It's thrilling to welcome a new kitten into your household, but if you've never done it before, it may also be a perpetual journey of discovery as you get to know your new companion and their specific needs.
One of the initial decisions you will need to make is what to feed your furry baby, what food is best for your kitten, how much to feed kittens, the frequency, and so much more.
Naturally, your cat's nutritional requirements will change as it ages because feline nutritional requirements are not constant like those of dogs. To promote your cat's health, you should always provide them with food that is healthy for them, which may require modifying their diet multiple times over the course of their lifetime.
Needless to say, cats are carnivores; your kitten requires a proper nutritional balance as well as a lot of protein. Furthermore, because of their quick growth, kittens need different levels of a number of nutrients than cats who are adults, including the right ratio of phosphorus and calcium.
Your kitten needs a balanced meal that is rich in protein, healthy fats, vitamins, minerals, complex carbohydrates, and fibre. Big cats in the wild are aware of their particular dietary requirements. You may help your kitten's natural inclinations as a carnivorous and lone hunter by providing them with the proper food at appropriate times.
How Much Food To Feed A Kitten ?
If you've never owned a cat before, selecting the correct food and understanding what amount to provide is a challenge.
Kittens have highly specialized nutritional requirements that are distinct from those of adult cats since they grow quickly while their immune and digestive systems are still adjusting to their age. Kittens in particular require a diet high in calories and protein, as well as nutritional supplements that support the body's defences and the growth of a healthy skeleton, muscles, and organs.
Giving newborn kittens food approximately four times in 24 hours during their initial week of life If you have kittens with the mother cat, nursing every 2-3 hours is effectively advised. The easiest way to make sure they receive enough food is to regularly check their weight. Each day, kittens should gain between a half and three-quarters of a pound (15–20 grams).
Young kittens should be supplemented with or transitioned to a high-quality feline milk replacer, such that it is provided in accordance with the directions on the package, if they are unable to obtain appropriate nutrition from their mother.
Kitten Feeding Guide: Wet vs. Dry Cat Food and Nutritional Requirements
There are advantages and disadvantages to feeding each type of kitten food, which is typically offered in both wet and dry formulations.
Wet Food: Wet food typically means aiding in more hydration. Because wet cat food has more moisture, it can help kittens stay hydrated, clear their urinary systems, and maintain healthy kidneys. Wet food, on the other hand, is more likely to adhere to the gums, which in cats can lead to painful dental issues including cavities and gum disease.
Dry Food: In most households, dry cat food is simpler to serve and can aid in tartar removal from the teeth. Nevertheless, certain felines can consume dry food and put on excess pounds, which can be linked to a number of conditions, including diabetes mellitus, arthritis, heart disease, high blood pressure, and respiratory issues, to mention a few.
Protein Requirement
Protein is crucial for your kitten's development and the repair of its muscles and tissues. It also helps the body produce hormones and enzymes and gives it energy. While people and dogs may adjust to a diet with less protein, the quality of the protein is crucial when it comes to cats, who have significantly greater protein needs.
The pertinent amino acids, such as taurine, arginine, methionine, and cysteine, must be available to our felines. Additional amino acids derived from plants can be converted and utilized by people and dogs, but cats are unable to do so and must thus acquire their amino acids from high-quality animal protein.
Milk
If your kitten's mother is able to supply it, it will only ever consume its mother's milk when it is first born. Colostrum is the mother's first milk, and it contains essential antibodies that kittens need to develop immunity at this young age.
If your kitten isn't with its mother or if the mother is unable to supply milk, parents may utilize kitten milk replacers (discussed above). Specifically designed replacers should be utilized until your cat gets onto solid meals since they provide all the advantages and nutrients of its mother's milk.
Transitioning From Milk To Solids
When weaning the kittens, we advise introducing solid foods. Beginning at 4–4.5 weeks, you might choose to feed both the mother and her young cats.
Carbohydrate Requirement
A Cat’s ability to utilize carbs is limited, but that doesn't mean they can't consume and digest them if their carbohydrate sources are carefully chosen. It gives your kitten a lot of energy, but it also contains fibre, which will aid with digestion and absorption.
Similar to protein, the source of carbohydrates is crucial; if it is of poor quality, it may cause digestive problems and increase the risk of food allergies or intolerances. An excellent carbohydrate will give your friend much-needed energy and metabolic health.
Do Kittens Consume Adult Cat Food?
Let's now concentrate on the article's main question: Should you give your sensitive kitten adult cat food? Who wouldn't want their adorable, helpless kitten to develop into a strong adult capable of defending itself against neighbourhood cats?
This exact mentality is what encourages cat parents to push their kittens into eating adult cat food. Regarding a kitten's growth, appetite, and exertion, specialists suggest against feeding it cat food too early because it will deprive it of vital nutrients for healthy development.
Feeding Schedule For Kittens
It's crucial to establish a feeding plan that works for both of you when you become completely aware of the time to eat and the frequency at which you can provide it.
Use your kitten's name when feeding her to encourage name recognition and help her associate you with enjoyable activities.
Establishing a pattern and feeding your kitten at the same time every day can make her feel secure and help you two develop a bond that lasts a long time. The amount of food you give your kitten must be constantly reevaluated, but the effort involved is rewarding. providing your kitten with the appropriate quantity of food. This is one of the most effective ways you can assist them in becoming strong and healthy adult cats.
If you don't give your kitten more than her daily caloric needs, you can feed her once to three times per day. The selection process can be difficult and overwhelming at the same time because there are so many cat food varieties available, and they all resemble one another by some or other means. By feeding her excellent-quality kitten food, you can ensure that she has a long, healthy life as an adult cat.