Mary Allen
Only kittens that are properly fed from the start can grow into healthy cats. Read here what kittens need to be fed and how to switch to solid food.
Kittens only drink mother’s milk for the first three weeks after birth. They don’t get solid food for the first time until they are four weeks old. Getting the kittens used to solid food is usually done by the breeder, who doesn’t sell the kittens until they are twelve weeks old at the earliest. From then on, you need to take care of the kitten’s proper nutrition.
Hence This Guide to Kitten Nutrition:
- fourth to the eighth week: mainly mother’s milk, offer some solid food
- eighth to the tenth week: switch to solid kitten food
- from about seven months: switch to food for adult cats
Read here which food is suitable for kittens, how much they are allowed to eat and how kittens are gradually accustomed to solid food.
Do Kittens Need Special Food?
In principle, you should definitely feed the kitten special kitten food until the end of the growth phase, but not after that. Kittens have a high energy requirement and are dependent on nutrient-rich food.
You should pay attention to the right amount of food and only offer high-quality kitten food. In this way, the kitten does not suffer from obesity and the associated health problems from an early age.
High-Quality Food For Kittens
It is important that you only feed your kitten good quality food. Kitten food must have a high proportion of meat and vegetables in order to provide the young animal with the right nutrition. The grain content should definitely be less than 10 percent.
How Much Can a Kitten Eat?
How quickly a kitten grows and develops varies from breed to breed and even from cat to cat – even within a litter. That’s why you should pay close attention to your kitten’s needs when feeding and adjust the amount of food individually.
Important: Cats are weaned from their mother’s milk very slowly. At the age of eight to ten weeks, the kittens no longer drink their mother’s milk and only eat solid food.
Depending on their age, kittens need a lot of energy because they are in the growth phase and romp around and play a lot. Because of this, it is very unlikely that kittens will overeat. Nevertheless: Don’t feed a lot of kitten food. Otherwise, there is a risk of obesity.
Kitten Food From The 4th Week Of Life
From the fourth week of life, a kitten gradually drinks less from the cat mother. Depending on the number of kittens per litter and the health of the mother cat, solid food should be offered from this point at the latest.
This is How Kittens Are Fed Correctly From The Fourth Week:
- Puree food is a good start: kitten rearing milk diluted with warm water in a ratio of 1:2, enriched with oatmeal or rice gruel
- Additionally, mix the meat into the porridge: boiled, scraped or strained, chicken meat or canned food diluted with warm water
- It is best to alternate the ingredients
The special feeding of the mother cat can now also be slowly adapted to the normal diet.
How Should You Feed Kittens?
Kittens suckle while lying down with their heads held high. Because they have to lower their heads when they eat, it can be difficult at first to convince the kitten to eat solid food. Sometimes you have to show how it’s done: hold a small spoonful of food close to the kitten’s nose and slowly lower it as soon as the kitten licks it.
You can also put some of the mashed food on the kitten’s lips or push a tiny ball of meat into the side of its mouth. You can also gently push the head down if the kitten is skeptical of the food.
Important: Always be patient, even if it doesn’t work out right away. Always check the kitten’s weight to know if they are really gaining weight.
What if Young Kittens Get Diarrhea?
The change in the feed may cause diarrhea. On the other hand, more water in the porridge usually helps.
Check the kittens’ weight daily. So you always have an eye on whether you are gaining or losing weight. If after two days the kitten is still having diarrhea or is losing weight, you must contact the vet immediately.
Kitten Food From The 10th Week of Life
At this age the kittens are used to solid food, they drink less and less from their mother. Since the energy, protein, and vitamin requirements of small kittens between the ages of ten and twelve weeks are very high, around 90 percent of the energy is needed for growth and only four to nine percent is used up when playing. High-quality and nutritious food is therefore particularly important for kittens.
By week 10, a healthy, energetic kitten should have 24-hour access to food, after which you can slowly transition to five to three times a day, feeding more in the morning and evening.
Kitten Food From The 12th Week of Life
Reputable breeders don’t sell their kittens until they are twelve weeks old. From now on you are responsible for feeding the kitten. The breeder will provide you with a feeding list so you know what it has eaten before.
Kittens often reject familiar food at first. That’s not too bad, then change the feed step by step.
Please Note The Following Points When It Comes to Kitten Nutrition:
- Offer your cat a variety of flavors and brands of food during the food conditioning period: the cat is less likely to become fussy. Don’t mix things up too often, just change over step by step.
- Avoid eating only dry meals: A young cat’s daily water requirement is 50 percent higher than that of an adult cat.
- Always offer your cat fresh water: young cats need considerably more water than adult cats.
- Avoid cow’s milk, cheese, and sausage end: These foods are unsuitable or even poisonous for cats.
You have to decide for yourself whether you want to offer your kitten dry or wet food. However, there are some important advantages and disadvantages to both types of feed.
From Kitten Food To Adult Cat Food
When the cat becomes sexually mature, kitten food can be dispensed with. By now the kitten should have tasted adult food on and off. You can now leave out baby porridge and nutritional food.
In many cat breeds, sexual maturity begins around six to eight months of age. In the case of Siamese, this is usually the case earlier, while large cat breeds such as the Maine Coon become sexually mature much later.
It is therefore not possible to say in general terms how best to feed a kitten. Watch your kitten and stick to the basic rules for a balanced diet.