Wondering what to feed kittens? A kitten, on average, weighs just a few ounces at birth and reaches 8 to 10 pounds — or more — by his first birthday. When I adopted Casey, my orange tabby, he weighed barely 4 pounds at 4 months old. Eight months later, he transformed into a long-legged, lean feline sporting 11 pounds of solid muscle.
I promised to keep Casey from morphing into a fat cat who walks with more waddle than wiggle. And you can do the same for the new kitten in your life. Every extra pound your feline friend packs on escalates the odds of him being at risk for a host of pricey problems: obesity, diabetes and, eventually, joint pain and arthritis. How can you keep your fast-growing kitten from turning into a feline foodie? What is the best food to feed your kitten? For answers on what to feed kittens, I turned to one of the country’s top kitten experts: Gary Weitzman, DVM, a veterinarian and chief executive officer of the San Diego Humane Society and SPCA — the same shelter where I adopted Casey.
Each year, Dr. Weitzman oversees a dedicated staff and army of volunteers who feed more than 2,000 orphaned kittens. These are not-yet-weaned kittens, separated from their moms for a variety of reasons, who must depend on round-the-clock feedings to not only survive but thrive and be healthy enough to be adopted. Dr. Weitzman is also the author of the best-selling book, How to Speak Cat: A Guide to Decoding Cat Language. Here are his answers to some common questions when it comes to what to feed kittens:
How is kitten food different from regular cat food? Photography ©Okssi68 | Getty Images.
Answer: Just like any young animal, kittens need vital nutrients to ensure they develop appropriately. Kitten food generally has higher protein for muscle development, extra lysine for vision, and other vitamins and minerals needed for healthy growth.
A: At our kitten nursery, we feed underage kittens formula, which closely mimics milk they would normally get from their mother. At 3 1/2 weeks of age, we introduce wet and dry food, but wet food is often more palatable for young kittens, making it easier for them to get adequate nutrition as they develop.
A: Keeping body temperatures up is critical, so growing kittens need additional calories for proper development. Their organs are developing, their muscles are becoming stronger and more coordinated, and they tend to be much more active than adult cats. That is why it is vital that they get proper nutrition and calories to ensure they grow into a healthy and happy adult cat.
A: To keep your kitten from morphing into a feline foodie, we recommend against free feeding. Kittens 8 weeks or older should be fed two to three times daily (multiple small meals are best) in controlled amounts. Measure the food out at each meal, and weigh your cat once weekly to gauge development and prevent obesity.
A: Food puzzles are always a great way for pets to stay entertained and develop those little brains! Using puzzle feeders encourages kittens to use all their senses. If you notice your kitten can’t quite figure it out, and you’re worried he isn’t getting enough to eat, you can offer him his food in a bowl, and keep the puzzle feeder for enrichment.
How do you bottle feed kittens? Photography ©douglascraig | Getty Images.
Tell us: What other questions do you have when it comes to what to feed kittens?
Thumbnail: Photography ©dtv2 | Getty Images.
Arden Moore is a pet behavior consultant, author and master pet first-aid instructor who often teaches hands-on classes with her cool cat, Casey, and very tolerant dog, Kona. Each week, she hosts the Oh Behave Show on Pet Life Radio. Learn more at ardenmoore.com and follow Arden on Facebook and on Twitter at @ArdenKnowsPets.
Read more about kittens on Catster.com:
12 comments on “Wondering What to Feed Kittens? We Ask a Vet to Answer Some Common Questions”
Many many thanks for a nice artical shearing with us about “Wondering What to Feed Kittens?”
Young Tom and older Tom very close I have 3 not tom cats one older a little sick a bug bit use nosedrops for muceus such as a pimple small laseration dime size about three places use Luke warm water and calamine lotion..loss a hairball and did heel..twice ..?
Shots type cost and or tablet such as an allergy type for resting not uptite..fever along ears head and area of hurt..basic milk not goats milk.&.water…
Shots type cost and or tablet such as an allergy type for resting not uptite..fever along ears head and area of hurt
Shots type cost and or tablet such as an allergy type for resting not uptite..fever along ears head and area of hurt..basic milk not goats milk.&.water…
have a cat with smelly diarrhea. Went to vet , had all tests and
medicines. Will absolutely not eat Scienc Diet or Hills either
What can I feed her that she will and not make her have diarrhea?
Hi there,
Please work with your vet to find something that will not give your kitty diarrhea. These articles might help provide some insight, but please contact your vet for the best advice:
https://www.catster.com/cat-health-care/cat-diarrhea-when-to-see-a-vet
https://www.catster.com/cat-health-care/cat-has-diarrhea-causes-and-help
https://www.catster.com/cat-health-care/cat-poop-problems-from-diarrhea-to-constipation
My kitten is about 15 weeks old and he has mommy issues can I give him cat milk ?
Gas? Young Tom and older Tom very close I have 3 not tom cats one older a little sick a bug bit use nosedrops for muceus such as a pimple small laseration dime size about three places use Luke warm water and calamine lotion..loss a hairball and did heel..twice ..??? Shots type cost and or tablet such as an allergy type for resting not uptite..fever along ears head and area of hurt..basic milk not goats milk.&.water…
Hi,
Is BARF a good option for feed cats? Some vets says that it’s unhealty, but BARF is the most natural option. -Selin
Hi Selin — We suggest contacting your vet to see if the BARF option is the right option for your cats. Thanks!