Newborn kittens rely on their mothers’ milk, but after a few weeks, they need more substantial food. Some cat owners get a little anxious managing this transition, but don’t worry – read on to know how much to feed a 3 month old kitten.
While each kitten has its own needs and each cat food has its own nutritional content, an average kitten eating average cat food needs about 1/2 cup of dry food a day.
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How Much Should I Feed My 3 Month Old Kitten
Kittens are a lot more active than the average adult cat. They spend their days running, playing, pouncing, and being busy growing bigger. Despite their small stomachs, they actually need more calories than cat adults.
The change in caloric needs is quick, though: a kitten 6 months old already has much lower requirements than three month old kittens!
But let’s not get ahead of ourselves just yet.
How Much Food Does a 3 Month Old Kitten Need in a Day?
There are many websites with a kitten feeding chart available for your reference. These charts list how often to feed your kitten and how much, arranged by weight.
An average 3 month old kitten weighs 3 pounds. A 3lb kitten needs about 225 calories daily, or somewhere between 1/3 to 1 cup of dry food, in 24 hours.
If you notice your kitten looking hungry, you may need to increase its portions, or lessen its portions if it always leaves leftovers!
Generally speaking, you know your 13 weeks old kitten is doing well if it is steadily growing and putting on weight. Up until the 5 month mark, you want your kitten to put on 1 pound per month.
Is Wet Food or Dry Food Better for a 3 Month Old Kitten?
At the 2 month mark, most kittens are weaned, have grown their teeth, and can eat solids. But with both wet and dry cat food options available on the market – which is better as 3 month old kitten food?
Each type has its pros and cons.
- Wet cat food can help keep your kitten hydrated but can cause cavities and other dental problems because wet food sticks to their teeth more.
- Dry cat food is simpler to dispense to your kitten and is less likely to cause tooth issues.
However, it requires more vigilance: many cats enjoy nibbling on their dry food throughout the day. You may accidentally overfeed your kitten, and make it overweight.
Though an important question, when deciding what to feed your 3 month old kitten, checking the foods’ nutritional content and ingredients is more beneficial than wet versus dry!
Read more: How much wet food to feed a kitten?
Frequently Asked Questions
What should a 3 month old kitten eat?
Kitten cat food is packed with more protein, calories, fat, and other nutrients per bite compared to adult cat food, so feeding your kitten food for older cats may result in malnourishment.
As an added word of caution, you should avoid giving human food to our young 3 month old kittens, too!
Whether you go with wet or dry cat food, ensure you only feed your kitten something formulated explicitly for its age group.
How often should a 3 month old kitten eat?
For young kittens, it is generally advised to feed them throughout the day rather than keeping them on a feeding schedule. Five small, regular meals is a good target.
Remember that the exact number of meals and how often to feed your kitten is less important than ensuring your kitten gets its daily caloric requirements – not too much more or less.
Can you overfeed a 3 month old kitten?
It’s very difficult to overfeed a kitten because they burn through calories in their daily rowdy play sessions (typical 3 month old kitten behavior!) and also because they are growing so fast.
However, it is still possible. Overfeeding your kitten can trigger diarrhea and result in dehydration. Your kitten may also become overweight, too.
As cats get heavier, they move less because it takes more effort to move their stocky bodies. If left unchecked for years, long-term obesity can eventually lead to sicknesses.
Why is my 3 month old kitten hungry?
There are several possible reasons why your three month old kitten is always hungry:
- It is highly active. The more calories you burn, the more calories you need to replenish.
- Its food is not appropriate or not enough. You may not be giving your kitten enough food, or you may not be feeding it quality cat food. Try adding to its portion size or trying another cat food brand.
- Your kitten is bored. Maybe your kitten lacks stimulation and so would rather wile away its time eating. Try getting it some new toys!
- Your kitten has worms. Hopefully, it’s not the case, but your kitten may have parasites in its gut that rob it of its nutrients. If your kitten hasn’t had it yet, talk to your vet about deworming.
Conclusion
Our kittens are playful, energetic little balls of fur that must be fed constantly. But you don’t need to worry about how much to feed a 3 month old kitten for too long – time flies, and before you know it, you’ll have a teenager on your hands.
While you can, we hope you enjoy each stage you will experience with your kitten, with each of their ups and downs and in-betweens!
I am Amy Sawy, a Doctor of Veterinary Medicine (DVM) graduate from the University of Kansas. y husband, Dr. Plummer, and I own a veterinary clinic in Phillipsburg, Kansas. In addition to my professional background, I am a devoted pet owner myself, with a household that includes dogs, rodents, and most notably, cats – a total of five felines in my home.
In 2020, I joined an organization as a professional writer, leveraging my experience and collaborating with my team to deliver the most valuable information for your cat’s care.
