## How often should you feed your cat? A practical guide ⏰🍽️
When I first brought Didi home, I had no idea how often to feed him. Every website gave different advice. So I asked our vet, experimented, and landed on a routine that actually works. Here’s what I learned.
### Kittens vs adults vs seniors
**Kittens (under 6 months)** 🐱 — 3-4 small meals a day. They’re growing fast and have tiny stomachs. Free-feeding high-quality kitten food is common, just watch portion sizes.
**Adult cats (1-7 years)** 🐈 — 2 meals a day is the sweet spot. Cats are crepuscular (most active at dawn and dusk), so feeding around 7-8am and 6-7pm matches their natural rhythm.
**Senior cats (8+ years)** 🐈⬛ — 2-3 smaller meals. Older cats may have dental issues or slower digestion, so smaller portions more frequently is gentler on their system.
### Free feeding vs scheduled meals
**Free feeding** (leaving food out all day):
✅ Works for kittens and cats that self-regulate well
❌ Can lead to obesity in cats that eat out of boredom
**Scheduled meals**:
✅ You control portion sizes and monitor appetite
✅ Helps with weight management
✅ Builds routine (Didi knows exactly when it’s dinner time!)
❌ Takes more discipline
### How much to feed
This is tricky because every cat food has different calorie density. As a rough rule:
> 🧮 **Need exact portions?** Use our [Cat Feeding Calculator →](https://didicat.pet/cat-feeding-calculator/) to get precise daily portions based on your cat’s weight and food type.
– An average 10lb (4.5kg) cat needs about 200-250 calories per day
– Check the feeding guide on your food package
– Divide total daily amount by number of meals
For Didi (12lb golden British Shorthair), he gets about 1/2 cup dry food total across 2 meals, plus a [wet food serving](https://didicat.pet/best-wet-cat-food-what-didi-actually-eats) in the evening.
### My feeding routine with Didi
🕗 **7:30 AM** — Dry breakfast (1/4 cup)
🕐 **12:00 PM** — Small treat or dental snack
🕕 **6:00 PM** — Wet food dinner (half can)
🌙 **9:30 PM** — Tiny dry food top-up before bed
### Watch for red flags 🚩
– Eating way more or less than usual
– Vomiting shortly after meals
– Obsessive food begging (could be medical)
– Rapid weight gain or loss
Consistency is everything with cats. Once you find a schedule that works, stick with it. Didi actually waits by his bowl at exactly 6pm every evening — they’re better at keeping time than we are! ⏰😸
📖 **Related reads:**
• [Best Cat Food for Indoor Cats →](https://didicat.pet/best-cat-food-for-indoor-cats-2024/)
• [Wet Food vs Dry Food — Which Is Better? →](https://didicat.pet/wet-food-vs-dry-food-for-cats-which-is-better/)
• [Best Wet Cat Food: What Didi Actually Eats →](https://didicat.pet/best-wet-cat-food-what-didi-actually-eats/)
🐱 More in Cat Care