A Feeding Schedule for Your Cat

As a new cat parent, you’ll quickly discover that your kitty has a honey-do list for you, and mealtime at the right time is at the very top. If you’re wondering, “How often should I feed my cat?” you’re not alone. Vets hear this question all the time, and for good reason. More than half of cats in the U.S. are overweight or obese, which can significantly shorten their lifespans. 

Adult cats should eat two or more small meals a day, says Samantha Bell, cat expert and cat content strategist for Best Friends Animal Society. Kittens, on the other hand, need extra fuel for growth, so they should eat three to four small meals a day until they’re about six months to a year old. This recommendation, and the tips below, are guidelines to simply get you started. Ultimately, your vet is the best source for creating a meal plan that fits your cat’s age, lifestyle, and calorie needs.

How often should you feed a cat?

In an ideal world, your cat’s feeding schedule would mimic that of a wildcat — snacking on small meals throughout the day, as they hunt. According to Dr. Donna Raditic, a board-certified veterinary nutritionist, that could mean 12 to 20 tiny meals a day. Of course, many of us can’t realistically feed our cats a dozen or more meals a day, but we can find a happy compromise. 

Free-feeding (leaving out a big bowl of food all day) isn’t recommended for healthy adults and seniors because it can lead to obesity. Instead, Bell recommends two to four small meals daily.  This schedule keeps your cat’s digestive system happy and helps reduce hunger-driven behaviors, such as meowing, getting into plants, or aggression toward other cats, she says. 

“Senior cats [who are seven-plus years old] should remain on scheduled feedings a few times per day. Your vet may recommend slightly fewer calories if they are less active than they were when they were younger,” Bell adds.

Related article

How to Welcome a New Cat—Your New Cat’s First Day

Adopting a new cat? Learn more about how you should introduce your adopted friend to their new home.

What are the best times to feed my cat?

Cats are hunters, and their most satisfying meals follow a hunt. Rather than just setting down a bowl of food, spend five to 10 minutes playing with them with a feather wand or other favorite toy. When your cat successfully grabs the toy and “kills” it, offer their food bowl. 

“Research shows that this type of enrichment decreases unwanted behaviors, such as biting, attacking, and destroying the house, and increases positive ones,” Bell says. “It can also help overweight cats burn some calories.”

Beyond replicating the hunting sequence, a cat’s feeding schedule might look like breakfast, lunch, dinner, and possibly a late-night snack before bed. According to Stephen Quandt, certified cat behavior consultant, playing with your cat followed by a small snack or meal before bedtime is the best way to encourage them to sleep through the night. 

How often should you feed a kitten?

Kittens need to eat more often than adult cats because they burn a ton of energy while growing. According to Bell, an adult cat’s stomach is about the size of a ping-pong ball. So, you can imagine how tiny a kitten’s stomach must be. 

Overeating can put kittens at risk for juvenile obesity, binge eating, orthopedic problems, or even diabetes later in life, according to VCA Animal Hospitals. That’s why free-feeding is usually discouraged. That said, each household is different, and some pet parents may need to leave food out for kittens. It’s best to check with your veterinarian about which feeding style works for your lifestyle and your kitten’s health.

Here are some general guidelines.

• Under six months of age: Aim for at least three to four small meals a day. Wet food shouldn’t be left out for more than an hour or two, because it can spoil. 

• Six months to one year of age: Transition to two to three meals a day, as their growth slows.

Kittens should eat food labeled “kitten or all life stages,” which provides the extra nutrients needed for healthy growth and development. Both wet and dry options are available, and you can feed them either one or a combination of the two.

What are the best times to feed my kitten?

The exact schedule depends on your kitten’s age, health, and your lifestyle. Talk to your veterinarian about a feeding plan that fits both your kitten’s needs and your daily routine.

When to switch to an adult schedule?

Kittens are considered adults at around one year old, but most reach their full size by seven to nine months, Bell says. Once your kitten’s growth has slowed, their calorie needs drop, and that’s the right time to talk to your vet about transitioning to an adult feeding schedule.

Benefits of a consistent routine

Leaving food out all day for your cat to graze on might feel easier, especially if they beg or meow for food. But according to Bell, grazing isn’t natural for cats.

“Being able to perform wildcat behaviors reduces stress, increases confidence, and supports the overall well-being of our house cats,” Bell explains. Free-feeding can leave cats bored and restless, while structured mealtime routines mimic the hunt-eat-sleep cycle that comes naturally to them.

Key benefits of a feeding routine include the following.

• Reduces stress, boredom, and destructive behaviors: Tapping into your cat’s instincts gives them an outlet, which makes them happy.  

• Less likely to wake you at night: A play session followed by a meal often helps cats settle down and sleep longer. 

• Helps curb begging: Cats thrive on predictability. When they can predict their next meal, they’re less likely to pester you for food.

Related article

Am I Too Busy for a Cat?

Although they have a reputation for being independent, cats do still some care and attention.

How to create a consistent feeding routine

Automatic feeders can portion out meals during the day, and for multi-cat households, microchip feeders are especially useful. They only open for the cat they’re programmed to recognize, so each cat gets the right amount of food.

If keeping a routine still feels overwhelming, remember there’s a difference between a routine and a schedule. A routine provides familiarity and rhythm to daily activities. It can be flexible but still consistent since mealtimes are linked to activities rather than hours.

For example, rather than feeding your cat at 7 a.m. when you wake up (which teaches them to wake you earlier and earlier), connect breakfast to another part of your routine, such as after showering, brushing your teeth, or making coffee. Your cat will soon learn to associate that action with mealtime, not your wake-up time. Adding a short play session just before the meal gives an even clearer signal that food is coming.

Tips for keeping your cat healthy

Your cat’s well-being goes beyond feeding them. Here are some practical tips for a healthy, happy feline.

• Always provide fresh water: Place water bowls or fountains on each level of your home.

• Keep water separate from food: “Cats do not like their water being close to their food,” Bell says. “Their instincts tell them that a water source too close to food could be contaminated by rotten food.”

• Avoid free-feeding: Serve properly portioned meals on a routine schedule to prevent overeating.

• Clean bowls daily: Wash food and water bowls with hot, soapy water. Clean wet food bowls after each meal.

• Provide individual feeding stations: Each cat should have their own food bowl.

• Add distance between bowls: Place bowls several feet apart, or in separate rooms if needed, to reduce territorial stress. Since wildcats are solitary hunters, cats can worry about others taking their food, which leads to stress and potential behavioral or physical issues, Bell says.

• Offer variety: Introducing a variety of textures (wet and dry) and proteins can reduce the likelihood of a picky eater.

• Transition foods gradually: Mix new food with the old over several days to avoid digestive upset.

• Consider accessibility: Avoid high surfaces for cats with mobility issues. Bowls slightly elevated off the floor can reduce crouching strain, while keeping food at a comfortable height.

• Choose the right placement: Keep food and water in quiet areas, away from high-traffic zones and away from litter boxes.

Commonly asked questions 

What is a good daily schedule for a cat?

For healthy adult and senior cats, aim for two to four small meals daily. An ideal feeding routine creates associations between an action and the meal. For instance, you could shower in the morning, follow this with a short play session, and then feed your cat. Adding play before the meal taps into your cat’s natural hunting instincts, encouraging the satisfying, natural rhythm of hunt, kill, eat, sleep.

Should cats eat two or three times a day?

Healthy adult cats and seniors should eat a minimum of two meals a day. In the wild, cats naturally hunt and consume many small meals throughout the day. Therefore, feeding your cat more than two meals (such as three or four small meals) is often beneficial, but you must be careful to portion each one correctly so you do not overfeed your cat.

Are two meals a day enough for a kitten?

Kittens under six months of age should eat at least three to four small meals a day. Kittens can transition to two to three meals a day around six months to one year, as their growth slows.