A kitten doubles and triples its weight in a few months, and its food has to keep pace. A kitten feeding chart helps because it turns weight into a daily amount, and weight is something you can measure at home with kitchen scales. This chart covers kittens from 0.3 to 4 kg, with calories, grams of dry and wet food and a treat limit. For the story behind it, read our guide to how much a kitten should eat.
How the chart is calculated
Two steps, as for every cat:
RER = 70 × weight in kg ^ 0.75 kitten daily energy = 2.5 × RER
Then grams = calories ÷ (kcal per kg ÷ 1,000). The Kitten Food Calculator uses the same formulas. It does not give amounts for kittens under four weeks, who are nursing or bottle-fed and need a feeding plan from a vet.
The chart
| Kitten weight | Calories a day | Dry food (4,000 kcal/kg) | Wet food (1,000 kcal/kg) | Cans of 85 g | Treat limit (10%) |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 0.3 kg (0.7 lb) | 71 | 18 g | 71 g | 0.8 | 7 kcal |
| 0.5 kg (1.1 lb) | 104 | 26 g | 104 g | 1.2 | 10 kcal |
| 0.75 kg (1.7 lb) | 141 | 35 g | 141 g | 1.7 | 14 kcal |
| 1 kg (2.2 lb) | 175 | 44 g | 175 g | 2.1 | 18 kcal |
| 1.25 kg (2.8 lb) | 207 | 52 g | 207 g | 2.4 | 21 kcal |
| 1.5 kg (3.3 lb) | 237 | 59 g | 237 g | 2.8 | 24 kcal |
| 2 kg (4.4 lb) | 294 | 74 g | 294 g | 3.5 | 29 kcal |
| 2.5 kg (5.5 lb) | 348 | 87 g | 348 g | 4.1 | 35 kcal |
| 3 kg (6.6 lb) | 399 | 100 g | 399 g | 4.7 | 40 kcal |
| 3.5 kg (7.7 lb) | 448 | 112 g | 448 g | 5.3 | 45 kcal |
| 4 kg (8.8 lb) | 495 | 124 g | 495 g | 5.8 | 49 kcal |
Cans assume 85 g with 85 kcal each (1,000 kcal/kg). If your foods have a different energy, divide the calories by your own kcal per gram. Calories rise with weight but more slowly than weight itself: a 4 kg kitten weighs more than 13 times a 0.3 kg kitten but needs less than 7 times the calories.
Reading the chart for age
Age tells you roughly what weight to expect, but the chart is by weight because that is what sets the calorie need. A rough way to use both:
- Weigh the kitten and find its row.
- Use the Puppy & Kitten Age Calculator to check the age in weeks.
- Compare the weight with what your vet or breeder expects at that age.
- If the kitten is well above or below, speak to your vet before changing the food.
Gains should be steady week by week. A kitten that stops gaining or loses weight needs a vet check.
A worked example
A kitten weighs 1.5 kg at 10 weeks and eats a 4,000 kcal/kg dry kitten food.
- Row: 1.5 kg, 237 kcal.
- Dry food: 59 g a day.
- In four meals, about 15 g each.
- Treat limit: 24 kcal; training treats come out of the meals.
- Weigh again in a week and look up the new row.
Two weeks later the kitten weighs 1.9 kg and the chart lies between 1.5 and 2 kg; the exact value is about 280 kcal and 70 g of dry food. Use the calculator for in-between weights.
Meals through the day
The calculator suggests 3 to 4 meals a day for kittens. Very young kittens often eat four or more small meals, and many owners move to three as the kitten grows. Divide the daily amount into equal portions, offer them at regular times and remove uneaten wet food after a short time. If you want to compare feeding patterns, the Cat Food Cans per Day Calculator helps with wet food portions.
Wet, dry and mixed
The chart shows dry-only and wet-only columns. For a mix, decide the share of calories from each and convert separately, as in our guide to how much wet food a kitten should eat. For example, half of a 1.5 kg kitten’s 237 kcal from wet food (1,000 kcal/kg) is 119 g of wet food, and the other half from dry food (4,000 kcal/kg) is 30 g.
Weekly weigh-in log
| Date | Age in weeks | Weight | Row used | Daily grams | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Weigh on the same day each week at the same time, ideally before a meal, and write down any changes in appetite or energy.
When the chart should not be used
- Kittens under 4 weeks: they need a plan from your vet.
- Underweight or unwell kittens: the right plan depends on the cause.
- Pregnant or nursing queens: they have their own needs; see our guide to how long cats are pregnant for the timeline and ask your vet about feeding.
- Special diets: if your vet has prescribed a food, follow their instructions.
Common mistakes
- Using the adult cat chart for a kitten.
- Using the kitten chart for an adult.
- Not updating as the kitten grows.
- Measuring dry food by cup.
- Treats on top of full meals.
- Changing food suddenly.
Reading the chart for a litter
If you are raising several kittens, each one has its own weight and row.
| Kitten | Weight | Daily calories | Dry food (4,000 kcal/kg) | Wet food (1,000 kcal/kg) |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Biggest | 1.25 kg | 207 | 52 g | 207 g |
| Middle | 1.0 kg | 175 | 44 g | 175 g |
| Smallest | 0.75 kg | 141 | 35 g | 141 g |
The smallest kitten eats about 68% of the biggest kitten’s amount, so feed them on separate plates, and make sure the smallest is not pushed away. Weigh each one every few days at first, and tell your vet if the smallest is not gaining.
When the kitten is behind or ahead
Weights vary a lot between kittens of the same age. What matters is the trend. Signs that call for a vet visit:
- No weight gain over two or three days.
- Weight loss.
- Lethargy, refusal to eat or repeated vomiting or diarrhoea.
- A swollen belly or laboured breathing.
- A kitten that seems cold or weak.
A kitten that is well above the usual weight for its age and has a round belly may be overfed. Check the calories, and ask your vet.
A milestone calendar
The ages below are general patterns that differ between kittens; ask your vet about your own.
| Age | What often happens |
|---|---|
| Birth to about 4 weeks | Nursing or bottle-fed; vet plan if bottle-feeding |
| About 4 weeks | Weaning starts |
| About 8 weeks | Eating solid food, often four meals |
| About 12 weeks | Vaccine schedule continues; three to four meals |
| 4 to 6 months | Fast growth, adult teeth coming in; neutering plans |
| 6 to 12 months | Growth slows; discuss adult food |
For the calories at each weight, use the chart, and use the Kitten Food Calculator for in-between weights.
Why the chart changes so quickly
A kitten gains weight quickly in the first months, so the row of the chart that applies to it moves almost weekly. A 1 kg kitten uses RER = 70 × 1 ^ 0.75 = 70 kcal, and at 2.5 × RER needs 175 kcal. At 2 kg, RER is 118 and the kitten needs 295 kcal. At 3 kg, RER is 160 and the kitten needs 400 kcal. The amount more than doubles between 1 and 3 kg, so a chart on the fridge that is a month old may be out of date.
How to read the chart for wet and dry food
Once you have the daily calories, divide by the food’s energy. For a wet food of 1.0 kcal per gram, a 2 kg kitten needs 295 g a day. For a dry food of 3.8 kcal per gram, the same kitten needs 78 g. Mixed feeding splits the calories: for example half from each means 148 kcal wet (148 g) and 148 kcal dry (39 g). Our guide to how much wet food a kitten should eat goes into the wet side.
Meals through the day
Small stomachs do best with frequent meals. Your vet may suggest four meals a day for young kittens, going down to three and then two as the kitten matures. Divide the daily grams equally. If you use a timed feeder, load the day’s total and no more.
Updating the chart
- Weigh weekly on the same scale.
- Look up the new weight in the Kitten Food Calculator.
- Change the grams per meal, not the number of meals, unless advised.
- Feel the ribs: they should be easy to feel under a thin layer of padding.
- Keep a log.
Quick summary
- Kittens use 2.5 × RER, where RER = 70 × weight in kg ^ 0.75.
- A 1 kg kitten needs about 175 kcal (44 g dry); a 2 kg kitten 294 kcal (74 g); a 3 kg kitten 399 kcal (100 g).
- Feed 3 to 4 meals a day and weigh weekly.
- Kittens under 4 weeks need a vet’s feeding plan.
- Keep treats under 10% of daily calories and switch to adult food gradually.
- Use the Kitten Food Calculator for exact numbers.
Frequently asked questions
How much should a 1 kg kitten eat?
About 175 kcal a day, roughly 44 g of a 4,000 kcal/kg dry food or 175 g of a 1,000 kcal/kg wet food.
How much should a 2 kg kitten eat?
About 294 kcal a day: 74 g of dry food or 294 g of wet food at the energy values in the chart.
How much should a 3 kg kitten eat?
About 399 kcal a day: 100 g of dry food or 399 g of wet food.
Does the chart use age or weight?
Weight. Age helps you judge whether the weight is on track, and kittens under 4 weeks need a vet's feeding plan.
How many meals does a kitten need?
3 to 4 meals a day is the pattern the calculator uses.
When should I switch to adult food?
Usually around a year of age, but ask your vet. Switch gradually over about a week.
How many treats can a kitten have?
Up to about 10% of daily calories, which is 18 kcal for a 1 kg kitten and 29 kcal for a 2 kg kitten.
Sources
- NRC (2006) Nutrient Requirements of Dogs and Cats, National Academies Press
- Merck Veterinary Manual — Nutritional Requirements of Small Animals
- AAFP/AAHA (2021) Feline Life Stage Guidelines. Journal of Feline Medicine and Surgery 23:211-233
Related calculators
- Kitten Food CalculatorFind out how many calories a growing kitten needs and how much food that is.
- Cat Food Cans per Day CalculatorFind out how many cans of wet food your cat needs each day, week and month.
- Puppy & Kitten Age CalculatorFind your puppy's or kitten's exact age in weeks, months and days from its birth date.
Keep reading
- How Much Should a Kitten Eat? By AgeHow much to feed a kitten by weight and age: the 2.5 times RER rule, grams of wet and dry food, meals per day, weaning and when to switch to adult food.
- How Much Wet Food Should a Kitten Eat?How much wet food a kitten needs: grams and cans by weight at 2.5 times RER, combining wet with dry kitten food, meal frequency, weaning and safe storage.
- Cat Feeding Chart by WeightA cat feeding chart by weight with daily calories and grams of dry food, wet food and a half-and-half mix for neutered adult cats, plus treat allowances.