Most house cats readily adapt to different types of feeding schedules. Kittens can be fed free-choice (i.e. having food available all day), or using portion-controlled meals. When using portion-controlled meal feeding, two or three meals per day are preferable to one meal per day. Because of their small stomachs and high energy needs, growing kittens should be fed at least three to four times daily until they reach six months of age. Here are a few feeding tips for your new kitten:

If you provide food to your kitten throughout the day, a fresh bowl of food should be offered daily. Any cat food that remains in the bowl after 24 hours should be discarded before cleaning and refilling the bowl.
If you are meal-feeding, your kitten should be fed at approximately the same time each day. While your cat is eating, respect his right to eat in peace and do not disturb him. Make sure that you give him at least 20 minutes to eat before removing his bowl.

Helpful Tip

Cats are Nibblers Who Enjoy Leisurely Meals

Like many behaviors, several aspects of the domestic cat’s eating behavior can be traced back to its ancestor, the African wildcat. Wildcats are similar in size to the domestic cat and their primary prey consists of small rodents such as field mice and voles. Because their prey is small, wildcats hunt and eat frequently throughout the day – making them a “nibbling predator”. This type of feeding behavior is persists in our domestic cat. If offered food free-choice, most cats prefer to nibble at their food throughout the day and evening, usually consuming between 9 and 16 small meals within a 24-hour period.

Also, as a result of their solitary nature, wildcats do not need to share meals, nor do they compete with each other over killed prey. Our domestic cats reflect this history in their tendency to consume food slowly and in the absence of strong food-guarding behaviors in the presence of other familiar cats. This contrasts sharply with dogs, who typically compete for food and may increase their rate of eating or guard their bowl whenever another dog is present.