Most kittens get adopted at about 6 to 8 weeks old. They are typically already weaned from their mother and eating solid food. It is important to feed kittens a nutritionally complete diet that contains high quality vitamins, minerals, and nutrients. Show
This article will explain everything you need to know about what to feed kittens, how much to feed them, and how often and when they need to be transitioned to an adult cat food. What to Feed KittensYour kitten’s dietary requirements are going to be different from an adult cat’s dietary requirements. To help a kitten grow healthy and strong, their food typically requires:
Margie Scherk, DVM, DABVP of the Cats Only Veterinary Clinic in Ottawa, ON, Canada, described this in detail at the Central Veterinary Conference 2013 in Kansas City: “Young cats have growth requirements, which include an increased proportion of animal-based protein and more calcium and phosphorus.”1 Your new kitten will likely have tons of energy and engage in rowdy play, so their food needs to support their body as they burn calories exercising as well as expend energy for growth. Feeding Kittens Wet Versus Dry FoodWet and dry cat food are commonly available in kitten formulations, and there are pros and cons to feeding each. To decide which option best suits your kitten’s needs, talk with your veterinarian and get their recommendation. Here are some pros and cons of each:
How to Select a High-Quality Kitten FoodIt may take some initial time and energy in determining which food is right for your kitten, but your efforts will be rewarded in a healthy, happy, beautiful kitten. The best way to find the healthiest kitten food is to compare foods, choose a few possible options, and then talk with your veterinarian about which of those is best for your kitten. Consider the protein source in the food and pick a diet that does not contain a lot of filler ingredients. How Much to Feed a KittenKittens are growing rapidly at this young age and eat a lot of food compared to adult cats. We want to provide their bodies with everything necessary for growth, but we also want to develop healthy long-term eating habits. Feeding guidelines are variable by kitten. However, most often, using the feeding directions on the bag or can of food is a good starting place, and then you can adjust as needed for your kitten. Your veterinarian can use metabolic formulas to calculate the number of calories required per day based on your kitten’s current weight. We want kittens to come hungry for their meal, but we also don’t want them to be feeling so hungry that they devour the entire meal in a few seconds. Often, young kittens may eat ¼ to ½ cup of food at a time. If your kitten is thin, we may need to increase the caloric requirement per day. If your kitten is gaining too much weight too quickly, we may need to cut back. Your veterinarian will use a tool called a body condition score to assess your kitten’s weight. Healthy Kitten Growth RateA general rule of thumb in kittens is that they typically gain about 1 pound per month. Often, a kitten’s weight is about 1 pound at 1 month (4 weeks), 2 pounds at 2 months (8 weeks), and so on until about 4-5 months. Kittens do most of their growing (both height and weight) within the first year and then stabilize from there. Many of the growth plates of the bones in the kitten skeleton close by about one year old. At this time, after much of the growth is finished, your vet will typically switch your kitten to an adult diet. Feeding Methods for KittensThere are two main ways to feed kittens. Each of these ways have pros and cons, so consider the details and talk with your veterinarian about free-feeding versus portioned meal feeding. Free-Feeding MethodFree-feeding kittens is usually done with dry food, leaving a bowl out all the time so the food is readily available. This is convenient for pet parents, especially if they have busy schedules. The benefit to this type of feeding is that your kitten can eat when they want and ideally self-regulate how much they need. One disadvantage to this is that some kittens will overeat and gain excessive weight. Another disadvantage is that in a multiple-cat household, the older cats have access to and may be eating the kitten food. This is not always healthy for the older cat’s needs, and more dominant cats may control the kitten’s access to the food bowl. In these cases, the kitten may not be getting enough to eat. It can be hard to track an individual cat’s eating habits when they share a free-feeding bowl. One way to deal with this is by using a microchip-activated feeder that only opens when it scans your kitten’s microchip. Just make sure another cat is not guarding this feeder and keeping the kitten from eating. Meal-Feeding MethodMeal-feeding kittens is the second option for feeding. This works well with wet food that can’t be left out all day. Feeding specific portions at certain times is also helpful for monitoring exactly how much and what kind of food each cat is eating in a multiple-cat home. Meal-feeding is more time-intensive for pet parents and tends to require a more routine schedule. You need to make sure you are able to feed your kitten often enough with this type of feeding. There are some cat food bowls that work on timers to automatically release a measured amount of dry food at specified times. Kittens can also learn to use their instinctual hunting behavior to work for part of their daily food. This helps keep your kitten healthy mentally and physically. There are many interactive bowls, balls that disperse dry food slowly, and other options available to keep your kitten occupied so his/her meal is not gone in a few seconds. How Often to Feed KittensYounger kittens (6-16 weeks) need to be fed several meals per day, if you are not free-feeding. As they are growing and burning calories, we want to keep their bodies supplied with energy. Feed meals every 6-8 hours. Your veterinarian will figure out the total daily calories that your kitten needs, and you can divide that between the number of meals per day. Typically, by the time kittens get to 4-5 months, they can be transitioned to two meals per day, still feeding the total number of daily calories, but in less frequent, larger meals. Reasons Your Kitten May Not Be EatingIf your new kitten is not eating well or has diarrhea, call your vet and schedule another checkup. Sometimes intestinal parasites can cause gastrointestinal upset in kittens. It is common for kittens to come home already infected with parasites. They can get some parasites through the placenta before birth as well as in the milk from the mother cat. Some of these parasites can also be transmitted to people, so good hygiene and preventive care are important. Bottle Feeding/Orphaned KittensSometimes a mama cat is no longer able to care for her kittens, and we need to help them. This is a big but rewarding task to take on. These kittens are often days to a week old (they may still even have their eyes closed). They must be bottle fed, every few hours, initially, with kitten milk replacer formulas. You also need to use a washcloth to gently wipe their genitals after eating to stimulate urination and defecation, as they are unable to do this themselves in the first few weeks. These bottle-fed kittens are very loyal and loving, but they do require extra attention regarding socialization since the mother cat is unavailable to teach them acceptable play and biting behaviors. A good reminder comes from Ed Carlson, CVT, VTS (Nutrition). “Kittens that are abandoned by their mothers should be carefully examined for visible birth defects such as a cleft palate and medical attention provided by a veterinarian if necessary. Supplementation with a milk replacement formula or a surrogate mother will be necessary to raise abandoned or orphaned kittens.” 2 To learn more about cat pregnancy and kitten care, check out PetMD’s complete cat pregnancy and kitten guide. References:
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Just like you definitely wouldn’t hand over adult food to sweet gurgling babies, kittens shouldn’t be fed adult cat food before they’re ready. That’s because cats have different nutritional needs depending on their stage in life. As kittens, they eat nutrient-dense food that helps them grow, but as they near the end of their growth period, it’s important that their diets change to meet the demands of their new, almost adult bodies. Switching from kitten food to cat food—at the right time and in the right way—is the best way to do this. The Importance of Switching From Kitten Food to Cat FoodKitten food is designed to support rapid growth and development. In comparison to adult cat food, kitten food generally has:
Weight gain is the biggest danger associated with continuing to feed kitten food to an adult cat. While a chonky cat might sound cute, a healthy weight is going to help your cat live a happier, healthier life! The Association for Pet Obesity Prevention estimates that almost 60 percent of pet cats are overweight or obese, which puts them at increased risk for many health problems including diabetes, arthritis, and hepatic lipidosis (a potentially fatal liver disease). When to Switch from Kitten Food to Adult Cat FoodIn general, kittens should eat kitten food until they are around 90 percent of their adult weight. At this point, they are at their full adult height and just have some final filling out to do.
Always speak with your veterinarian if you have any concerns about when to switch from kitten to adult cat food. How to Switch from Kitten Food to Cat FoodTransitioning from kitten food to adult cat food must be done gradually. A cat’s digestive system is home to lots of bacteria and yeast that aid in the digestion of food, fight off potential pathogens, make vitamins and other nutrients, and bolster the immune system. These microbes must be kept happy! When the diet is abruptly changed, gastrointestinal microbes may not have time to adjust, which can lead to signs of digestive upset including vomiting and diarrhea. Further, when suddenly faced with a new food many cats will refuse to eat. (Cats really aren’t big fans of change.) Slowly transition your kitten to an adult diet over seven to 10 days as follows:
When Switching From Kitten to Cat Food Causes ProblemsIf at any point your cat loses their appetite or develops signs of digestive upset, you can go back to their old kitten food for a few days and then restart the transition at an even slower pace. Here are some other ways to deal with difficulties transitioning from kitten food to adult cat food: FAQs on Switching from Kitten to Cat FoodQ: Can kittens eat adult cat food? A:Younger kittens should primarily eat nutritionally complete and balanced kitten food and should stick to kitten food until they are 90% grown. Many growing cats can begin eating adult cat food when they are around 10 to 12 months old. Larger breeds, such as Maine Coons, can eat adult cat food at around 18 to 24 months of age. Q: Can you switch kitten food brands? A:You can switch kitten food brands. In fact, it is a good idea to switch to a higher quality kitten food if you have concerns about the nutrition your kitten is getting from their current diet. Just be sure to gradually make the switch. Q: How long can kittens keep eating kitten food? A:Kittens can keep eating kitten food until they are almost full-grown. This usually happens when they are around 10 to 12 months old. An exception is larger breeds of cats, like Maine Coons, who don’t stop growing until they are 18 months to 24 months old. Large breed kittens can keep eating kitten food until they are around 1½ to 2 years old. When in doubt, always lean on help from your veterinarian. They are your best resource for answering specific questions about when and how to switch from kitten food to cat food, switching cat food in general, and about your cat’s overall health and well-being. |
How long to feed kitten food
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