Mary Allen
It’s never too early to start with proper cat nutrition. Good cat food for young cats is the cornerstone of healthy and long cat life. You should pay attention to these important tips for the time after breast milk.
Normally, your young cats only drink milk from their mother seven times a day when they are four weeks old. At this time you can switch to solid food – of course always depending on the physical condition of the mother and young cats. If you have any questions or doubts, you should always consult your veterinarian for advice. The following tips will help you get started.
Porridge as Cat Food for Young Cats
Porridge food is ideal for the beginning. Mix kitten milk with warm water in a 1:2 ratio and add some shaved meat, chicken passata, or canned kitten food. Make sure you always dilute the feed with warm water. By the way, a little variety does not harm the cat food for young cats.
Help Your Cat Get Used to It
Young cats are not used to eating while looking down, as they have always suckled with their heads held high. So patiently introduce your kitten to the new way of eating. Tip: Hold a spoonful of food in front of the kitten’s nose and then slowly guide it down so that the cat’s head has to follow.
Energy & Fluid Requirements Increase
At the age of ten to twelve weeks, the energy, protein, and vitamin requirements of the little kittens are very high. Until then, you should make food available to your kittens around the clock. You can then go from five to three meals a day. From the twelfth week at the latest, reach for fresh or special canned cat food for young cats.
It is ideal to mix these two since you can usually do without mineral and vitamin supplements. Cat food for young cats should always be moist enough – a diet with dry food will not meet your little one’s daily water requirements. Also, always make sure to provide fresh water at all times, for example with a drinking fountain for your cat.
Pay Attention to the Maturity of the Kittens
Most cat breeds reach maturity around six to eight months of age. Depending on the breed, this can also be the case sooner or later – it is best to find out about the breed of your cat. From then on, the time of porridge and nourishing food is over and food for the big ones can be put on the cat’s plate.
General Tips for Feeding Kittens
• By 12 weeks, a healthy kitten should have 24-hour access to food
• Then slowly transition to three to five meals a day
• Evening and morning meals should be heavier than the others
• Mix up the cat food with variety; For example, mix fresh food with (kitten) canned food in a ratio of 50:50
• Do not give dry food – young cats need much more water than adult cats
• Always provide fresh water, even for older cats •
Treats are allowed in moderation(!).