diff --git a/internal/store/builder.go b/internal/store/builder.go
index 3b253295c1..b92f7977e3 100644
--- a/internal/store/builder.go
+++ b/internal/store/builder.go
@@ -38,7 +38,9 @@ import (
 	policyv1 "k8s.io/api/policy/v1"
 	rbacv1 "k8s.io/api/rbac/v1"
 	storagev1 "k8s.io/api/storage/v1"
+	metav1 "k8s.io/apimachinery/pkg/apis/meta/v1"
 	clientset "k8s.io/client-go/kubernetes"
+	"k8s.io/client-go/metadata"
 	"k8s.io/client-go/tools/cache"
 	"k8s.io/klog/v2"
 
@@ -66,12 +68,14 @@ var _ ksmtypes.BuilderInterface = &Builder{}
 // (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Builder_pattern).
 type Builder struct {
 	kubeClient                    clientset.Interface
+	metadataOnlyKubeClient        metadata.Interface
+	customResourceClients         map[string]interface{}
 	ctx                           context.Context
 	familyGeneratorFilter         generator.FamilyGeneratorFilter
-	customResourceClients         map[string]interface{}
 	listWatchMetrics              *watch.ListWatchMetrics
 	shardingMetrics               *sharding.Metrics
 	buildStoresFunc               ksmtypes.BuildStoresFunc
+	buildMetadataOnlyStoresFunc   ksmtypes.BuildMetadataOnlyStoresFunc
 	buildCustomResourceStoresFunc ksmtypes.BuildCustomResourceStoresFunc
 	allowAnnotationsList          map[string][]string
 	allowLabelsList               map[string][]string
@@ -155,6 +159,11 @@ func (b *Builder) WithKubeClient(c clientset.Interface) {
 	b.kubeClient = c
 }
 
+// WithMetadataOnlyKubeClient sets the metadataOnlyKubeClient property of a Builder.
+func (b *Builder) WithMetadataOnlyKubeClient(c metadata.Interface) {
+	b.metadataOnlyKubeClient = c
+}
+
 // WithCustomResourceClients sets the customResourceClients property of a Builder.
 func (b *Builder) WithCustomResourceClients(cs map[string]interface{}) {
 	b.customResourceClients = cs
@@ -176,6 +185,11 @@ func (b *Builder) WithGenerateStoresFunc(f ksmtypes.BuildStoresFunc) {
 	b.buildStoresFunc = f
 }
 
+// WithGenerateMetadataOnlyStoresFunc configures a custom generate custom resource store function
+func (b *Builder) WithGenerateMetadataOnlyStoresFunc(f ksmtypes.BuildMetadataOnlyStoresFunc) {
+	b.buildMetadataOnlyStoresFunc = f
+}
+
 // WithGenerateCustomResourceStoresFunc configures a custom generate custom resource store function
 func (b *Builder) WithGenerateCustomResourceStoresFunc(f ksmtypes.BuildCustomResourceStoresFunc) {
 	b.buildCustomResourceStoresFunc = f
@@ -186,6 +200,11 @@ func (b *Builder) DefaultGenerateStoresFunc() ksmtypes.BuildStoresFunc {
 	return b.buildStores
 }
 
+// DefaultGenerateMetadataOnlyStoresFunc returns default buildStores function
+func (b *Builder) DefaultGenerateMetadataOnlyStoresFunc() ksmtypes.BuildMetadataOnlyStoresFunc {
+	return b.buildMetadataOnlyStores
+}
+
 // DefaultGenerateCustomResourceStoresFunc returns default buildCustomResourceStores function
 func (b *Builder) DefaultGenerateCustomResourceStoresFunc() ksmtypes.BuildCustomResourceStoresFunc {
 	return b.buildCustomResourceStores
@@ -360,7 +379,7 @@ func availableResources() []string {
 }
 
 func (b *Builder) buildConfigMapStores() []cache.Store {
-	return b.buildStoresFunc(configMapMetricFamilies(b.allowAnnotationsList["configmaps"], b.allowLabelsList["configmaps"]), &v1.ConfigMap{}, createConfigMapListWatch, b.useAPIServerCache)
+	return b.buildMetadataOnlyStoresFunc(configMapMetricFamilies(b.allowAnnotationsList["configmaps"], b.allowLabelsList["configmaps"]), &metav1.PartialObjectMetadata{}, createConfigMapListWatch, b.useAPIServerCache)
 }
 
 func (b *Builder) buildCronJobStores() []cache.Store {
@@ -539,6 +558,46 @@ func (b *Builder) buildStores(
 	return stores
 }
 
+func (b *Builder) buildMetadataOnlyStores(
+	metricFamilies []generator.FamilyGenerator,
+	expectedType interface{},
+	listWatchFunc func(kubeClient metadata.Interface, ns string, fieldSelector string) cache.ListerWatcher,
+	useAPIServerCache bool,
+) []cache.Store {
+	metricFamilies = generator.FilterFamilyGenerators(b.familyGeneratorFilter, metricFamilies)
+	composedMetricGenFuncs := generator.ComposeMetricGenFuncs(metricFamilies)
+	familyHeaders := generator.ExtractMetricFamilyHeaders(metricFamilies)
+
+	if b.namespaces.IsAllNamespaces() {
+		store := metricsstore.NewMetricsStore(
+			familyHeaders,
+			composedMetricGenFuncs,
+		)
+		if b.fieldSelectorFilter != "" {
+			klog.InfoS("FieldSelector is used", "fieldSelector", b.fieldSelectorFilter)
+		}
+		listWatcher := listWatchFunc(b.metadataOnlyKubeClient, v1.NamespaceAll, b.fieldSelectorFilter)
+		b.startReflector(expectedType, store, listWatcher, useAPIServerCache)
+		return []cache.Store{store}
+	}
+
+	stores := make([]cache.Store, 0, len(b.namespaces))
+	for _, ns := range b.namespaces {
+		store := metricsstore.NewMetricsStore(
+			familyHeaders,
+			composedMetricGenFuncs,
+		)
+		if b.fieldSelectorFilter != "" {
+			klog.InfoS("FieldSelector is used", "fieldSelector", b.fieldSelectorFilter)
+		}
+		listWatcher := listWatchFunc(b.metadataOnlyKubeClient, ns, b.fieldSelectorFilter)
+		b.startReflector(expectedType, store, listWatcher, useAPIServerCache)
+		stores = append(stores, store)
+	}
+
+	return stores
+}
+
 // TODO(Garrybest): Merge `buildStores` and `buildCustomResourceStores`
 func (b *Builder) buildCustomResourceStores(resourceName string,
 	metricFamilies []generator.FamilyGenerator,
diff --git a/internal/store/configmap.go b/internal/store/configmap.go
index dff11ea513..1026f5f165 100644
--- a/internal/store/configmap.go
+++ b/internal/store/configmap.go
@@ -19,11 +19,11 @@ package store
 import (
 	"context"
 
-	v1 "k8s.io/api/core/v1"
 	metav1 "k8s.io/apimachinery/pkg/apis/meta/v1"
 	"k8s.io/apimachinery/pkg/runtime"
+	"k8s.io/apimachinery/pkg/runtime/schema"
 	"k8s.io/apimachinery/pkg/watch"
-	clientset "k8s.io/client-go/kubernetes"
+	"k8s.io/client-go/metadata"
 	"k8s.io/client-go/tools/cache"
 	basemetrics "k8s.io/component-base/metrics"
 
@@ -43,7 +43,7 @@ func configMapMetricFamilies(allowAnnotationsList, allowLabelsList []string) []g
 			metric.Gauge,
 			basemetrics.ALPHA,
 			"",
-			wrapConfigMapFunc(func(c *v1.ConfigMap) *metric.Family {
+			wrapConfigMapFunc(func(c *metav1.PartialObjectMetadata) *metric.Family {
 				if len(allowAnnotationsList) == 0 {
 					return &metric.Family{}
 				}
@@ -65,7 +65,7 @@ func configMapMetricFamilies(allowAnnotationsList, allowLabelsList []string) []g
 			metric.Gauge,
 			basemetrics.STABLE,
 			"",
-			wrapConfigMapFunc(func(c *v1.ConfigMap) *metric.Family {
+			wrapConfigMapFunc(func(c *metav1.PartialObjectMetadata) *metric.Family {
 				if len(allowLabelsList) == 0 {
 					return &metric.Family{}
 				}
@@ -87,7 +87,7 @@ func configMapMetricFamilies(allowAnnotationsList, allowLabelsList []string) []g
 			metric.Gauge,
 			basemetrics.STABLE,
 			"",
-			wrapConfigMapFunc(func(_ *v1.ConfigMap) *metric.Family {
+			wrapConfigMapFunc(func(_ *metav1.PartialObjectMetadata) *metric.Family {
 				return &metric.Family{
 					Metrics: []*metric.Metric{{
 						LabelKeys:   []string{},
@@ -103,7 +103,7 @@ func configMapMetricFamilies(allowAnnotationsList, allowLabelsList []string) []g
 			metric.Gauge,
 			basemetrics.STABLE,
 			"",
-			wrapConfigMapFunc(func(c *v1.ConfigMap) *metric.Family {
+			wrapConfigMapFunc(func(c *metav1.PartialObjectMetadata) *metric.Family {
 				ms := []*metric.Metric{}
 
 				if !c.CreationTimestamp.IsZero() {
@@ -125,7 +125,7 @@ func configMapMetricFamilies(allowAnnotationsList, allowLabelsList []string) []g
 			metric.Gauge,
 			basemetrics.ALPHA,
 			"",
-			wrapConfigMapFunc(func(c *v1.ConfigMap) *metric.Family {
+			wrapConfigMapFunc(func(c *metav1.PartialObjectMetadata) *metric.Family {
 				return &metric.Family{
 					Metrics: resourceVersionMetric(c.ObjectMeta.ResourceVersion),
 				}
@@ -134,22 +134,22 @@ func configMapMetricFamilies(allowAnnotationsList, allowLabelsList []string) []g
 	}
 }
 
-func createConfigMapListWatch(kubeClient clientset.Interface, ns string, fieldSelector string) cache.ListerWatcher {
+func createConfigMapListWatch(kubeClient metadata.Interface, ns string, fieldSelector string) cache.ListerWatcher {
 	return &cache.ListWatch{
 		ListFunc: func(opts metav1.ListOptions) (runtime.Object, error) {
 			opts.FieldSelector = fieldSelector
-			return kubeClient.CoreV1().ConfigMaps(ns).List(context.TODO(), opts)
+			return kubeClient.Resource(schema.GroupVersionResource{Group: "", Version: "v1", Resource: "configmaps"}).Namespace(ns).List(context.TODO(), opts)
 		},
 		WatchFunc: func(opts metav1.ListOptions) (watch.Interface, error) {
 			opts.FieldSelector = fieldSelector
-			return kubeClient.CoreV1().ConfigMaps(ns).Watch(context.TODO(), opts)
+			return kubeClient.Resource(schema.GroupVersionResource{Group: "", Version: "v1", Resource: "configmaps"}).Namespace(ns).Watch(context.TODO(), opts)
 		},
 	}
 }
 
-func wrapConfigMapFunc(f func(*v1.ConfigMap) *metric.Family) func(interface{}) *metric.Family {
+func wrapConfigMapFunc(f func(*metav1.PartialObjectMetadata) *metric.Family) func(interface{}) *metric.Family {
 	return func(obj interface{}) *metric.Family {
-		configMap := obj.(*v1.ConfigMap)
+		configMap := obj.(*metav1.PartialObjectMetadata)
 
 		metricFamily := f(configMap)
 
diff --git a/internal/store/configmap_test.go b/internal/store/configmap_test.go
index aecf13c4d7..e2d1d2bbea 100644
--- a/internal/store/configmap_test.go
+++ b/internal/store/configmap_test.go
@@ -19,7 +19,6 @@ package store
 import (
 	"testing"
 
-	v1 "k8s.io/api/core/v1"
 	metav1 "k8s.io/apimachinery/pkg/apis/meta/v1"
 
 	generator "k8s.io/kube-state-metrics/v2/pkg/metric_generator"
@@ -37,7 +36,7 @@ func TestConfigMapStore(t *testing.T) {
 			AllowLabelsList: []string{
 				"app",
 			},
-			Obj: &v1.ConfigMap{
+			Obj: &metav1.PartialObjectMetadata{
 				ObjectMeta: metav1.ObjectMeta{
 					Name:            "configmap1",
 					Namespace:       "ns1",
@@ -73,7 +72,7 @@ func TestConfigMapStore(t *testing.T) {
 			},
 		},
 		{
-			Obj: &v1.ConfigMap{
+			Obj: &metav1.PartialObjectMetadata{
 				ObjectMeta: metav1.ObjectMeta{
 					Name:              "configmap2",
 					Namespace:         "ns2",
diff --git a/pkg/app/server.go b/pkg/app/server.go
index 8719797cb6..59bb0e9af8 100644
--- a/pkg/app/server.go
+++ b/pkg/app/server.go
@@ -255,6 +255,7 @@ func RunKubeStateMetrics(ctx context.Context, opts *options.Options) error {
 
 	storeBuilder.WithUsingAPIServerCache(opts.UseAPIServerCache)
 	storeBuilder.WithGenerateStoresFunc(storeBuilder.DefaultGenerateStoresFunc())
+	storeBuilder.WithGenerateMetadataOnlyStoresFunc(storeBuilder.DefaultGenerateMetadataOnlyStoresFunc())
 	proc.StartReaper()
 
 	storeBuilder.WithUtilOptions(opts)
@@ -264,6 +265,12 @@ func RunKubeStateMetrics(ctx context.Context, opts *options.Options) error {
 	}
 	storeBuilder.WithKubeClient(kubeClient)
 
+	metadataOnlyKubeClient, err := util.CreateMetadataOnlyKubeClient(opts.Apiserver, opts.Kubeconfig)
+	if err != nil {
+		return fmt.Errorf("failed to create metadata-only client: %v", err)
+	}
+	storeBuilder.WithMetadataOnlyKubeClient(metadataOnlyKubeClient)
+
 	storeBuilder.WithSharding(opts.Shard, opts.TotalShards)
 	if err := storeBuilder.WithAllowAnnotations(opts.AnnotationsAllowList); err != nil {
 		return fmt.Errorf("failed to set up annotations allowlist: %v", err)
diff --git a/pkg/app/server_test.go b/pkg/app/server_test.go
index 26fec175d2..9391808f9d 100644
--- a/pkg/app/server_test.go
+++ b/pkg/app/server_test.go
@@ -39,6 +39,7 @@ import (
 	"k8s.io/apimachinery/pkg/types"
 	"k8s.io/apimachinery/pkg/watch"
 	"k8s.io/client-go/kubernetes/fake"
+	mfake "k8s.io/client-go/metadata/fake"
 	"k8s.io/client-go/rest"
 	"k8s.io/client-go/tools/cache"
 	"k8s.io/klog/v2"
@@ -67,6 +68,7 @@ func BenchmarkKubeStateMetrics(b *testing.B) {
 	)
 
 	kubeClient := fake.NewSimpleClientset()
+	metadataOnlyKubeClient := mfake.NewSimpleMetadataClient(mfake.NewTestScheme())
 
 	if err := injectFixtures(kubeClient, fixtureMultiplier); err != nil {
 		b.Errorf("error injecting resources: %v", err)
@@ -86,10 +88,12 @@ func BenchmarkKubeStateMetrics(b *testing.B) {
 		b.Fatal(err)
 	}
 	builder.WithKubeClient(kubeClient)
+	builder.WithMetadataOnlyKubeClient(metadataOnlyKubeClient)
 	builder.WithSharding(0, 1)
 	builder.WithContext(ctx)
 	builder.WithNamespaces(options.DefaultNamespaces)
 	builder.WithGenerateStoresFunc(builder.DefaultGenerateStoresFunc())
+	builder.WithGenerateMetadataOnlyStoresFunc(builder.DefaultGenerateMetadataOnlyStoresFunc())
 
 	allowDenyListFilter, err := allowdenylist.New(map[string]struct{}{}, map[string]struct{}{})
 	if err != nil {
@@ -147,6 +151,7 @@ func TestFullScrapeCycle(t *testing.T) {
 	t.Parallel()
 
 	kubeClient := fake.NewSimpleClientset()
+	metadataOnlyKubeClient := mfake.NewSimpleMetadataClient(mfake.NewTestScheme())
 
 	err := pod(kubeClient, 0)
 	if err != nil {
@@ -163,8 +168,10 @@ func TestFullScrapeCycle(t *testing.T) {
 		t.Fatal(err)
 	}
 	builder.WithKubeClient(kubeClient)
+	builder.WithMetadataOnlyKubeClient(metadataOnlyKubeClient)
 	builder.WithNamespaces(options.DefaultNamespaces)
 	builder.WithGenerateStoresFunc(builder.DefaultGenerateStoresFunc())
+	builder.WithGenerateMetadataOnlyStoresFunc(builder.DefaultGenerateMetadataOnlyStoresFunc())
 
 	l, err := allowdenylist.New(map[string]struct{}{}, map[string]struct{}{})
 	if err != nil {
@@ -442,6 +449,7 @@ func TestShardingEquivalenceScrapeCycle(t *testing.T) {
 	t.Parallel()
 
 	kubeClient := fake.NewSimpleClientset()
+	metadataOnlyKubeClient := mfake.NewSimpleMetadataClient(mfake.NewTestScheme())
 
 	for i := 0; i < 10; i++ {
 		err := pod(kubeClient, i)
@@ -465,10 +473,12 @@ func TestShardingEquivalenceScrapeCycle(t *testing.T) {
 		t.Fatal(err)
 	}
 	unshardedBuilder.WithKubeClient(kubeClient)
+	unshardedBuilder.WithMetadataOnlyKubeClient(metadataOnlyKubeClient)
 	unshardedBuilder.WithNamespaces(options.DefaultNamespaces)
 	unshardedBuilder.WithFamilyGeneratorFilter(l)
 	unshardedBuilder.WithAllowLabels(map[string][]string{})
 	unshardedBuilder.WithGenerateStoresFunc(unshardedBuilder.DefaultGenerateStoresFunc())
+	unshardedBuilder.WithGenerateMetadataOnlyStoresFunc(unshardedBuilder.DefaultGenerateMetadataOnlyStoresFunc())
 
 	unshardedHandler := metricshandler.New(&options.Options{}, kubeClient, unshardedBuilder, false)
 	unshardedHandler.ConfigureSharding(ctx, 0, 1)
@@ -481,10 +491,13 @@ func TestShardingEquivalenceScrapeCycle(t *testing.T) {
 		t.Fatal(err)
 	}
 	shardedBuilder1.WithKubeClient(kubeClient)
+	shardedBuilder1.WithMetadataOnlyKubeClient(metadataOnlyKubeClient)
+
 	shardedBuilder1.WithNamespaces(options.DefaultNamespaces)
 	shardedBuilder1.WithFamilyGeneratorFilter(l)
 	shardedBuilder1.WithAllowLabels(map[string][]string{})
 	shardedBuilder1.WithGenerateStoresFunc(shardedBuilder1.DefaultGenerateStoresFunc())
+	shardedBuilder1.WithGenerateMetadataOnlyStoresFunc(shardedBuilder1.DefaultGenerateMetadataOnlyStoresFunc())
 
 	shardedHandler1 := metricshandler.New(&options.Options{}, kubeClient, shardedBuilder1, false)
 	shardedHandler1.ConfigureSharding(ctx, 0, 2)
@@ -497,10 +510,12 @@ func TestShardingEquivalenceScrapeCycle(t *testing.T) {
 		t.Fatal(err)
 	}
 	shardedBuilder2.WithKubeClient(kubeClient)
+	shardedBuilder2.WithMetadataOnlyKubeClient(metadataOnlyKubeClient)
 	shardedBuilder2.WithNamespaces(options.DefaultNamespaces)
 	shardedBuilder2.WithFamilyGeneratorFilter(l)
 	shardedBuilder2.WithAllowLabels(map[string][]string{})
 	shardedBuilder2.WithGenerateStoresFunc(shardedBuilder2.DefaultGenerateStoresFunc())
+	shardedBuilder2.WithGenerateMetadataOnlyStoresFunc(shardedBuilder2.DefaultGenerateMetadataOnlyStoresFunc())
 
 	shardedHandler2 := metricshandler.New(&options.Options{}, kubeClient, shardedBuilder2, false)
 	shardedHandler2.ConfigureSharding(ctx, 1, 2)
@@ -612,6 +627,7 @@ func TestShardingEquivalenceScrapeCycle(t *testing.T) {
 // We use custom resource object samplev1alpha1.Foo in kubernetes/sample-controller as an example.
 func TestCustomResourceExtension(t *testing.T) {
 	kubeClient := fake.NewSimpleClientset()
+	metadataOnlyKubeClient := mfake.NewSimpleMetadataClient(mfake.NewTestScheme())
 	factories := []customresource.RegistryFactory{new(fooFactory)}
 	resources := options.DefaultResources.AsSlice()
 	customResourceClients := make(map[string]interface{}, len(factories))
@@ -638,9 +654,11 @@ func TestCustomResourceExtension(t *testing.T) {
 	}
 
 	builder.WithKubeClient(kubeClient)
+	builder.WithMetadataOnlyKubeClient(metadataOnlyKubeClient)
 	builder.WithCustomResourceClients(customResourceClients)
 	builder.WithNamespaces(options.DefaultNamespaces)
 	builder.WithGenerateStoresFunc(builder.DefaultGenerateStoresFunc())
+	builder.WithGenerateMetadataOnlyStoresFunc(builder.DefaultGenerateMetadataOnlyStoresFunc())
 	builder.WithGenerateCustomResourceStoresFunc(builder.DefaultGenerateCustomResourceStoresFunc())
 
 	l, err := allowdenylist.New(map[string]struct{}{}, map[string]struct{}{})
diff --git a/pkg/builder/builder.go b/pkg/builder/builder.go
index 43a09b57e0..bbae3976bb 100644
--- a/pkg/builder/builder.go
+++ b/pkg/builder/builder.go
@@ -21,6 +21,7 @@ import (
 
 	"github.com/prometheus/client_golang/prometheus"
 	clientset "k8s.io/client-go/kubernetes"
+	"k8s.io/client-go/metadata"
 	"k8s.io/client-go/tools/cache"
 
 	internalstore "k8s.io/kube-state-metrics/v2/internal/store"
@@ -84,6 +85,11 @@ func (b *Builder) WithKubeClient(c clientset.Interface) {
 	b.internal.WithKubeClient(c)
 }
 
+// WithMetadataOnlyKubeClient sets the metadataOnlyKubeClient property of a Builder.
+func (b *Builder) WithMetadataOnlyKubeClient(c metadata.Interface) {
+	b.internal.WithMetadataOnlyKubeClient(c)
+}
+
 // WithCustomResourceClients sets the customResourceClients property of a Builder.
 func (b *Builder) WithCustomResourceClients(cs map[string]interface{}) {
 	b.internal.WithCustomResourceClients(cs)
@@ -120,6 +126,16 @@ func (b *Builder) DefaultGenerateStoresFunc() ksmtypes.BuildStoresFunc {
 	return b.internal.DefaultGenerateStoresFunc()
 }
 
+// WithGenerateMetadataOnlyStoresFunc configures a custom generate metadataonly store function
+func (b *Builder) WithGenerateMetadataOnlyStoresFunc(f ksmtypes.BuildMetadataOnlyStoresFunc) {
+	b.internal.WithGenerateMetadataOnlyStoresFunc(f)
+}
+
+// DefaultGenerateMetadataOnlyStoresFunc returns default buildMetadataOnlyStore function
+func (b *Builder) DefaultGenerateMetadataOnlyStoresFunc() ksmtypes.BuildMetadataOnlyStoresFunc {
+	return b.internal.DefaultGenerateMetadataOnlyStoresFunc()
+}
+
 // DefaultGenerateCustomResourceStoresFunc returns default buildStores function
 func (b *Builder) DefaultGenerateCustomResourceStoresFunc() ksmtypes.BuildCustomResourceStoresFunc {
 	return b.internal.DefaultGenerateCustomResourceStoresFunc()
diff --git a/pkg/builder/types/interfaces.go b/pkg/builder/types/interfaces.go
index b7ba595da1..81388d6c6b 100644
--- a/pkg/builder/types/interfaces.go
+++ b/pkg/builder/types/interfaces.go
@@ -23,6 +23,7 @@ import (
 
 	"github.com/prometheus/client_golang/prometheus"
 	clientset "k8s.io/client-go/kubernetes"
+	"k8s.io/client-go/metadata"
 	"k8s.io/client-go/tools/cache"
 
 	"k8s.io/kube-state-metrics/v2/pkg/customresource"
@@ -38,6 +39,7 @@ type BuilderInterface interface {
 	WithFieldSelectorFilter(fieldSelectors string)
 	WithSharding(shard int32, totalShards int)
 	WithContext(ctx context.Context)
+	WithMetadataOnlyKubeClient(c metadata.Interface)
 	WithKubeClient(c clientset.Interface)
 	WithCustomResourceClients(cs map[string]interface{})
 	WithUsingAPIServerCache(u bool)
@@ -46,6 +48,8 @@ type BuilderInterface interface {
 	WithAllowLabels(l map[string][]string) error
 	WithGenerateStoresFunc(f BuildStoresFunc)
 	DefaultGenerateStoresFunc() BuildStoresFunc
+	WithGenerateMetadataOnlyStoresFunc(f BuildMetadataOnlyStoresFunc)
+	DefaultGenerateMetadataOnlyStoresFunc() BuildMetadataOnlyStoresFunc
 	DefaultGenerateCustomResourceStoresFunc() BuildCustomResourceStoresFunc
 	WithCustomResourceStoreFactories(fs ...customresource.RegistryFactory)
 	Build() metricsstore.MetricsWriterList
@@ -60,6 +64,13 @@ type BuildStoresFunc func(metricFamilies []generator.FamilyGenerator,
 	useAPIServerCache bool,
 ) []cache.Store
 
+// BuildMetadataOnlyStoresFunc function signature that is used to return a list of cache.Store
+type BuildMetadataOnlyStoresFunc func(metricFamilies []generator.FamilyGenerator,
+	expectedType interface{},
+	listWatchFunc func(kubeClient metadata.Interface, ns string, fieldSelector string) cache.ListerWatcher,
+	useAPIServerCache bool,
+) []cache.Store
+
 // BuildCustomResourceStoresFunc function signature that is used to return a list of custom resource cache.Store
 type BuildCustomResourceStoresFunc func(resourceName string,
 	metricFamilies []generator.FamilyGenerator,
diff --git a/pkg/sharding/listwatch_test.go b/pkg/sharding/listwatch_test.go
index b24664206a..cc7f8698e7 100644
--- a/pkg/sharding/listwatch_test.go
+++ b/pkg/sharding/listwatch_test.go
@@ -25,9 +25,9 @@ import (
 )
 
 func TestSharding(t *testing.T) {
-	cm := &v1.ConfigMap{
+	cm := &v1.Pod{
 		ObjectMeta: metav1.ObjectMeta{
-			Name:      "configmap1",
+			Name:      "pod1",
 			Namespace: "ns1",
 			UID:       types.UID("test_uid"),
 		},
diff --git a/pkg/util/utils.go b/pkg/util/utils.go
index 611490946e..55f2377d33 100644
--- a/pkg/util/utils.go
+++ b/pkg/util/utils.go
@@ -25,6 +25,7 @@ import (
 	"k8s.io/apimachinery/pkg/runtime/schema"
 	"k8s.io/client-go/discovery"
 	clientset "k8s.io/client-go/kubernetes"
+	"k8s.io/client-go/metadata"
 	"k8s.io/client-go/rest"
 	"k8s.io/client-go/tools/clientcmd"
 	"k8s.io/klog/v2"
@@ -38,6 +39,7 @@ import (
 
 var config *rest.Config
 var currentKubeClient clientset.Interface
+var currentMetadataOnlyKubeClient metadata.Interface
 var currentDiscoveryClient *discovery.DiscoveryClient
 
 // CreateKubeClient creates a Kubernetes clientset and a custom resource clientset.
@@ -79,6 +81,34 @@ func CreateKubeClient(apiserver string, kubeconfig string) (clientset.Interface,
 	return kubeClient, nil
 }
 
+// CreateMetadataOnlyKubeClient creates a Kubernetes clientset and a custom resource clientset.
+func CreateMetadataOnlyKubeClient(apiserver string, kubeconfig string) (metadata.Interface, error) {
+	if currentMetadataOnlyKubeClient != nil {
+		return currentMetadataOnlyKubeClient, nil
+	}
+
+	var err error
+
+	if config == nil {
+		var err error
+		config, err = clientcmd.BuildConfigFromFlags(apiserver, kubeconfig)
+		if err != nil {
+			return nil, err
+		}
+	}
+	config.UserAgent = fmt.Sprintf("%s/%s (%s/%s) kubernetes/%s", "kube-state-metrics (metadataonly)", version.Version, runtime.GOOS, runtime.GOARCH, version.Revision)
+	config.AcceptContentTypes = "application/vnd.kubernetes.protobuf;as=PartialObjectMetadataList;g=meta.k8s.io;v=v1,application/json;as=PartialObjectMetadataList;g=meta.k8s.io;v=v1,application/json,application/vnd.kubernetes.protobuf;as=PartialObjectMetadata;g=meta.k8s.io;v=v1,application/json;as=PartialObjectMetadata;g=meta.k8s.io;v=v1"
+	config.ContentType = "application/vnd.kubernetes.protobuf"
+
+	kubeClient, err := metadata.NewForConfig(config)
+	if err != nil {
+		return nil, err
+	}
+
+	currentMetadataOnlyKubeClient = kubeClient
+	return kubeClient, nil
+}
+
 // CreateCustomResourceClients creates a custom resource clientset.
 func CreateCustomResourceClients(apiserver string, kubeconfig string, factories ...customresource.RegistryFactory) (map[string]interface{}, error) {
 	// Not relying on memoized clients here because the factories are subject to change.