When you first bring home your kitten, you might be unsure of how much or when to feed him or her!
How much food should I feed my Bengal kitten?
Growing Bengal kittens need an incredible amount of food. They grow like weeds and are highly active. Don’t ever free feed your cat, but don’t limit a kitten’s food intake either! Even a kitten who appears to be a little hefty will outgrow this in his next growth spurt.
Once a kitten turns 1 year old, they’re no longer a kitten and you can start exercising some portion control.
The recommended daily feeding amount is 2%-4% of the cat’s ideal body weight
Kittens: Kittens can easily require double the food you’d expect for their weight. Again, no need to limit them!
Once your kitten hits about 10-12 months of age, his appetite will drop and he’ll start eating the portions of a normal adult cat.
Adults: How much you feed your adult will depend on his activity level. We suggest starting at the middle of the recommended range – about 3% of his ideal body weight – and adjust from there. For example, try feeding a 10 pound cat roughly 5 oz. of food per day. Pay attention to whether he seems to be begging for more, or if he left some on his plate. Also, keep an eye on his weight, and adjust his food portions until you find a good balance.
Here’s a handy calculator to figure to calculate your daily portions at 2%-4%.
How often should I feed my Bengal kitten?
Kittens: Your total daily feeding amount should be split between 3-4 meals.
Adults: Once an adult, you can feed 2-3 times per day.
I’d recommend finding a schedule that works for you and sticking to it. If there’s no expected routine, your Bengal could learn to become a beggar.
Other feeding tips
- If you’re not sure what kind of food to feed your Bengal, check out this post!
- If refrigerated, try warming the food: Many Bengals like their food warmed to “mouse body” temperature. If they’re being picky, warming may help (but don’t microwave it).
- Use stainless or glass food dishes: Wash in hot soapy water or in the dishwasher after each meal. This will prevent feline acne caused by dirty dishes.
- Use shallow dishes, or plates: Serve their meals on disposable plates for easy cleanup, or use glass or stainless plates or shallow dishes to serve. This will help prevent whisker fatigue (yes, that’s a thing!).