How much food should the average 6 month old kitten be eating?

Question

My kitten is packing on the pounds! She eats a lot, and well, it shows. I haven't felt comfortable cutting back on her food because I know she's still growing, and what if she needs all that food? But I'm starting to think she couldn't possibly need that much because she's getting so chunky, and she's only 6 months old! So how much should I be feeding her, in order to continue to promote healthy growth but prevent obesity?

Answer 1

1 1/2 to 2 cups a day.

Answer 2

You should let kittens and puppies eat as much as they want. They usually will not over eat at that age and it is important for their growth to eat. Kittens tend to be a bit chunky and will usually even out when they are done growing. Give it some time but if you are truly worried bring the kitten in to the vet and get it examined. Maybe your cat is an over eater (cats don't usually tend to over eat, it does happen though sometimes)

Answer 3

Kittens hit growth spurts just like kids. She is probably getting ready for one. That is what our kittens did - and all of the sudden they were half an inch taller the next day. Its gonna be like that for the next couple months. I know its a lot of food, but there is nothing to worry about. She won't reach her full size until ten months minimum up to one year so at six months there is still a good amount of growing left to do. My six month old kitten had one of those little belly sacks too starting but dont worry about it. Kittens up to one year should have access to as much food as they can eat. I have never really heard of an obese kitten. The following I have cut and paste from Petco.com it should set your mind at ease....

"Feeding a kitten is relatively simple: Just give him as much as he will eat. Kittens rarely overeat to the point of obesity, and keeping food readily available ensures your frisky pet gets enough food to create all that energy. Kittens run the risk of developing potentially life-threatening hypoglycemia, (dangerously low blood sugar) if their intense caloric needs are not met.

Give Your Kitten All He Wants
Free-choice feeding is the best way to feed a kitten. Its supereasy for you - just fill Tiggers bowl with dry food and let your him grab snacks throughout the day to ease his hunger pangs.

What About Canned Food?
If you give your kitten canned food, feeding him set meals makes more sense. Offer him three meals a day until hes 6 months old, then decrease his meals to twice a day. Free-choice feeding with canned food isnt a good idea because these foods can grow harmful bacteria and lose their flavor when left out all day.

Dont know how much to feed your kitten? Start with the recommendations on the packaging. If your kitten leaves food in the bowl after 20 minutes, cut back by 10 percent until he can clean his plate. If he licks the bowl and still seems hungry, increase meal sizes by 10 percent until your little guy seems satisfied. "

Answer 4

ok, I am a definite cat lover and there is cat food normally at wal mart that is for kittens that are gaining alot of weight. if you don't get that than well you could get normal kitten food because usually there is less fat for the cats in that, but I got the kitten food for fat cats and then it worked great on my cats.

Answer 5

Cats nibble at food, they don't gorge like dogs. Put smaller portions in bowl, ya' don't need ta' pile it in. When cats bowl is low add some but not ta' exceed the amount you had initially given to him or her. Don't forget the water (very important), if ya' don't then you might see the cat drinkin' out of the commode or a leaky faucet in tub.

Answer 6

when i got one of my cats, which is marble tabby, she was so small. but as she got closer to a year, she kept eating and eating. now she ways 20 lb., but shes fine. ur cat is getting closer to her full sizer, don't worry. one year old cats is around were they keep comsuming food, like a teenager which is at the eating stage. and my cat is heavy but she still runs around and plays with the other cats or "hunts" (hunter out of the 5) so take a breather

Answer 7

I know kids get a bit chubby just before a growth spurt. I'd worry when she's full grown.

Once she's 10 months old or so, if she's still fat, feed her reduced calorie foods.

http://www.thepetcenter.com/imtop/catweight.html

Answer 8

kittens eat as much as they want as they are growing and need all the nutrients and vitamins ...when she gets 12months then you cut it down to 2cups a day .