How Often Should I Feed My Cat?
Updated: 5 days ago
Kittens
My kittens are raised eating two meals a day, and I recommend continuing that schedule until at least 6 months of age for most kittens, if possible.
For a kitten coming home, keeping the feeding schedule familiar can be especially helpful. But two meals a day isn't just something I recommend for my kittens- it's a simple, practical feeding routine that works well for many cats.
Breakfast and dinner gives you a predictable routine and makes it easier to keep track of how much your cat is eating, whether they're interested in their meals, and what's happening in the litter box which is why it's a great place to start.
From there, you can adjust the frequency based on your individual cat, their age, their needs, and what works for your household.
You may see recommendations online to feed young kittens three, four, or even more meals throughout the day.
While frequent small meals can certainly work, I don't believe you need to be constantly feeding a healthy, growing kitten.
A kitten eating appropriately sized meals twice a day can do very well. But frankly, a kitten eating once a day can also be perfectly fine, especially on a raw diet, which helps them regulate insulin better than a typical wet canned or dry food does.
If your schedule allows for additional small meals, that's fine, too. The important thing is that your kitten is getting enough nutrition for growth and that the routine works for your household.
Adult Cats
Once your kitten is past the rapid-growth stage, you have more flexibility.
I generally prefer continuing with at least two meals a day, but most adult cats do well with other schedules.
Some cats are happy eating twice a day. Some prefer smaller meals. Some households use automatic feeders to divide the daily amount into several portions.
If you're feeding raw or wet food, I still prefer meals rather than leaving food out all day.
There isn't one perfect feeding schedule for every adult cat.
Consistency matters more than finding the “perfect” number of meals.
What About Free Feeding?
Free feeding can sound convenient: put food down and let your cat eat whenever they want.
But there are some downsides, particularly with fresh food.
With raw or wet food, you can't simply leave a bowl sitting out all day. Fresh food needs to be handled and stored appropriately, and feeding meals makes it much easier to know how much your cat is actually eating.
For that reason, I prefer scheduled meals rather than leaving food available indefinitely.
Scheduled meals also make it much easier to notice when something changes.
If your cat normally runs to the bowl and suddenly doesn't want breakfast, that's useful information.
What About Cats Who Like to Snack?
Cats are natural snackers, so don't be surprised if your cat would happily eat more often than twice a day.
If your cat prefers several smaller meals and you have the ability to accommodate that, there's nothing inherently wrong with it.
For many households, though, two consistent meals a day is a perfectly manageable routine.
And honestly, cats are very good at training their humans to believe they are starving. A cat asking for food does not necessarily mean a cat needs more food. That's where how much you feed becomes just as important as how often you feed.
The Simple Version
If you're bringing home a new kitten, here's a reccomendation to get you started:
Up to 6 months:→ 2 meals a day
After 6 months:→ Continue with 2 meals a day, or adjust the schedule to what works best for you and your cat.
If your cat prefers smaller meals:→ Divide their daily food into additional meals if that's practical.
And remember: feeding frequency and feeding amount are two different questions.
Two meals a day doesn't tell you how much food your cat needs. That depends on the individual cat, their age, growth, activity level, body condition, and the food you're feeding.
If you're trying to figure out how much to put in the bowl, that's a different conversation:
Disclaimer: This information is for educational purposes only and is not veterinary or nutritional advice; you are responsible for decisions regarding your cat's diet and care.
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