A feeding schedule is the single most effective tool against feline obesity and the easiest one to get wrong. The defaults on food bags are calorie estimates for an average cat. Your cat is not average. This guide covers how often to feed by age, portion sizes that match real cats, and when free feeding is fine versus when it causes problems.
How often to feed
The right meal frequency changes with age.
Kittens (under 6 months). Small stomachs, fast metabolism.
- 4–8 weeks: weaning. Kitten formula or wet kitten food, 4–6 small meals a day.
- 8 weeks–4 months: 4 meals a day.
- 4–6 months: 3 meals a day.
Kittens (6–12 months). Transitioning toward adult portioning.
- 2–3 meals a day, gradually shifting to adult kibble or wet food formulated for the cat's projected adult size.
Adults (1–7 years).
- 2 meals a day, twelve hours apart, is the standard. Some cats do better with 3 smaller meals.
Seniors (7+ years).
- 2–3 smaller meals a day. Older cats often eat less per meal but more frequently. Watch for any change in appetite. It's usually the first sign of illness.
Pregnant or nursing cats need free access to a high-calorie kitten formula. Their needs can be 2–4x normal.
How much to feed
Bag and can labels give a daily total. Read them, then adjust to your cat. A rough starting point for a healthy indoor adult:
- 3 kg cat (~6.6 lb): 150–200 kcal/day
- 4 kg cat (~8.8 lb): 200–250 kcal/day
- 5 kg cat (~11 lb): 250–300 kcal/day
- 6 kg cat (~13.2 lb): 280–340 kcal/day
These are maintenance numbers for a cat at a healthy weight. If your cat needs to lose weight, calculate based on the target weight, not the current one. Don't drop calories more than 20% below maintenance without a vet. See overweight cat diet for the safe way to do this.
A standard 3-oz can of wet food is roughly 70–100 kcal. A cup of dry food ranges from 300 to over 500 kcal depending on the brand. Check the bag. Buy a small kitchen scale or a dedicated measuring cup. "A scoop" is not a unit. (Mine used to feed my cat with a coffee mug. The cat gained two pounds in eight months.)
Free feeding versus scheduled meals
Free feeding means leaving dry food out all day. The cat self-regulates.
- Works for: kittens in growth phase, working-cat homes with one underweight cat, single-cat households where the cat has proven they self-regulate.
- Fails for: most adult cats, multi-cat households (one cat eats more), any cat with a tendency to gain weight, and cats on wet food (spoils).
The default assumption that cats will "eat when they're hungry" is wrong for most pet cats. Indoor cats are bored, and food is the most available entertainment. Free feeding is the single biggest driver of the feline obesity epidemic.
Scheduled meals mean measured portions at fixed times. The right default for most cats.
- Two meals a day, twelve hours apart, works for most adults.
- If your cat wakes you at dawn for food, a small auto-feeder can buy you another hour of sleep. Doesn't mean they need a third meal, only that the schedule is in place.
A sample day
For a 4 kg adult cat eating a mixed diet:
- 7am: half a 3-oz can of wet food + 1/8 cup of dry.
- 7pm: half a 3-oz can of wet food + 1/8 cup of dry.
- Water: refilled fresh in the morning and topped up at night.
That's roughly 220 kcal, in line with maintenance for a cat at this weight.
Common mistakes
- Treats not counted. A few treats a day can easily be 10–15% of total calories. Subtract them from meals, not add to them.
- Two people feeding the same cat. Pin a small sign on the bag: "fed at [time]." Cats are excellent at convincing each member of the household they've been forgotten. My partner and I doubled our cat's calorie intake for three months without realising. He went from 4.5kg to 5.8kg before the vet asked what we were doing.
- Changing food cold. Switch over 7–10 days to avoid diarrhea. 25% new for two days, then 50%, then 75%, then all new.
- Feeding by sight. A bowl looks half full but yesterday's leftover kibble is still in there. Empty the bowl daily and measure fresh.
When the schedule needs to change
Adjust portions every few months based on weight. A cat gaining steadily on the same portions has either become less active or is getting calories from somewhere you're not counting. A cat losing weight on the same portions needs a vet visit before any food change. Unexplained weight loss in a cat is a medical signal, not a feeding problem.