Mary Allen
Nutrition is particularly important in young cats. We tell you what to look out for when feeding your mini tiger.
There’s nothing more exciting than welcoming a new animal family member into your home. And that goes for both humans and four-legged friends.
So that the little kitten immediately feels comfortable with you, the equipment for the kitten should be complete and, above all, a few things should be considered when it comes to food. Because young animals in particular consume a lot of energy and need plenty of supplies in order to grow healthily. That’s why a sensible diet is a be-all and end-all for your little velvet paw.
For now, stick to what you are used to
Since kittens can only be handed over from the 12th week, your new roommate can already eat independently when he arrives at the future home. The breeder often gives a feeding list.
If your furball gets the usual food in the bowl, it will not only settle in better. In this way, you also prevent digestive disorders such as diarrhea or constipation and unnecessary stress for the cat as a result of a change of feed.
Gradually create more diversity
If a few weeks have passed, offer your kitten more variety on the menu. Just as people get bored of eating the same food over and over again, so do kittens.
Try out new types of food and mix them in with the food you are used to. After a while, you will see what the cat likes and doesn’t like.
No more feeding around the clock
In the beginning, the kitten needs access to its food throughout the day. This is important for growth and healthy general development. Gradually, however, you should wean them off it.
The aim is to give the velvet paw less food. You can read here which frequency is optimal. Of course, the morning and evening meals must not be too short.
Offer dry and wet food
Dry food is just as important as wet food. Some cats even prefer this. You can easily offer dry food throughout the day as it does not spoil as quickly. In this way, the cat can divide up its portions itself. The hardness of the food not only trains her chewing muscles – but also strengthens the teeth and prevents tartar in the cat.
Avoid milk
The healthiest drink for kittens is water. The thirst quencher must always be fresh and accessible at all times. A drinking fountain is ideal for this.
If you like, you can also refine the water with cat milk. However, this should remain the exception to avoid habituation. After all, you don’t want your cat to reckon with cat milk in the water for the rest of its life.
Never give cow’s milk, because velvet paws cannot tolerate it. Buy cat milk instead. It contains all the important active ingredients and is well tolerated.
By the way: Remember that everything you put in the front comes out the back. Ideally, this happens in the litter box. Read here about how to get your cat used to the litter box.