Cat Feeding Schedules by Age

These are practical schedules you can load into a feeder. Use the Portion Calculator for the grams/cups; use this guide for how many meals and when.

Rule of thumb: adjust if weight changes more than ~5% in 4–6 weeks. Water should be available at all times.

Kittens 0–6 months

• Target: 4–6 meals/day (small, frequent).
• Example times (6 meals): 7:00, 10:00, 13:00, 16:00, 19:00, 22:00.
• Growth energy is high; keep portions small and steady.

Kittens 6–12 months

• Target: 3–4 meals/day.
• Example (4 meals): 7:00, 12:00, 17:00, 22:00.
• Begin to taper toward adult pattern near 10–12 months.

Adults (1–7 years)

• Target: 2–4 meals/day (most cats do well on 3).
• Example (3 meals): 7:00, 17:00, 22:00.
• Indoor/low activity? Prefer smaller, more frequent meals.

Seniors (7+ years)

• Target: 3–4 smaller meals/day.
• Example (4 meals): 7:00, 12:30, 18:00, 22:00.
• Smaller meals aid digestion; monitor weight and appetite changes.

Snack windows (optional)

Short “snack” (5–10 g) helps with pill time or training:

• Morning: 09:30–10:30.
• Evening: 20:00–21:00.

Night feeding

• If night raids happen, add a small 23:00–00:00 meal.
• Keep it small to avoid overfeeding.

Quick tables

Meals/day by stage

Stage	Meals/day
Kitten 0–6 mo	4–6
Kitten 6–12 mo	3–4
Adult	2–4
Senior	3–4

Example time blocks

Meals	Times (local)
2	7:00, 19:00
3	7:00, 17:00, 22:00
4	7:00, 12:30, 18:00, 22:00
6	7:00, 10:00, 13:00, 16:00, 19:00, 22:00

Tips

• Keep meals within ±10 minutes for habit consistency.
• Use smaller, frequent meals for cats prone to vomiting after big meals.
• If switching foods, transition over 5–7 days.

When to talk to your vet

• Sudden weight change, vomiting, diarrhea, or appetite loss.
• Medical diets (e.g., urinary, renal, diabetic) need custom plans.