How much should I feed my kitten?
How much to feed a kitten depends on its weight: a growing kitten needs about two and a half times the calories it burns at rest, spread over several small meals. Enter your kitten's weight and your food's label to get cans or cups a day.
Kitten feeding chart: how much to feed a kitten by weight
Daily calories for a healthy, growing kitten on the AAHA's guidelines, with cans for a wet food of 95 kcal per can. Cans vary in size and recipe, so use the calorie line on your own label.
| Kitten's weight now | Calories a day × 2.5 | Cans a day 95 kcal each | Per meal 4 meals |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 lb 0.45 kg | 97 kcal | 1.0 | ¼ can |
| 2 lb 0.9 kg | 163 kcal | 1.7 | 0.4 can |
| 3 lb 1.4 kg | 220 kcal | 2.3 | 0.6 can |
| 4 lb 1.8 kg | 274 kcal | 2.9 | 0.7 can |
| 5 lb 2.3 kg | 323 kcal | 3.4 | 0.9 can |
| 6 lb 2.7 kg | 371 kcal | 3.9 | 1 can |
Resting energy (70 × weight in kg0.75) times the AAHA's growth factor of 2.5, rounded. A starting point; adjust with your vet as your kitten grows.
How the numbers work
The AAHA's 2021 guidelines start from resting energy, 70 × body weight in kilograms to the power 0.75, and multiply it by 2.5 for a growing kitten. A 3 lb kitten weighs 1.36 kg, so its resting energy is about 88 kcal and it needs about 220 kcal a day. With a 95 kcal can that's 2.3 cans, a little over half a can at each of four meals. An adult cat, by comparison, uses a factor of only 1.2 to 1.4 once neutered.
Kittens grow fast, so weigh yours often and recalculate. VCA's veterinarians note that growth slows as a kitten reaches about 80% of its adult size, at around 30 weeks, and that most kittens reach adult size at about 40 weeks. From then on the amount per pound comes down: ask your vet when to move to adult portions, especially after spaying or neutering, which lowers energy needs. Healthy weights by week and by breed are on the cat weight chart.
How often to feed a kitten
Kittens have small stomachs. VCA's veterinarians say most do best when the day's food is divided into 3 or 4 small meals, or more, rather than one or two big ones. That suits cats: the AAFP's feeding consensus notes that cats naturally eat many small meals. Measured meals beat a bowl that's always full, which makes it easier for a kitten to put on too much fat.
- Weaning: kittens are usually fully weaned at about 8 weeks. The kitten age chart shows when they start trying solid food.
- From weaning to about 30 weeks: 3 to 4 measured meals or more a day, adding food as your kitten gains weight.
- From about 30 weeks: growth slows (VCA); keep weighing, and switch to adult food at about 1 year (AAHA).
Choosing kitten food
- Read the label. Cornell explains that the nutrition claim should say the food is complete and balanced for growth, or for all life stages.
- Wet, dry or both. Canned food is at least 75% water and dry food 6–10%, Cornell says. Either works if it's complete and balanced; many owners mix them. Use the "Wet and dry" option above to split the calories.
- No extra supplements. VCA advises against adding vitamins or minerals to a complete kitten food without asking your vet.
- Treats under 10%. The AAHA keeps treats and extras to 10% of daily calories at most.
For an adult cat's portions, see how much wet food to feed a cat.
Questions owners ask
How much should a kitten eat a day?
On the AAHA's guidelines a growing kitten needs about 2.5 times its resting energy: roughly 220 kcal a day for a 3 lb kitten, or 2.3 cans of a food with 95 kcal per can. The calculator works it out for your kitten's weight and food.
How often should I feed a kitten?
VCA's veterinarians say most kittens do best with their daily food split into 3 or 4 small meals, or more. The AAFP notes that cats naturally eat many small meals a day.
Can I let my kitten eat as much as it wants?
VCA's veterinarians advise portion feeding instead: free-choice feeding raises the risk of a kitten putting on too much fat. Measured meals let you adjust the amount as your kitten grows.
When should a kitten switch to adult cat food?
The AAHA's guidelines say to feed a growth diet until skeletal maturity, which for cats is about 1 year. A food labeled for all life stages also suits kittens.
Should kittens eat wet or dry food?
Either can work if the label says it's complete and balanced for growth or for all life stages. Cornell notes that canned food is at least 75% water and dry food 6–10%, and that many owners feed a mix.