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My 3-month-old kittens prefer wet food. How much should I feed them?

Updated on September 23rd, 2025

Pet's info: Cat | Domestic Shorthair | Female | unspayed

Hi! We just adopted two kittens recently and I am giving them meals three times a day. In the morning when we give them dry food they don't seem to like it much and don't finish their meal but when I give them dry and wet food mixed, they really enjoy it. Could you please guide me about the right selection of meals and the portion size for 3 months old kittens? Thanks so much.

3 Answers

Most Helpful Answer

Dr. Elizabeth

Answered By Dr. Elizabeth

Veterinarian

Published on December 13th, 2017

Congratulations on adding the two kittens to your family!!! I always say two kittens are better than one as they play with each other so well!
I generally do not limit the food on kittens this age. It is important to remember that they are forming their eating habits now so offering both canned and dry is a good thing. Certainly they are showing a preference but in general, you don't want them to become picky.
I would split one small can of kitten food between both kittens at this time. I would leave the dry food out at all times for them to munch on through out the day. Make sure to be offering a high quality kitten dry food. In general, kittens don't struggle with their weight but if you notice they are starting to get heavy, then you will need to moderate food. At this age, the kittens likely eat about 1/2-3/4 cup of food per kitten per day. This will decrease when they become adults (kittens are growing so they eat more). Adult cats eat generally 3/4 - 1 cup total per day. I hope you enjoy your new kittens! Please post again if you have any further questions!
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Related Answers from Veterinarians

  • Answered By Ricardo Fernandez, DVM

    Veterinarian, Veterinary Oncology Resident

    Thanks for using Petco Pet Education Center, formerly Petcoach! This is usually the case with kitties that usually prefer wet food. It is perfectly fine to mostly feed them wet food. The exact amount of calories they need per day will be somewhat dependent on their weight though assuming they are of the typical kitten size for that age, they should be eating about 250-300 calories per day. Every diet will have a different caloric content so you would just have to check the caloric content of whatever you are feeding them. This information is usually online or in the can or bag of food. Good luck!

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    1Pet Parents found this answer helpful

  • Answered By Andrea M. Brodie, DVM

    Veterinarian

    Published on July 29th, 2018

    In my professional opinion , I prefer feeding canned kitten food. It provides them with a minimum of moisture, and is less saturated with carbohydrates. Let your kitten eat as much as he likes at this age. Feed him three times a day. He is still growing and should be very active, so needs energy for both growing and play.

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    4Pet Parents found this answer helpful

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How much to feed my two 5-month Sphynx kittens if one overeats?
The amount to feed does vary based upon the activity level, calories within the food and the individual metabolism. Feeding multiple cats is hard when one wants to over eat. A good diet to feed kittens is Royal Canin Kitten Spay/Neuter. https://www.royalcanin.com/us/cats/products/retail-products/kitten-spayed-neutered-dry-cat-food It is formulated for growth but will help to decrease the amount of fat stored in the body. Most kittens will eat about 1/2-3/4 cup at this age BUT this is highly variable. A good option is to separate the kittens during feeding time into separate rooms with the door shut. Don't leave food down at all times. Feed them 3 times a day. Another option is to purchase a smart feeder that reads the microchips. You can program this to limit how much food the heavier kitten eats. I hope this helps and please feel free to post any additional questions.
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My kittens prefer wet food. Is feeding adult wet food & kibble okay?
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What's the best food for my kitten, how much, and how often?
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How much food should my 5-week-old kitten eat daily if she's hungry?
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