How many times should I fill my cats food bowl a day?

Question

I just brought home a 4 month kitty. I was wondering if anyone knew how many times I need to feed him. I usually fill his food bowl in the morning before I go to work at around 7am. Then I fill it throughout the day, about two more times. The food bowl holds about a cup and a half of food. I am overfeeding my cat?

Answer 1

the amount a kitten will eat depends on the quality of the food -
foods from grocery stores and wal marts are crap - alot of filler and little nutrition so the cat needs to eat more - filler is corn and by-products (beaks feet feathers)

if you feed a better quality kitten food your kitten will eat less... poop less... and have fewer health problems later on

put it this way I have 2 adult cats and I dont feed the bowl as much as you are....

cats/kittens need food available ALL THE TIME.. their tummies are made that way

** also you said you just brought it home?? did you find it or adopt from a reputable place - what I am asking is does it need to be dewormed???

Answer 2

Since you go out for work, if I were you, I'd feed the kitten half of a 5.5 oz can (wet) cat food in the morning and the other half when you get home. But leave a cup-and-a half of dry kibble in a separate bowl for kitty to nibble on through the day - and don't forget to always leave a fresh bowl of water for him too. I would not feed any cat on a diet of just dry kibble no matter what others say. Cats need water to keep their bladder, urethra and kidneys healthy. You might have to pay for the convenience of a dry kibble only diet in enormous vet bills when kitty is 5 yrs old or older. The downside of feeding a cat on a diet of wet canned or fresh food is that you have to brush its teeth at least 3 times a week. I brush my cat's teeth every night.

Answer 3

First, I'm going to have to disagree with the previous poster calling Hill's Science Diet a cheap grocery store food. You CANNOT purchase Science Diet in the grocery store, & it is not cheap. My male eats Hill's Science Diet Feline CD prescription food for his urinary tract health (he had a blockage when he was young & I didn't know any better about the cheap foods). I buy it from the vet. For a ten-pound bag it costs $25.14.

OK, I'm off that soap box.

It sounds like too much food for the kitten, but if it's not vomiting, maybe it's just growing that fast.

I keep a constant supply. Let's see . . . they have two bowls side-by-side (supposed to be food/water thing, but I have a water jug-type waterer) that hold about 3 cups each. OK, so 6 cups total. I have 3 grown cats -- one is overweight, but that's a different story. I fill the bowls about every 3 days. So, that's 2 cups a day split between 3 adult cats. They regulate their eating rate, though.

Answer 4

Kittens are growing very rapidly and need to have food available when they are hungry. That seems like a large quantity however and if you are feeding a cheap grocery store food (Purina, Science Diet, Iam's, Whiskas or Meow Mix) you are not meeting the kitten's nutritional needs so he is eating a lot and not being nourished. Male cats should always have canned food in their diets. Natural Balance has quality canned and dry food and I have found it in our local pet discount store. Even PetCo may be carrying it.

Eagle Pack, Solid Gold (Katzen Flocken) are also high quality foods in both canned and dry. Those two companies have websites where you can put in your zip code and find a local retailer.

Answer 5

well i probably would feed him once in the morning and then once again at dinnertime but you really shouldnt limit what a kitten eats they are growing...but if you fill it twice and that makes about 3 cups if your bowl holds a cup and a half maybe just 2 cups a day would be fine usually on the bags of food they give a reccomended daily allowance

Answer 6

Your kitten should be eating between 1/3 cup and 3/4 cup of food a day. You can measure out the total for the day and split it into 3-4 servings.

Answer 7

I usually fill my cats bowl in the morning before school and again at night if the cat looks or acts hungary if you feed him to often it will get real sick

Answer 8

depending on his size. i feed my cat 2-3 times a day. he is like 11 years old. he is the perfect size 4 his age. when he was a kitten i fed him like 5-6 times a day in small portions.

Answer 9

Feed on demand for a kitten, although I have no basis for this. Make sure your kitten (who is not a cat yet) has been dewormed. Excessive appetite can be an indication of a parasite.

Answer 10

Once in the morning and once in the evening. If feeding it with pouches. Or feed on demand as long as it doesn't start piling on the weight. Ideal weight: you should just be able to see a slight indication of the ribs for cat to be at it's ideal weight.