Feeding a 16-week Chartreux kitten: how much per day

A 16-week-old Chartreux — lovely choice, they're such sturdy, quietly affectionate cats. At this age kittens have very different nutritional needs from adult cats: they need higher protein, more calories per kilogram of bodyweight, and specific nutrients like DHA for brain development and calcium for those growing bones. Getting this phase right genuinely sets the foundation for long-term health. To help you dial in the right food and portions, can you tell me roughly how much your kitten weighs right now, and are you currently feeding them anything — or starting completely from scratch?

That's really helpful, thank you. An average Chartreux at 16 weeks typically weighs around 1.2–1.5 kg, so I'll work from that range. Before I give you the exact gram amounts, one quick question: are you happy to feed dry kibble, wet food, or a mix of both? Some first-time owners find dry easier to measure and store, but plenty of cats do better on wet. No wrong answer — just want to point you at something practical.

Perfect — and honestly a great starting point for portion control. One thing worth knowing: kittens do better with set meal times than free-feeding, even with dry food. Leaving it out all day can lead to overeating and makes it hard to notice if appetite drops, which is often the first sign something's off. For a Chartreux at this age, I'd recommend Royal Canin Kitten dry food. It's specifically formulated for kittens up to 12 months, with the right protein level, calorie density, and kibble size for young cats. The bag has a clear feeding guide by weight, but for your kitten at roughly 1.2–1.5 kg, you're looking at around 35–45 grams per day, split across three meals — so roughly 12–15 grams per sitting. As she grows, you increase gradually. Royal Canin is also what many breeders use, so it's a safe, gentle transition if the breeder was feeding anything similar.

Good instinct to ask — yes, hydration matters more on a dry-only diet. Cats naturally have a low thirst drive, so always have fresh water available in a bowl away from her food bowl (cats often drink more when water isn't right next to their food — it's a quirk that goes back to instinct). A ceramic or stainless bowl tends to be better than plastic, which can affect the taste. If at any point she seems to be drinking very little, you can always add a small amount of water to her kibble or introduce a wet meal once a day as a top-up. But for most kittens on Royal Canin with water freely available, it's not a problem.

Aim to weigh her every two weeks for the first few months — a kitchen scale works perfectly. You're looking for steady, gradual gain rather than rapid jumps or a plateau. Royal Canin's feeding guide on the bag is broken into weight bands, so as she moves up a band, just bump the daily amount up accordingly. If you're ever unsure, your vet can confirm she's on track at her first check-up, which I'd book within the next week or two if you haven't already. You're asking exactly the right questions — she's in good hands.