How much to feed a kitten
Enter your kitten's weight to get a daily calorie target and the amount to feed, in cups of dry food or cans of wet food. A kitten feeding chart by weight follows below. The most reliable guide for a kitten is its weight, so weigh it on a kitchen scale.
Range 0.50 to 0.61 cups
- Daily calories
- 220 kcal
- Per meal
- 0.14 cups
- Resting needs
- 88 kcal
Kitten feeding chart by weight
Daily amounts for growing kittens at the food energy entered above, split into the number of meals you pick. The default shows dry food of 400 kcal per cup and four meals.
| Kitten weight (lb) | Calories a day | Dry food (cups) a day |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | 97 | 0.24 |
| 2 | 163 | 0.41 |
| 3 | 220 | 0.55 |
| 4 | 274 | 0.68 |
| 5 | 323 | 0.81 |
| 6 | 371 | 0.93 |
| 8 | 460 | 1.15 |
| 10 | 544 | 1.36 |
How the estimate works
Kittens need much more energy for their size than adult cats because they are growing. The standard veterinary guideline multiplies resting energy by 2.5 for a growing kitten. The amount of food is daily calories divided by the kcal in one cup or one can, and the range is 10 percent either side. Because a kitten gains weight quickly, redo the calculation every week or two.
Questions
How many times a day should I feed a kitten?
Young kittens usually eat three to four small meals a day. Follow your vet's advice for your kitten, and the number of meals can drop as it grows.
How much should I feed a kitten at 3 months, 4 months or 6 months?
Kittens of the same age can differ a lot in weight, so the best guide is weight, not age. Weigh your kitten, enter the weight above, and repeat every week or two as it grows.
Should I follow the can or bag?
The label is a good starting point for that food. Compare it with the calorie target here, and adjust by how your kitten looks and feels. You should be able to feel the ribs under a thin layer of fat.
Can I leave food out all day?
Many kittens do fine with food available through the day, but measured meals make it easier to see how much your kitten eats. Ask your vet what suits your kitten.
When do I switch to adult food?
Many cats switch somewhere around their first birthday, but ask your vet. Switch gradually over about a week.
What about adult cats?
Sources
- Hill's Pet Nutrition, Estimated Energy Requirements for Dogs and Cats (resting energy requirement and the factor of 2.5 for growing kittens).
Last reviewed 2026-10-26. This page is general information and not veterinary advice.