How Much Should a Cat Eat? Feeding Chart by Weight + How Often to Feed

By the PETME2 Team · Updated October 2026 · General information, not veterinary advice

How much should a cat eat a day?

There is no single number that fits every cat. A small, older, sleepy cat needs much less than a young, active cat. And two foods that look the same can have very different calories.

That is why vets usually talk about calories, not cups. Once you know about how many calories your cat needs, you can turn it into cups or cans using the label on your cat's food.

For a healthy, spayed or neutered indoor adult cat, a common general guideline is about 20 to 26 calories per pound of body weight per day. Very active cats may need more. Cats that need to lose weight usually need less, and your vet should set that number.

Cat feeding chart by weight

This chart is a general guideline for healthy indoor adult cats at a healthy weight. It is a starting point, not a rule. Your food's feeding guide and your vet's advice come first.

*Based on a dry food with about 400 calories per 8 oz cup. Many dry foods fall somewhere around 350 to 450, so check yours. **Based on 3 oz cans with about 80 calories each. Wet food calories vary a lot, so check the label. If you feed both dry and wet, split the daily calories between them.

Important: if your cat is overweight, do not feed by its current weight. A 15 lb cat that should weigh 11 lb needs a plan based on its ideal weight, and weight loss should be slow. Ask your vet for a safe target.

How to use your food label

1. Find the calories on the bag or can. It is often written as "kcal/cup" or "kcal/can".
2. Find the feeding guide on the same label. It shows a range by weight.
3. Start at the lower or middle part of that range for an indoor cat.
4. Measure with a real measuring cup or a kitchen scale, not a coffee mug.
5. Remember treats. Many vets suggest keeping treats to about 10% of daily calories.

How much dry food should a cat eat a day?

As a general guideline, a healthy indoor adult cat needs about 1/3 cup of dry food a day at 5 lb, about 1/2 to 2/3 cup at 10 lb, and about 3/4 to 7/8 cup at 15 lb. These amounts assume a dry food with about 400 calories per cup, so check the calories on your bag.

Use this dry food chart as a starting point for how much dry food to feed a cat per day. It uses the same calorie ranges as the chart above, for healthy indoor adult cats at a healthy weight.

*Based on a dry food with about 400 calories per 8 oz measuring cup. 1 cup = 16 tablespoons (tbsp). If your food has about 350 calories per cup, feed a little more; if it has about 450, feed a little less. If your cat is overweight, ask your vet for a target based on its ideal weight, not its current weight.

How to work out the dry food amount for your cat's food

1. Find your cat's daily calories in the chart (or ask your vet).
2. Find the calories per cup on your dry food bag. It is often written as "kcal/cup".
3. Divide the daily calories by the calories per cup. For example, 240 ÷ 400 = 0.6 cup a day, a little over 1/2 cup.
4. Divide that by the number of meals. Two meals of 0.3 cup each is a little under 1/3 cup per meal.

How much wet and dry food should you feed a cat?

If you feed both, keep the total daily calories the same and split them between wet and dry. For example, a 10 lb cat that needs about 240 calories a day and eats one 3 oz can of wet food (about 80 calories) needs about 160 calories from dry food. With a dry food of about 400 calories per cup, that is about 0.4 cup, or a little over 1/3 cup (about 6 to 7 tbsp). Check the calories on both labels and ask your vet what balance suits your cat.

How often should you feed a cat?

Most adult cats should eat at least 2 meals a day, about 8 to 12 hours apart, and kittens need 3 to 4 small meals.

How often to feed a cat depends on age and your routine. Here is a simple general guide:

• Kittens (under about 6 months): 3 to 4 small meals a day. Their stomachs are small and they are growing fast. Use a kitten food and follow its label.
• Older kittens (about 6 to 12 months): usually 2 to 3 meals a day.
• Adult cats (1 to about 10 years): at least 2 meals a day, about 8 to 12 hours apart. Many cats like 3 to 4 smaller meals even more.
• Senior cats: often do well with small, frequent meals. Older cats can lose or gain weight more easily, so regular vet checks matter.

In nature, cats eat many small meals across the day and night. That is why some cats beg loudly at 5 a.m. Splitting the same daily amount into more meals can help a cat feel less hungry between meals, without adding calories.

Free feeding vs scheduled meals

Free feeding means leaving a full bowl out all day. It is easy, but many indoor cats eat more than they need this way. It also makes it hard to notice if your cat stops eating, which can be an early sign of a problem.

Scheduled meals mean you serve a measured amount at set times. This makes it easier to control portions, see how much your cat eats, and spot changes early. For most indoor cats, scheduled meals are the easier way to keep a healthy weight.

A simple cat feeding schedule

A cat feeding schedule does not need to be complicated. Pick times that fit your day, and keep them the same, including weekends. Cats love routine.

The key rule: divide your cat's daily amount by the number of meals. More meals should not mean more food. If your cat needs about 1/2 cup a day and eats 4 meals, each meal is about 1/8 cup.

How do you know if you are feeding your cat too much or too little?

Check your cat's body shape: at a healthy weight, you can feel the ribs easily and see a waist from above.

The scale and your hands tell you more than the chart. Check your cat's body every few weeks:

• Healthy weight: you can feel the ribs easily under a thin layer of fat, and you can see a waist from above.
• Too much food: ribs are hard to feel, there is no waist, or the belly sags and swings. Slowly cut back a little and talk to your vet.
• Too little food: ribs, spine, or hip bones are easy to see, or your cat is losing weight. Talk to your vet.

Also call your vet if your cat suddenly eats much less, stops eating, or seems very hungry all the time. Cats should not go without food for long, and changes in appetite can be a sign of a health issue.

Can an automatic feeder help with portion control?

Yes. A feeder with portion control serves the same measured amount of dry food at set times, which makes it easier to stick to your cat's daily total.

Measuring food twice a day is easy. Measuring it four times a day, or at 5 a.m., is harder. This is where an automatic feeder helps. You fill the tank with dry food, set the meal times and portion sizes in the app, and the feeder serves each meal on time, even when you are at work or asleep.

• Same amount every meal: portion control helps you stick to the daily total.
• More, smaller meals: easy to split the day into 3, 4 or more meals.
• Early breakfast without you: the feeder can serve the 5 a.m. meal so your cat learns to wait for the feeder, not you.
• A steady schedule: meals come at the same time on weekdays and weekends.

PETME2 automatic feeders are made for dry food (kibble) only. If your cat also eats wet food, serve the wet meals by hand. Read more in our guide to automatic cat feeders and wet food.

A few options from our automatic feeder collection:

• The 3L Automatic Cat Feeder with Camera has app scheduling, portion control, a 1080P camera and 2-way audio, so you can watch your cat eat. See our camera feeder guide.
• The 3L Dual Bowl Feeder (Black) and White serve meals into two stainless steel bowls, good for two cats on the same food. See how to feed two cats with one feeder.
• The 5L Elevated Dual Bowl Feeder has a bigger tank and two stainless steel bowls.

Tips for feeding your cat the right amount

• Weigh your cat once a month. Step on a scale holding your cat, then without, and subtract.
• Change food slowly. Mix new food with old over about 7 to 10 days to avoid upset stomachs.
• Re-check the amount when you switch food. The new food may have more or fewer calories per cup.
• Count treats and toppers. Small extras add up fast.
• Keep fresh water close by, but a few feet away from the food. Cats on dry food get very little water from their meals. Learn more in how much water a cat should drink.

Frequently asked questions

How much dry food should I feed my cat?

Feed your cat the calories it needs, turned into cups using the calories listed on your dry food bag. As a general guideline, a healthy indoor adult cat of about 10 lb needs roughly 220 to 260 calories a day, which is about 1/2 to 2/3 cup of a dry food with about 400 calories per cup. Check your bag and ask your vet.

How many cups of dry food should a cat eat per day?

As a general guideline, most healthy indoor adult cats eat about 1/3 cup to 7/8 cup of dry food a day, depending on weight. That is about 1/3 cup for a 5 lb cat, about 1/2 to 2/3 cup for a 10 lb cat, and about 3/4 to 7/8 cup for a 15 lb cat, based on a dry food with about 400 calories per cup. Foods vary, so check the bag.

How much wet and dry food should I feed my cat?

Keep the total daily calories the same and split them between wet and dry. For example, a 10 lb cat that needs about 240 calories a day and eats one 3 oz can of about 80 calories needs about 160 calories from dry food, a little over 1/3 cup of a kibble with about 400 calories per cup. Check both labels and ask your vet.

How do I calculate how much dry food to feed my cat?

Divide your cat's daily calories by the calories per cup on your dry food bag. For example, a cat that needs about 240 calories a day, eating a food with about 400 calories per cup, needs about 0.6 cup a day, a little over 1/2 cup. Then split that amount across your cat's meals.

How much wet food should a cat eat a day?

As a rough guide, a 10 lb adult cat might eat about three 3 oz cans a day if wet food is its only food. Wet food calories vary, so use the label on your can. If you also feed dry food, reduce the wet food to keep the daily total the same.

How often should I feed my cat?

Most adult cats should eat at least 2 meals a day, about 8 to 12 hours apart. Kittens need 3 to 4 meals. Many adult cats are happier with 3 or 4 smaller meals made from the same daily amount.

Is it OK to feed a cat once a day?

Most vets suggest at least two meals a day for adult cats. One big meal can leave a cat very hungry for a long time. If you have a reason to feed once a day, ask your vet first.

Why is my cat always hungry?

It can be habit, boredom, long gaps between meals, or a food that does not fill your cat up. Splitting the same amount into more meals often helps. But a big increase in appetite can also be a sign of a health problem, so talk to your vet if it is new.

How much should a kitten eat?

Kittens need more calories per pound than adults and should eat 3 to 4 small meals a day. Use a food made for kittens and follow its feeding guide. Your vet can help you adjust as your kitten grows.

When should I stop feeding kitten food?

Most cats switch from kitten food to adult food at around 12 months old. Some large, slow-growing breeds may stay on kitten food a little longer. Ask your vet when to switch, and change foods gradually over about 7 to 10 days.

When is a cat considered a senior?

Many vets consider cats seniors from around 10 years old, though every cat ages differently. Senior cats can lose or gain weight more easily, so regular weigh-ins and vet checks matter. Ask your vet whether your older cat's food or portions should change.

Should I free feed my cat?

Free feeding is easy but can lead to weight gain in many indoor cats, and it makes it harder to notice if your cat stops eating. Scheduled, measured meals are usually easier to manage. An automatic feeder can serve those meals for you.

Is dry cat food bad for cats?

No. A complete and balanced dry food is fine for most healthy cats. Measure portions, because dry food is calorie-dense and easy to overfeed, and keep fresh water available at all times. Your vet may suggest more wet food for some health conditions.

Why does my cat throw up after eating dry food?

A common reason is eating too fast. Smaller, more frequent meals or a slow-feeder bowl can help. If your cat vomits often, loses weight, or seems unwell, see your vet, because vomiting can have many causes.

Does dry cat food go bad?

Yes. Dry cat food has a best-by date, and once the bag is open it slowly goes stale. Many brands suggest using an opened bag within about 4 to 6 weeks, so check your bag's advice and keep it sealed in a cool, dry place.

This article is general information, not veterinary advice. If your pet seems unwell, talk to your veterinarian.