Kitten Feeding Schedules by Age

Kittens grow faster in their first year than at any other point in life, and their feeding schedule needs to keep pace with that. A kitten's stomach is small, so they need calorie-dense food in frequent, smaller meals rather than the one or two meals typical of an adult cat.

0–4 weeks: mother's milk or kitten formula

If the mother is present and healthy, kittens should nurse. Orphaned or rejected kittens need a veterinary-approved kitten milk replacer — never cow's milk — fed every 2–3 hours around the clock for the first two weeks.

4–8 weeks: weaning

Weaning usually starts around week four. Mix wet kitten food with a little warm water or replacer into a gruel and offer it alongside continued nursing. By eight weeks most kittens are eating solid kitten food on their own, typically 4 meals a day.

2–6 months: rapid growth

This is the highest-calorie-need window of a cat's life. Feed a food specifically labeled for kittens or "all life stages," 3–4 measured meals a day. Free-feeding dry kitten food is common at this stage since kittens are burning through energy quickly, but weigh your kitten periodically and adjust portions against the feeding guide on the bag.

6–12 months: tapering toward adult feeding

Meals can typically drop to 2–3 times a day. Large-breed kittens (like Maine Coons) mature more slowly and may benefit from staying on kitten food a few months longer than smaller breeds.

Switching to adult food

Most cats can transition to adult food between 10 and 12 months old, though this varies by breed and vet guidance. Transition over 7–10 days by gradually increasing the ratio of new food to old:

1. Days 1–3: 25% adult food, 75% kitten food
2. Days 4–6: 50/50
3. Days 7–9: 75% adult food, 25% kitten food
4. Day 10: 100% adult food

Kittens should never be fed a calorie-restricted or weight-management adult food — their growing bodies and brains need the extra fat and protein density that kitten formulas provide.

Watch for

A kitten that's suddenly uninterested in food for more than a few hours, or that seems weak, cold, or has diarrhea, should see a vet promptly — young kittens have very little reserve to fall back on.