Food For Kittens: Know The Different Options

Kitten food is specially formulated with very high levels of protein, essential for proper growth, as well as higher levels of calcium, magnesium, phosphorus, zinc, and iron to help you build strong and healthy bones and teeth. Ultimately, unless it is by medical prescription, deciding if you are going to give your kitty dry or wet food is completely in your hands (and of course, in those of your new furry friend!)

Dry Food

Diets based on dry food are easy to use and measure and have a longer shelf life once the container is opened than those of wet food.

It also helps keep your kitty's teeth healthy. You will see your kitten chew dry food vigorously, something that can help eliminate bacterial plaque from the teeth of older kittens. The smaller croquettes of most dry kitty food are easy to chew and swallow for them. You can give your kitty the exact amount it needs if you feed it with dry food.

Wet Food

Some kittens prefer the smell and texture of wet food, as it smells stronger and is softer than dry food. Wet food can be very practical, as it comes in single-dose bags and trays, always offering your cat a fresh and easy-to-serve meal. Water intake by your kitten will also increase.

How to Feed Your Kitten

Cats are animals of customs, so establishing a daily routine as soon as possible is best for both you and your pet. Feed your kitten in the same place and at the same time every day in a quiet area where you can relax, well away from its litter tray. Choose a surface that can be easily cleaned, or uses a kitty feeding mat, and always use a clean bowl, since cats are very particular creatures. Some kittens may prefer to eat in a flat bowl or saucer (this can also help delay fast diners!). If you have more than one kitten, make sure your feeders are at a reasonable distance to avoid any confrontation. If your kittens don't get along well, you may even need to have a completely separate feeding area to keep the peace.

Serve and Store Food

When it comes to food for kittens, try to serve wet food (cans/bags) at room temperature, since its smell is more attractive and it’s easier to digest too. This means taking it out of the fridge about an hour before eating or using the microwave to warm it (make sure not to serve it hot!).

Feed your Kitty with Treats

The complete "main meals" diets are designed so that it is not necessary to give your kitten any supplement to cover the nutrients it needs. If you feed your kitten with complementary foods, also make sure that he will also receive a balanced and complete diet.

Leftovers from the table are not always good for your kitten. Human food tends to be high in calories, but low compared to the nutrients kittens need. In fact, some may be harmful to kittens or cats or cause stomach upset. Most cat treats are not designed for young kittens and may contain many calories. Its large size can also cause suffocation. It is best not to give your kittens treats until they are a little older and, even then, be careful that the treats are suitable for kittens. When they are old enough to enjoy treats and snacks, they should not constitute more than 10-15% of their daily caloric needs, and you should reduce their main meals by an equivalent amount.

What Drink Should I Give my Kitty?

Making sure your pet stays hydrated is as important as feeding it with proper kitty food (especially if you feed your kitten with dry food).

Make sure your kitty always has access to clean, fresh water, but avoid putting food and water in the same place. Also, make sure that food and water are well away from your sand tray.

Make sure the bowl you use is low enough for small kittens to drink comfortably from it! A ceramic container is more suitable, as some kittens are bothered by the reflections of metal containers when they drink.

If you see that your kitten rejects the water, try it with a larger container. Some of them don't like their whiskers brushing the sides of the container.

Kittens don’t need to drink milk after weaning, so don’t use milk as a water substitute. In fact, small kittens and adult cats may have an intolerance to the sugar contained in milk, which can cause diarrhea. Even special kitty milk should be considered a portion of food (or a reward), not a drink. If you feed them with special milk, make sure it is suitable for kittens with delicate stomachs.

If the kitty's diet should be changed for health reasons, consult your veterinarian about the best way and duration of the process.

If you are replacing a wet food with a dry one, remember that your kitten will chew more actively, will need more water and will make repeated visits to the food bowl instead of eating in one sitting. Dry foods provide more energy than wet foods, so a larger amount of wet food is needed to provide the same number of calories. Whatever the age of your cat, you must ensure that you always have fresh water.