How often to feed a cat

Most healthy adult cats do well on two meals a day, and some do fine on one or on several small ones. Kittens need more meals, about three or four a day at first. The right pattern is the one that keeps your cat at a healthy weight, eating with interest and settled between meals. Your vet can tell you how much your own cat should eat.

How cats eat naturally

A wild cat hunts many small prey animals a day, commonly around ten, and eats each one whole. A pet cat does not need to hunt. Its body still suits small, frequent meals. Cats also like routine, quiet and a clean bowl.

This is one reason some owners offer several small portions instead of one or two large ones. It is also a reason to make mealtimes interesting with a puzzle feeder.

Meals by life stage

Ages are a rough guide. Ask your vet when to move your cat from one stage to the next.

• Kittens, up to about six months. Small kittens have small stomachs and high energy needs. Three or four meals a day is typical, of food made for growth. Weaning kittens often start with more.
• Kittens, six to twelve months. Most can move to two or three meals a day. Keep feeding a growth food until your vet says to change.
• Adults, one year and older. Two meals a day is common. Some cats do well on one, and others on three or four small ones. Pick a pattern you can keep up.
• Seniors. Many seniors do well on the same plan, but some need smaller, more frequent meals. A drop in appetite in an older cat needs a vet visit. Do not assume it is just age.
• Pregnant or nursing cats. They need much more food. Ask your vet for a plan.
• Cats with medical conditions. Diabetes, kidney disease, a weak bladder and other conditions can change the timing and type of food. Follow your vet's plan.

Free feeding or set meals

free feeding means keeping food in the bowl all day. It suits some cats, especially lean ones that eat only what they need. It is risky for cats that eat out of boredom. It can lead to obesity, which raises the risk of diabetes, joint pain and other problems. Dry food left out is easier to leave than wet food, which spoils after a short time.

meal feeding means giving measured portions at set times. It lets you see how much your cat eats, notice a change in appetite early, and control weight. Most vets favor this method for cats that gain weight easily. Measure with a kitchen scale or a marked scoop, not by eye.

A mixed approach works for many homes. Give set wet meals, with a measured portion of dry food in a puzzle feeder or scattered across the floor.

How to set up a feeding routine

1. Find your cat's daily amount. Read the feeding guide on the food, then check it against your cat's weight and body shape. The feeding calculator gives an estimate. Treat the number as a starting point and ask your vet to confirm it.
2. Divide it into meals. Split the total across the number of meals you plan. Include treats and any toppings in the daily total. Treats should stay a small part of the whole.
3. Feed at the same times. A fixed routine, such as morning and evening, helps a cat feel secure. It also helps you notice any change.
4. Use an automatic feeder if you are away. An automatic feeder can release set portions on a timer. Test it before you rely on it, and never leave a cat for more than a day without a person checking in.
5. Weigh and check. Weigh your cat each month. You should be able to feel the ribs under a light layer of fat and see a waist from above. If weight is creeping up or down, change the portion by a small step and ask your vet.
6. Adjust slowly. Change food or amounts over several days, not at once. A sudden change can upset the stomach.

Making it work in a busy home

• Several cats. Feed in separate spots, so a faster eater cannot take from a slower one. A microchip-activated bowl can help if one cat needs a special diet. Use it only if the cats are comfortable with it.
• A cat that begs. Check the daily amount first. If the amount is right, play with the cat before meals, use a puzzle feeder, and do not reward begging with extra food.
• A cat that wakes you early for food. Feed a small late meal, and use a timed feeder for the morning. Do not feed on demand.
• A cat that eats too fast. Spread the food on a flat plate or use a slow-feeder bowl.
• A cat that leaves food. Cats may be fussy, but a sudden change in appetite can mean illness. See the vet section below.

Common mistakes

• Filling the bowl without measuring.
• Counting treats as free.
• Feeding a kitten adult food, or an adult cat kitten food for years.
• Leaving wet food out for many hours.
• Changing the diet suddenly.
• Putting the bowl next to the litter box or in a noisy corner.
• Leaving an overweight cat on a crash diet. Rapid weight loss is dangerous in cats. Ask your vet for a safe plan.
• Ignoring a cat that is not eating. A cat that eats little or nothing for a day or more needs to be seen by a vet.

When to call a vet or get help

Call your vet if:

• Your cat has not eaten for 24 hours, or eats much less than usual for two or three days. Cats that go without food can develop a serious liver problem called hepatic lipidosis, and overweight cats are at higher risk.
• A kitten refuses food, or is cold, limp or weak. This is an emergency.
• Your cat is thirsty all the time, urinating more than usual, or losing weight despite a good appetite.
• Your cat is vomiting repeatedly, or has diarrhea that lasts more than a day.
• Your cat is gaining weight steadily despite measured meals.
• Your cat drops food, drools, or chews on one side. These can be signs of mouth pain.

Summary

• Kittens eat three or four times a day. Most adults do well on two meals.
• Measure food and count treats in the daily total.
• Free feeding suits some cats, but measured meals help control weight.
• Change foods and amounts gradually.
• A cat that stops eating for a day or more needs a vet.