I’m wondering how often cats should be fed ingeneral?
There is no quick and easy way to answer how often a particular cat or kitten should be fed then age and relative health, as well as how many cats you have, what your home looks like, and the type of food you offer, all play a big role in how the feed should be handled.
For example, a person working from home can give soft food to kittens or nursing cats several times a day.
While a single cat owner who does not work from home will use more dry cat food, and will only be able to offer soft food in the morning and late evening.
How often kittens should be given soft food
Kittens need about twice as much nutrients as adult cats, both for their growth and energy.
Of course, their stomachs can not handle large amounts of food.
Therefore, just like for human babies, they need regular food at first, which is weaned as they grow.
It is important to weigh the kittens regularly during this time to make sure they are gaining enough weight, without becoming overly obese.
Their hunger is usually a good guideline for determining if they are getting enough nutrients.
As a rule, kittens under the age of six weeks should remain with their mother. If this is impossible, the kitten can be bottle-fed between four and six weeks of age.
Alternatively, a kitten at the age of five weeks can be gradually introduced to a qualitative soft food that is mixed with an equal amount of “kitten formula” such as KMR (kitten milk replacer).
Note! I do not recommend regular milk for cats as many cats are allergic to this milk.
When the kitten has reached six weeks of age, the proportion of CMR can be gradually reduced until the cat eats canned food on its own.
Note that these recommendations apply to soft foods and that the recommendations regarding dry foods will be addressed later.
At six weeks of age: Four or more small meals at regular intervals during the day. Be sure to weigh the kitten regularly and write down its weight and date to keep track of how it is developing.
12 weeks: Increase the amount of food at each meal and gradually spread them to three meals a day.
Around six months of age: You can gradually spread the meals until you serve the cat two meals a day.
Adult cats
If the kitten does not show excessive weight gain, it is considered an adult cat at one year of age, and for the next nine years or so, it can be given adult food twice a day with extra meals of dry food when needed, as described below.
Dry food
Dry food is mainly developed for the owner’s convenience and not for the cat’s nutritional needs. This topic is further discussed in the article on soft foods for cats.
But cats have lived long and happy lives even with a diet consisting exclusively of dry food, and for working cat owners, adult cats can be given soft food morning and evening with dry food that is left in front of the cat’s needs.
Older cats and cats with special needs
Older cats and especially cats with special needs require a special diet and may need to be fed more often.
It is best to follow your veterinarian’s recommendations regarding feeding, both in terms of schedule and type of food.