weight and breed of your kitten, as well as the type of food you’re using. It’s always a good idea to check the feeding directions on the food bag or ask your vet for specific advice for your kitten.

As a general rule of thumb, your kitten will need roughly 60 to 65 calories per pound of body weight per day. 

We recommend keeping an eye on your kitten’s weight. They grow fast, and you need to give them enough food so they stay healthy and active, but not so much that they become overweight and lazy. Feel free to adjust feeding as required or talk to your vet if you’re unsure.

What to feed your kitten

Now that you know how much to feed your kitten, let’s decide what to feed them!

Our first piece of advice is to ask the breeder what food they’re currently eating. Your new kitten may be used to eating wet food, or they may have been introduced to some dry food already. The breeder may give you some of this food to take home to get you started, so it’s often best to keep your kitten on the same food to start with to help them transition into your family more smoothly.

Cats' stomachs are sensitive to change, and that’s even more true for kittens. If and when you decide to change their food, make sure to do it gradually. You can do this by mixing a small portion of the new food into their usual food and gradually increasing the amount over several days. 

Our top tip is to look for food that states a ‘complete’ diet on the packaging, as this means it provides all the nutrients your kitten needs to grow and thrive. You can also ask your vet for recommendations on the best kitten food to meet your kitten's nutritional needs. 

Kittens should only eat kitten food and not adult cat food. It won’t harm them, but adult cat food won’t provide all the protein and nutrients that a kitten needs to grow strong and healthy.

With all this talk about kitten food, don’t forget to also make sure your kitten always has fresh water! Change it daily and wash their water bowl, or use a cat water fountain to keep them happy and hydrated.

Wet vs. dry: which is better for growth?

Cat food is available in two main types: wet and dry. Wet food comes in tins or pouches and is usually covered in jelly or gravy, while dry food comes in the form of kibble. In terms of supporting your kitten’s growth, you can feed them one or the other or a mix of both.

A quality dry food can be a good choice for maintaining healthy teeth and gums, but as long as you buy good-quality complete kitten food, there is no ‘best’ option. In fact, you’ll find that your kitten will often choose for you! Felines are known to be fussy eaters, so you’ll soon learn which food they prefer.

How to feed your kitten

First things first, make sure their food and water bowls are located away from their litter tray. Kittens are little explorers and, just like us, they prefer dining in a clean and pleasant atmosphere. 

Fresh water is a must, so remember to refill their water bowl regularly. A cat water fountain is a great way to encourage them to stay hydrated, as cats are often drawn to moving water.

To avoid any feline food heists by your other furry friends, try not to leave food out all day. A kitten’s meals should be served on a schedule to ensure they're getting the right amount of food each time. An automated cat feeder can help keep meal times regular when you’re not around. 

When you embrace a feeding routine with open arms, your little bundle of joy will thank you with purrs and playful antics. Happy feeding!

Perfect kitten products at Closer Pets

As any kitten owner will tell you, feeding your little feline friend is just part of the fun! At Closer Pets, we have all the cat products you could need to help your new pet grow big and strong and have plenty of fun along the way!

Our range of products is designed to help you and your pet enjoy life that little bit more. Whether you’re looking for automatic cat feeders to make meal times run like clockwork or a microchip cat flap to ensure your pet has all the freedom and security it could ever want, we have just what you’re looking for.

If you have any questions about our products and how they can help, you can easily get in touch with a member of our team who will be more than happy to answer.