How much wet food should a 3 month old kitten eat
How Much Should You Feed a Kitten? Vet Approved Chart
The information is current and up-to-date in accordance with the latest veterinarian research.
Learn moreBringing home a new kitten is exciting but can also be overwhelming, especially for first-time cat owners. Its very important to nail your kittens nutrition to ensure they grow up to be strong and healthy. If youre not sure what or how often you should be feeding your new baby, youve come to the right place. Read on to learn everything youve ever wanted to know about feeding a newborn kitten to ensure optimal growth and wellness.
Feeding Requirements by Age
04 Weeks Old
Newborn kittens will nurse from their mothers frequently, as often as every two hours during their first seven days of life. After that first week, theyll gradually decrease these feeds to around four to six times daily. Kittens in this age range should gain about 15 to 20 grams of weight every day. If you notice a kitten lagging, you may need to supplement them with a high-quality cat milk replacement fed as per the instructions on the label.
4 Weeks6 Weeks Old
At around three or four weeks, kittens can begin weaning off their mothers milk and transitioning to solid food. Most kittens arent completely weaned until around eight weeks, so this process should be slow and gradual.
Allow them access to a kitten-specific wet food formula. The food should be soft and warm to encourage them to eat it. You may need to begin the weaning process by allowing the kitten to lick the wet kitten food mixed with warm water from your finger. Create a gruel by mixing wet kitten food with water. You can blend it or use a fork to mix it. We recommend warming the gruel in your microwave in 5-second increments, or adding warm water, and stirring it to make it more appetizing. Be careful to ensure it is not too hot.
Once they get the hang of that, food can be served in a bowl or plate. Repeat the process several times daily.
6 Weeks8 Weeks Old
By the time your kittens reach the two-month mark, they should be drinking water and eating independently. You can offer dry food at this point if you wish, though we recommend soaking it in a few tablespoons of warm water at first to help make the transition easier.
8 Weeks6 Months Old
Kittens grow the fastest during the first six months of their lives, after which their need for increased caloric intake and nutrients begins to wane. The feeding chart well share below will give you a good jumping-off point for deciding how much to feed, but most experts recommend using the kittens body condition to make adjustments as necessary. For example, if your kittens spine,ribs and hips are easily visible, you may need to feed them more than what is suggested.
612 Months Old
A kittens body is still growing between six and 12 months of age, though at a much slower rate. They wont burn as many calories as they were in previous weeks, so you must transition them to adult food between 10 and 12 months to avoid unhealthy weight gain.
Knowing when to transition to adult food can depend on your kittens breed, size, and activity levels. Some cat breeds, such as Maine Coons, dont reach full maturity until theyre 18 to 24 months old so that they can stay on kitten food longer than other breeds.
We always recommend referring to the food manufacturers guidelines and speaking with your veterinarian if youre unsure how much your kitty should be eating, as they can consider their size and breed when making recommendations.
Guideline Kitten Feeding Chart
| Age of Kitten | Approximate Weight | What to Feed | How Much to Feed | Feeding Frequency |
| Newborn to 3 weeks | 3 ounces to 1 pound | Mothers milk or kitten formula | 2 to 15 ml formula | Every 2 to 4 hours |
| 4 to 5 weeks | 1 to 1.8 pounds | Mix of mothers milk or formula, and wet food | 18 to 22 ml formula | Every 6 to 8 hours |
| 6 to 8 weeks | 1.8 to 2.6 pounds | Weaning period; offer lots of wet food, can offer dry | 1/4 to 1/3 cup dry, offer gruel at every feeding | Every 6 hours |
| 8 weeks to 5 months | 1.5 to 5.75 pounds | Wet, dry, or combination* | 1/3 to 1 cup dry; 3 to 5 servings of wet food | Every 6 to 8 hours |
| 6 months to 1 year | 5.75 to 12 pounds | Wet, dry, or combination* | 2/3 to 1 cups dry; 1/4 can to 1/2 can per pound of bodyweight | Two meals daily ( at least) |
* Reduce recommended portion sizes if youre feeding a combination of both wet and dry food.
Note: Different foods will have different amounts of calories per cup and so these are only very rough guidelines. Calculate how much to feed your kitten by checking the food packaging for specific information and consulting with your veterinarian.
What Is the Optimal Kitten Growth Rate?
A good rule of thumb for kittens is to gain around one pound per month. A kitten often weighs around one pound at one mouth, two at two months, and so on until they reach the four- or five-month mark.
Wet or Dry Food for Kittens?
Wet and dry food can be very healthy for kittens, provided theyre good quality and nutritionally complete and balanced for this life stage.
Wet food is higher in moisture and can ensure your busy little kittens are hydrated adequately. This extra hydration can also help keep the urinary tract healthy.
Dry food is typically easier to feed, especially if youre dealing with multiple kittens at a time. Dental plaque and calculus are less frequent in cats fed dry rather than wet food, promoting better oral health.
The biggest difference between the two food types is their moisture content. Dry food contains just 6 to 10% water, while canned food can contain up to 85% water. Typically, wet food also has a higher percentage of protein and fewer carbohydrates, making it closer to the ideal diet for your feline family members. However, this isnt always true, as it depends greatly on the brand and formula.
Most vets would agree that very young kittens should be offered at least some wet food in their diet as their teeth are very small and, therefore, cannot chew dry food as well as they should.
Feeding a diet that contains both wet and dry food is an option. Doing so provides the growing kittens with the benefits associated with both types of food.
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Feeding Methods for Kittens
Free-Feeding
The free-feeding method allows kittens access to their food at all times. Only dry foods can be fed in this way, as canned foods should not be left out at room temperature for long periods; otherwise, it may begin growing bacteria and attracting insects.
The biggest advantage of free-feeding is that your kitten can eat several smaller meals throughout the day on their own schedule. The key to doing this successfully is ensuring youre placing the right amount of dry food your kitten requires for the day in the bowl.
The downfall of free-feeding is that it can lead to overeating and weight gain, especially if youre too generous with your portions. Additionally, it can be hard to determine if your kittens appetite has changed, and it may be challenging to use this method if you have multiple cats.
Meal Feeding
Meal feedings for kittens are much like how we eat as humans. This method requires you to provide food for your kitten at specific meal times throughout the day. Both wet and dry foods can be fed in this manner.
The biggest advantage of meal feeding is that it allows you to monitor your kittens intake closely. This is especially important when you need to keep a close eye on your pets appetite to see if it has changed.
A disadvantage of this method is that you may need to get used to your kitten begging for food between meals. However, if youre following your vets (and our) feeding advice, your kittens should be receiving proper portions that allow them to stay satiated between meals. Naturally cats prefer to eat several small meals a day.
Combination Feeding
Combination feeding is just what it sounds likea combination of the previous two methods. You can serve your kitten canned food as their meal twice daily and allow them free reign to their properly portioned dry food throughout the day.
The advantages of combination feeding are that it lets your cat eat as many small meals of dry food as they want on their own schedule while still allowing you to monitor their appetite through how much canned food theyre eating. This method also provides the kittens with the benefits of both canned and dry food.
As with free feeding, this combination method may lead to overeating and weight gain if done incorrectly. You must measure the dry food portion out exactly and not refill the bowl until the next day. Again, it can be challenging to monitor appetite and food intake, especially if you are feeding multiple kittens.
Final Thoughts
How much your kitten needs to eat depends on their age, breed, size, and health. Kittens should be allowed to nurse from their mothers exclusively for the first two weeks of life before they naturally start reducing their nursing frequency. At around five weeks, they can start to be weaned off their mothers milk and slowly transition to solids.
Featured Image Credit: Gladskikh Tatiana, Shutterstock
The Complete Feeding Guide From Kittens to Seniors
French author Francois de la Rochefoucauld said that to eat is a necessity, but to eat intelligently is an art.
Feeding a cat looks simple enough at first glance. You buy a bag of food with a picture of a cat on it, dump it in a bowl, and wait for your cat to eat when theyre hungry. Its an approach that can work, but it doesnt always bring out the best in your kitten or cat.
Feeding your cat intelligently involves a little more care.
In this cat feeding guide, youll learn how to nourish your cat from kittenhood through their senior years. Youll find out how much to feed your cat at different life stages, how many meals they need per day, and which types of food are best.
Weve broken down your cats dietary needs by age group, giving you a roadmap for good nutrition at every stage of life.
Your Cats Dietary Needs Evolve Over Time
As your cat moves through kittenhood, early adulthood, and beyond, their nutritional needs will change. Meeting those requirements at every phase of life sets the stage for good health.
Your first stop when choosing the right food for your cat? The nutritional adequacy statement.
Usually located on the back of the bag or can, this statement indicates whether or not the food is nutritionally complete and balanced for its intended life stage. The label will read, for example, formulated to meet the nutritional levels established by the AAFCO cat food nutrient profiles for all life stages.
Foods that arent nutritionally complete and balanced will usually be labeled for supplemental feeding only. These foods dont contain the appropriate balance of macronutrients (protein, fat, and carbohydrates) and micronutrients (vitamins and minerals), and shouldnt be your cats sole source of nutrition.
While youre looking at the label, check out the feeding instructions, as well. For the average house cat, the appropriate feeding instructions are usually placed on the packaging of the cat food.
The nutritional guidelines on the package will point you in the right direction, though you might need to make some modifications to fit your cats exact needs.
Heres a guide on how to feed your cat during the different phases of their life.
#1 Newborn Kitten, Age: 0 to 4 Weeks
During this stage, most kittens rely on their mothers milk as their only source of nutrition. If their mother is present, you wont need to feed kittens at alltheyll know how to feed themselves! That said, if youve rescued an orphaned kitten, youll need to bottle feed.
Kittens require a kitten milk replacement formula, which replicates the nutrition found in mother cats milk. You can purchase kitten milk replacer from your veterinarian or from a pet-supply store. Do not feed a kitten cows milkit doesnt have the right nutritional balance to nourish a newborn kitten.
Kitten milk replacer might come as a powder, which is mixed with water according to the package directions, or as a ready-to-feed liquid formula. Ready-to-feed formula does not need to be mixed up, but its more expensive than powder formula.
Leftover reconstituted milk replacer can be stored in the refrigerator for up to 24 hours after which time it must be discarded. Once opened, ready-to-feed liquid formula can be stored in the fridge up to 72 hours, then must be discarded. Warm up cold formula thats been in the refrigerator before feeding it to the kitten.
How Much Should You Feed Your Newborn Kitten?
If your kittens mother is available to nurse, the kitten will nurse freely. If youre bottle-feeding, follow the instructions on your package of kitten milk replacer. Exact amounts might vary depending on the brand of milk replacer, but in most cases, youll feed about 2 tablespoons (30 milliliters) of liquid kitten formula per 4 ounces of body weight daily.
For example, a 2-week-old kitten weighing 8 ounces would get about 4 tablespoons (60 milliliters) of liquid kitten formula daily divided into equal portions across several meals. This might look like 10 milliliters of milk replacer formula six times a day or 7.5 milliliters eight times a day.
How Often Should You Feed Your Newborn Kitten?
Newborn kittens that are nursing from their mother feed frequently, latching on to nurse once every one to two hours. However, when bottle feeding, the kittens are receiving a larger volume of formula, so they dont need to eat this frequently. Feed kittens ages newborn to 4 weeks old every three to four hours, or six to eight times per day. Very young kittens (newborn to 1 week old) or those that seem weak can be fed every two hours.
Also Read: Best Wet Food For Kittens
#2 4- to 8-Week-Old Kitten
Kittens usually begin the weaning process around their fourth week. During this time, theyll start gradually shifting from milk or formula onto a solid food diet, which delivers the protein, fatty acids, and nutrients that fuel their early development.
Also Read:The 8 Best Cat Bowls
From 4 to 5 weeks of age, bottle-fed kittens still need milk replacement formula, but you can also start slowly transitioning the kitten to a diet of watered-down kitten food. Start by replacing some of the kittens usual meals with a loose slurry of wet kitten food and kitten formula on a spoon. Next, gradually start feeding your kitten from a shallow saucer. Once the kitten is 5 to 6 weeks old and eating kitten food well, you can discontinue bottle feeding.
Kitten Lady has an excellent video on transitioning your kitten from kitten formula to solid food.
How Much Should You Feed Your 4- 8-Week-Old Kitten?
At this stage, your kitten is growing rapidly and needs about three times as many calories per pound as an adult. Your kitten might need 60 calories per pound of body weight. As calorie contents vary among different foods, consult the package of the kitten food youre feeding to determine how much to feed your kitten daily.
How Often Should You Feed Your 4- 8-Week-Old Kitten?
Compared to newborn kittens that eat every one to four hours, older kittens 4 to 8 weeks old usually eat every four to six hours. Frequent meals are still essential to accommodate your kittens small stomach and high energy demands.
#3 8- to 16-Week-Old Kitten
At this exciting stage of development, your kittens personality is developing and their predatory nature is becoming ever more apparent. By 8 to 10 weeks of age, a kitten is fully weaned and should be eating a meat-based kitten food that delivers plenty of protein, animal-derived fatty acids for brain and eye development, and the right levels of vitamins and minerals.
How Much Should You Feed Your 8- to 16-Week-Old Kitten?
During this phase, your kitten is developing rapidly and requires plenty of calories to support that growth. Growing kittens might need 250 to 280 calories per day, with larger breeds like Maine Coons and Ragdolls requiring as many as 360 calories daily. To ensure your kitten is getting enough food to meet their calorie requirements, check the label on the package of the kitten food to find out how much to feed your kitten daily.
How Often Should You Feed Your 8- to 16-Week-Old Kitten?
Three to four meals per day is ideal, but kittens older than 8 weeks can also free-feed on dry food. Be careful with free-feeding. While your kitten should be gaining weight at this stage, too much dry food can lead to excess weight gain.
Also Read: Best Kitten FoodTop 5 Best Kitten Foods on the Market Today
#4 4- to 6-Month-Old Kitten
During this stage, your kitten will start to settle into their dietary routine. Thats why its vital to make sure youre establishing good habits for adulthood. Feeding a varied diet can keep your kitten from becoming finicky and keep them mentally stimulated. Kittens who eat a dry diet at this stage will likely get hooked on the crunch and might not want to eat wet food later in life.
Wet or canned food is usually rich in species-appropriate animal-based protein, is lower in carbohydrates, and has a higher moisture content (70% to 80%) than that of dry food (6% to 10%).
How Much Should You Feed Your 4- to 6-Month-Old Kitten?
At this stage, kittens still need about twice as many calories per pound than adult cats. Refer to the feeding guidelines on your kittens food to determine how much to feed per pound of body weight.
Kittens in this age group need around 60 to 65 calories per pound of body weight per day. For example, a 5-pound kitten should consume about 325 calories per day.
How Often Should You Feed Your 4- to 6-Month-Old Kitten?
While a four-month-old kitten will need about three to four small meals per day, you can reduce daily feedings to two to three meals by the time your kitten is six months old. You can also give your kitten treats throughout the day, but calories from treats shouldnt exceed 5% to 10% of total daily caloric intake.
#5 6 Months to 10-Year-Old Cats
Older kittens still need plenty of calories to fuel their growth, but their metabolism will start to gradually slow down and their nutritional needs will start to look more like those of an adult.
Around the time of your kittens first birthday, you can start the transition from kitten food to an adult diet. Note, however, that larger-breed cats might continue to grow until theyre 3 to 4 years old and might continue to eat a growth-oriented diet. Talk to your veterinarian for advice on when to switch your large-breed kitten to an adult diet.
How Much Should You Feed Your Adult Cat?
As your kittens metabolism starts to slow down and they reach adulthood, you might notice them start to put on excess weight. Obesity is a common issue among adult cats and, when not corrected early on, might lead to health complications later in life. Regular exercise and a well-controlled diet will help to prevent obesity and keep your cat in good shape.
Whether you feed your cat homemade cat food or the best commercial cat foods, its critical to feed the right amount per day. But theres no single amount of food that every cat should eat each day. Calorie needs vary from cat to cat, with many factors coming into play.
When deciding how much to feed your cat, youll have to consider their breed, age, reproductive status, underlying health conditions, and more. In general, however, the recommended daily caloric intake is about 20 calories per pound of body weight. Your vet can advise you about how much to feed your cat to maintain an ideal weight.
Click here for a calculator that helps you identify how many calories your cat needs per day.
How Often Should You Feed Your Adult Cat?
After your cat reaches 6 months of age, you may feed two to three meals per day.
Also Read: Best Cat Food Guide
#6 Senior Years (11+ Years)
Compared to young and middle-aged adults, senior cats have unique nutritional needs. They often exhibit a reduced ability to metabolize protein and therefore tend to lose muscle mass.
Senior cats require more digestible protein to support lean muscle mass and stay healthy. Cats at this age might also develop arthritis and other inflammatory conditions, making omega-3 fatty acids a particularly beneficial addition to the senior cats diet.
Since older cats might have difficulty eating because of dental problems, wet or moist food is better for senior cats.
How Much Should You Feed Your Senior Cat?
Senior and elderly cats require more calories per pound of body weight. If your senior appears to be losing muscle mass, consider increasing their calorie intake to 30 to 40 calories per pound. The majority of those calories should come from animal-based protein, which helps to prevent sarcopenia (loss of muscle due to aging).
How Often Should You Feed Your Senior Cat?
Continue to feed your senior cat two to three meals per day.
Also Read: Best Cat Food For Senior Cats
Cat Feeding Chart
| Age | Approximate Weight | Amount to Feed | Schedule |
| 0 to 1 week | 50 to 150 grams (1.7 to 5.2 ounces) | 2 to 6 ml kitten formula | Every 2 hours |
| 1 to 2 weeks | 150 to 250 grams (5.2 to 8.8 ounces) | 6 to 10 ml kitten formula | Every 2 to 3 hours |
| 2 to 3 weeks | 250 to 350 grams (8.8 to 12.4 ounces) | 10 to 14 ml kitten formula | Every 3 to 4 hours |
| 3 to 4 weeks | 350 to 450 grams (12.4 to 15.9 ounces) | 14 to 18 ml kitten formula | Every 4 to 5 hours |
| 4 to 5 weeks | 450 to 550 grams (15.9 ounces to 1.1 pounds) | 18 to 22 ml kitten formula Starting the weaning process; gradually switch to a mixture of kitten formula and wet kitten food | Every 5 to 6 hours |
| 5 to 8 weeks | 550 to 850 grams (1.1 to 1.5 pounds) | Weaning; offer an unlimited amount of wet kitten food | Every 6 hours |
| 8 to 9 weeks | 1.5 to 2.6 pounds | 250 to 360 calories per day | Every 6 to 8 hours |
| 9 to 10 weeks | 1.6 to 2.9 pounds | 250 to 360 calories per day | Every 6 to 8 hours |
| 10 to 11 weeks | 1.8 to 3.1 pounds | 250 to 360 calories per day | Every 6 to 8 hours |
| 11 to 12 weeks | 2 to 3.3 pounds | 250 to 360 calories per day | Every 6 to 8 hours |
| 12 to 13 weeks | 2.2 to 4 pounds | 250 to 360 calories per day | Every 6 to 8 hours |
| 13 to 14 weeks | 3 to 4.5 pounds | 250 to 360 calories per day | Every 6 to 8 hours |
| 14 to 15 weeks | 3.5 to 5 pounds | 250 to 360 calories per day | Every 6 to 8 hours |
| 15 to 16 weeks | 4 to 5.5 pounds | 250 to 360 calories per day | Every 6 to 8 hours |
| 4 months | 4 to 5.5 pounds | 60 to 65 calories per pound of body weight per day | Every 8 hours |
| 5 months | 5.1 to 6 pounds | 60 to 65 calories per pound of body weight per day | Every 8 hours |
| 6 months | 5.5 to 6.5 pounds | 60 to 65 calories per pound of body weight per day | Every 8 to 12 hours |
| 7 months | 6 to 7 pounds | 60 to 65 calories per pound of body weight per day | Every 8 to 12 hours |
| 8 months | 6.5 to 7.5 pounds | 60 to 65 calories per pound of body weight per day | Every 8 to 12 hours |
| 9 months | 7 to 8 pounds | 60 to 65 calories per pound of body weight per day | Every 8 to 12 hours |
| 10 months | 7.5 to 8.5 pounds | 60 to 65 calories per pound of body weight per day | Every 8 to 12 hours |
| 11 months | 8 to 9 pounds | 60 to 65 calories per pound of body weight per day | Every 8 to 12 hours |
| 12 months to adulthood | 8 to 9.5 pounds | 20 to 33 calories per pound of body weight per day | Every 8 to 12 hours |
Final Thoughts
Your Cat Needs Water Too
In addition to the correct food regimen, its also important that a cat has access to clean water. Proper hydration helps to prevent constipation and reduces the risk of urinary system diseases like urinary tract infections and blockage.
Access to fresh water is essential, regardless of if your cat eats dry or wet food.
Consult With Your Veterinarian for More Advice
Even with the knowledge shared in this article, you should consult with your veterinarian for your cats individual dietary needs. Your veterinarian will be able to recommend the ideal diet and feeding regimen for your cat based on your cats age, lifestyle, dietary preferences, and overall health status.
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Guide to Raising Unweaned & Underage Kittens, UC Davis Koret Shelter Medicine Program. https://www.sheltermedicine.com/library/guidebooks/?r=guide-to-raising-unweaned-underage-kittens/caring-for-kittens-from-birth-to-eight-weeks
https://resources.bestfriends.org/article/bottle-feeding-kittens#Feeding
