How much should a kitten eat per day by weight? A kitten grows fast, and the amount it needs changes every few weeks as it grows — so the answer is not a single number, but a table: the daily calories for a kitten at every weight, from 0.5 kg to 5 kg, worked out from the resting energy requirement (RER) formula vets use. This guide is that table in words, plus how to use it, how to turn calories into cups and grams, and how to tell whether the amount is right for your individual kitten. Every figure is an estimate, and the amount must be re-checked every two weeks as the kitten grows.
The short version is: find your kitten's current weight in the left column, read the calories for its age, and feed that amount, split into three or four meals a day. Then weigh the kitten again in two weeks, find the new weight in the table, and adjust the amount. That is the whole method — and it is worth doing, because a kitten fed last month's amount is already being fed wrong, and a kitten that is overfed grows up overweight, while one that is underfed grows up stunted.
How much should a kitten eat per day by weight?
Use the row nearest your kitten's current weight, then pick the column that matches the kitten's age. The factors are the standard ones used in veterinary nutrition: about 2.5 for kittens.
| Body weight | Kitten (×2.5) |
|---|---|
| 0.5 kg | 105 |
| 1 kg | 175 |
| 1.5 kg | 235 |
| 2 kg | 295 |
| 2.5 kg | 350 |
| 3 kg | 400 |
| 4 kg | 495 |
| 5 kg | 585 |
If your kitten is between two rows, take the lower figure first: it is easier to add food to a kitten that is losing weight than to take weight off a kitten that has gained it. Note that calories are the real target and cups or grams are only a translation. Different foods have very different calorie densities, so always check the kcal per cup or per 100 g on your own bag or tin and work from that. The cups and grams figures below assume a typical dry food at around 350 kcal per cup or per 100 g — a common figure, but your food may differ, and the bag's number always wins over this guide's.
How much kitten food in cups and grams per day
| Kitten weight | Calories per day | Cups / grams of dry food per day |
|---|---|---|
| 0.5 kg | 105 kcal | 0.3 cups / 30 g |
| 1 kg | 175 kcal | 0.5 cups / 50 g |
| 1.5 kg | 235 kcal | 0.7 cups / 67 g |
| 2 kg | 295 kcal | 0.8 cups / 84 g |
| 2.5 kg | 350 kcal | 1.0 cups / 100 g |
| 3 kg | 400 kcal | 1.1 cups / 114 g |
| 4 kg | 495 kcal | 1.4 cups / 141 g |
| 5 kg | 585 kcal | 1.7 cups / 167 g |
Split the daily amount into three to four meals a day until about six months, then two meals a day — a young animal's stomach is small, so it cannot eat enough in one or two meals to meet its needs. If you feed wet food, use the tin's kcal figure to convert: a typical wet food is around 70 to 100 kcal per 100 g. Mixed feeding is fine as long as the total calories add up. Measure food with scales, not a scoop, and weigh the kitten every two weeks — the amount changes quickly as the kitten grows. The the kitten feeding schedule by age guide gives the schedule from weaning to adulthood, and the the how much food should a kitten eat guide gives the calorie tables for kittens by weight.
How a kitten's weight changes as it grows
A kitten does not grow evenly: it grows fastest in the first few months, then slows down towards the end of its first year, and large breeds keep growing long after small breeds have finished. As a very rough guide — and it is a rough guide, because individual animals vary widely — a kitten's weight as a share of its expected adult weight is about a fifth to a quarter at 8 weeks, about a quarter to a third at 3 months, about a third to two-fifths at 4 months, about half to two-thirds at 6 months, about three-quarters to four-fifths at 9 months, and about four-fifths or more at 12 months, when small breeds are near-adult and large breeds are still growing.
Use that rough guide with the breed's expected adult weight, not instead of it: 2 to 4 kg for a small breed such as a Singapura, 3 to 6 kg for most medium breeds, and 6 to 11 kg for a large breed such as a Maine Coon. If your kitten is well outside the rough share for its age — much heavier or much lighter than the table suggests — ask your vet to check its growth, rather than changing food on your own. The kitten weight predictor estimates adult weight from the kitten's current weight and age, and the kitten weight chart by age guide explains how to track growth.
How to weigh a kitten and track its growth
Weigh the kitten every two weeks, at the same time of day, on the same scales, and write the number down — the line over weeks is what matters, not any single reading. For a small kitten, step on the bathroom scales holding it, then step on without it, and take the difference. For a larger kitten, use the vet's scales at a routine visit. Plot the weights on a simple chart, or just keep a list with dates: what you are looking for is a smooth, steady rise, not a flat line and not a sudden jump. A kitten that is not gaining weight at all over two weeks, or that is losing weight, needs a vet check — a kitten that is not growing needs a vet, not just more food.
Feel the ribs at every weigh-in: you should feel them easily under a thin layer of fat, and see a waist from above and from the side, even in a kitten. A kitten that is too fat is not a healthy kitten: excess weight in youth sets up weight problems for life, and in a large-breed puppy it strains developing joints. A kitten that is too thin is not a healthy kitten either: it may not be getting enough food, or it may be unwell. The table above gives the amount; the scales and your hands tell you whether it is right. The the how often should you feed a kitten guide covers how often to feed, and the cat food calculator works out the figure for any weight.
Common mistakes with kitten feeding by weight
The most common mistake is feeding last month's amount: a kitten grows fast, and the amount that was right a month ago is already wrong. Re-check the table every two weeks, with the kitten's current weight. The second is feeding by the bag's chart alone: bag charts are generous, because they are written for active animals and rounded up, so treat them as a maximum, not a target. The third is overfeeding to make the kitten grow faster: rapid growth and excess weight strain developing joints, and in a large-breed puppy that matters more than in a small one. The fourth is underfeeding a kitten that is growing fast, because the owner is afraid of overfeeding: a kitten that is not gaining weight needs a vet check, not a smaller portion. The fifth is switching foods suddenly, which upsets digestion — change foods gradually over a week, mixing the old and new in increasing proportions.
For related reading, see the the kitten feeding schedule by age guide, the the how much food should a kitten eat guide, the the how often should you feed a kitten guide, the kitten weight predictor, the cat food calculator, the cat feeding chart by weight guide.
Frequently asked questions
How much should a kitten eat per day?
Find your kitten's current weight in the table above and read the calories for its age: a kitten of 2.5 kg needs about 350 calories a day. Re-check every two weeks as the kitten grows, and weigh it at the same time.
How often should I feed a kitten?
Three to four meals a day until about six months, then two meals a day. A young animal's stomach is small, so it cannot eat enough in one or two meals to meet its needs, and it needs food little and often.
How do I know if my kitten is growing well?
Weigh the kitten every two weeks and compare with the breed's expected adult weight: it should gain weight steadily, not in jumps and not at all. A kitten that is not gaining weight over two weeks, or that is losing weight, needs a vet check. Feel the ribs too — you should feel them easily under a thin layer of fat.
How much food in grams should a kitten eat?
Divide the daily calories from the table above by the kcal per 100 g on your own bag or tin. A kitten of 2.5 kg needing about 350 calories needs roughly 100 g of a typical dry food at 350 kcal per 100 g. Always check your own bag's number — it wins over this guide's.
When should a kitten switch to adult food?
At about 12 months for most kittens, but large breeds can take longer to finish growing — a large-breed puppy may still be growing at 18 months to 2 years, and a large-breed kitten such as a Maine Coon can take 2 to 4 years. Ask your vet when to switch, and switch gradually over a week.
Can I feed my kitten adult food?
No — adult food does not have enough calories or nutrients for growth, and a kitten fed adult food will grow more slowly than it should. Feed a food labelled complete and balanced for kittens, in the amount from the table above, until your vet says the kitten is ready for adult food.
Results on this page are estimates for general information only and are not veterinary advice. If your pet is ill, underweight, overweight, pregnant, or has a health condition, consult your veterinarian before changing diet or care.