How much should I feed my kitten each day?

This depends on your kitten's current weight and the specific food's calorie content, both of which vary. Use the feeding guide on the packaging as a starting point, weigh the food out, and adjust based on whether your kitten is gaining weight steadily rather than too quickly or too slowly.

Can kittens eat wet food only?

Yes, a good quality kitten wet food alone can meet a kitten's needs, and some kittens prefer it to dry kibble. Whichever you choose, check the packaging states it is complete and suitable for kittens rather than a treat or complementary food.

When should I switch my kitten to adult cat food?

Most kittens can transition to adult food from around twelve months old, though it is worth checking with your vet first, particularly for larger breeds that sometimes benefit from staying on kitten food a little longer.

Why has my kitten stopped eating as much?

A temporary dip in appetite can happen around vaccinations, a house move, or simply as growth naturally slows after the fastest early months. A kitten that goes off food completely, or seems unwell alongside it, should be seen by a vet rather than waited out.

Kitten feeding guide

Kittens need small, frequent meals of a food formulated specifically for kittens, moving gradually to fewer, larger meals as they get older. The exact grams per day depends on your kitten's individual weight and the specific food, so the feeding guide printed on the packet, adjusted as your kitten grows, is the method to follow rather than a fixed schedule copied from elsewhere.

How often to feed by age

Very young kittens, still close to weaning, generally need four small meals a day because their stomachs are too small to take in enough food in one or two sittings. By around six months most kittens can move to three meals a day, and by their first birthday many are settled onto the two meals a day that suits most adult cats.

Free feeding, where dry food is left out constantly, works for some kittens but makes it harder to notice a drop in appetite early, which is often one of the first signs something needs a vet's attention. Set meal times, even if the food itself is dry kibble, make changes in eating easier to spot.

Kitten food versus adult food

Kitten food is formulated with more calories, protein, and specific nutrients to support rapid growth in the first year, so it is worth staying on a proper kitten formula rather than switching early to save money or out of convenience.

Most cats can move onto an adult recipe from around twelve months old, though larger breeds sometimes continue growing a little longer and may benefit from staying on kitten food slightly longer, which a vet can advise on at a routine check-up.

Using the feeding guide properly

The grams-per-day figure on a bag or pouch is based on an average kitten of a given weight, so it is a starting point rather than a fixed rule for your kitten specifically. Weigh the food out for a week or two and watch how your kitten's weight and energy track, adjusting up or down as needed rather than sticking rigidly to the printed number.

Weight gain that is much faster or slower than expected for your kitten's age is worth mentioning at a routine vet visit, since it can be an early sign that the portion needs adjusting or, occasionally, that something else is worth ruling out.

Common questions

How much should I feed my kitten each day?: This depends on your kitten's current weight and the specific food's calorie content, both of which vary. Use the feeding guide on the packaging as a starting point, weigh the food out, and adjust based on whether your kitten is gaining weight steadily rather than too quickly or too slowly.
Can kittens eat wet food only?: Yes, a good quality kitten wet food alone can meet a kitten's needs, and some kittens prefer it to dry kibble. Whichever you choose, check the packaging states it is complete and suitable for kittens rather than a treat or complementary food.
When should I switch my kitten to adult cat food?: Most kittens can transition to adult food from around twelve months old, though it is worth checking with your vet first, particularly for larger breeds that sometimes benefit from staying on kitten food a little longer.
Why has my kitten stopped eating as much?: A temporary dip in appetite can happen around vaccinations, a house move, or simply as growth naturally slows after the fastest early months. A kitten that goes off food completely, or seems unwell alongside it, should be seen by a vet rather than waited out.

Sources

Written against guidance published by UK veterinary and welfare organisations. Always confirm specifics with your own vet.

Written by Matt Garnett, who runs Giddy Pets and is a lifelong pet owner — not a vet. This is general information, not veterinary advice, and it cannot replace an examination by the vet who knows your animal. How we write these guides.