When your kitten reaches about one year of age, it’s time to switch it to an adult diet and feeding routine. Adult cats have different nutritional needs from kittens: they need fewer calories per pound of body weight and a different balance of nutrients. Here’s what to feed an adult cat to keep it healthy, fit and playful.
Compared with a kitten, an adult cat:
- eats fewer, larger meals: usually two or more meals a day instead of three or four;
- needs fewer calories, because it has stopped growing;
- needs an adult food with a balance of protein, fat, vitamins and minerals designed for maintenance.
If your cat is still under a year old, read our guide to feeding a kitten.
What Do Cats Need in Their Diet?
Cats are obligate carnivores: they need nutrients that come from animal tissue. They need:
- plenty of high-quality animal protein;
- fat, for energy and essential fatty acids;
- taurine, an amino acid found in meat; a lack of it causes heart disease and blindness;
- vitamin A in its active form, and arachidonic acid, which cats can’t make from plant sources;
- the right balance of vitamins and minerals;
- plenty of water.
Cats don’t need carbohydrates, although small amounts in commercial food are fine. They can’t be vegetarian or vegan. Read more: can cats be vegetarian?.
Commercial Cat Food
For most owners, the simplest and safest way to meet all these needs is a good-quality commercial food labeled “complete and balanced” for adult cats (in the US, look for a statement that it meets AAFCO nutrient profiles; in the UK and Europe, a “complete” food that meets FEDIAF guidelines). A complete food contains everything your cat needs, so you don’t need to add supplements.
- Wet food (cans, pouches, trays) contains about 75–80% water, which helps keep your cat hydrated and supports urinary and kidney health. It’s usually lower in calories per bite, which can help with weight control.
- Dry food (kibble) is convenient, keeps well and can be used in puzzle feeders, but it’s calorie-dense and low in moisture. Read more: is dry food bad for cats?.
- Mixed feeding, with some wet and some dry food, is a popular compromise.
Price isn’t everything: well-known brands from established manufacturers that employ veterinary nutritionists and do feeding trials, such as Hill’s, Purina Pro Plan, Royal Canin and Iams, are a safe choice, and many other brands are good too. Read more about types of cat food and how to choose and how to read cat food labels.
Homemade and Raw Diets
Some owners prefer to cook for their cats. A homemade diet can work, but it’s very easy to get wrong: plain meat or fish, or meat with leftovers, doesn’t give a cat everything it needs. If you’d like to feed homemade food, ask your vet to refer you to a board-certified veterinary nutritionist, who can design a complete recipe for your cat.
Raw diets carry risks of bacteria such as Salmonella and Listeria, parasites and, in the US, bird flu (H5N1), which has made cats seriously ill. Most vets recommend avoiding raw meat and raw milk. Read more: can cats get the flu?.
Never feed your cat foods that are toxic to cats, such as onions, garlic, chocolate, grapes and alcohol. Read more: foods cats should never eat.
How Often Should You Feed an Adult Cat?
Most adult cats do well with two or more measured meals a day. Many cats naturally prefer small, frequent meals, so you can also divide the daily amount into several portions, or use a timed feeder or puzzle feeders. Leaving dry food out all day (“free-feeding”) often leads to weight gain.
How much to feed depends on your cat’s weight, age, activity level and whether it’s spayed or neutered. A typical indoor adult cat weighing about 10 lb (4.5 kg) needs roughly 200–250 calories a day. Start with the amount on the food label, then adjust based on your cat’s body condition, and ask your vet for advice.
Tips for Feeding Your Cat
- always provide fresh, clean water, in several places if possible; many cats like wide, shallow bowls or a water fountain;
- place food and water bowls away from the litter box;
- wash bowls every day;
- change foods gradually, over about a week;
- keep treats to no more than about 10% of daily calories (read more about treats for cats);
- don’t give cow’s milk: most adult cats are lactose intolerant;
- weigh your cat regularly and adjust portions to keep it at a healthy weight (read more about obesity in cats);
- tell your vet if your cat’s appetite changes. Read more: why your cat isn’t eating.
