What Do Kittens Need To Eat
Wet food is easier for kittens to eat while their teeth are still growing but dry food helps them to strengthen their teeth and gums so many owners choose to feed both wet and dry foods.
What do kittens need to eat. On average cats need 50 ml water per kg of body weight. Cow s milk is not a substitute for water. Do not give your kitten milk as it can cause diarrhoea. Newborn kittens need to feed every two to three hours.
Never feed puppy or dog food to your kitten as it will be deficient in taurine an essential protein that cats can only obtain through food. Always read the feeding instructions on the pack of kitten food although remember they re just there as a starting point. By starting to eat more solids the kitten may become constipated and one way to help is to gently stimulate their gut by giving gentle massages we will leave a small litter tray so they can begin to do their needs there. It is best to start feeding wet kitten food and introducing dry kitten food as your kitten grows.
As with all animals kittens need fresh drinking water available at all times. Kittens aged eight to 12 weeks need four meals per day if between three and six months old they need three meals and kittens over six months old need two meals per day. If a kitten is nursing from its mother you ll have to depend on how much the kitten weighs to know whether or not it is consuming enough food. For example kittens should get about 30 of their energy from protein.
Kittens needs for fat some fatty acids and most vitamins are the same as for adult cats larsen says. Cats are naturally poor drinkers but just like any other animal and humans alike cats need water to survive. Kittens suckling well from their queen will sleep between feeds and do not need additional nutrition until three to four weeks of age. Without drinking water your cat could become severely ill within hours.
If any kittens do not receive the first milk contact your vet. Cats need a well balanced meat based diet to stay fit and healthy they cannot be vegetarian. Remember cats are adapted to eat little and often so unlike dogs they need to be fed more than once a day. A 2 to 3 week old kitten will still need to be fed every 2 3 hours and it should consume at least 1 2 tablespoon of formula or milk during each meal.
You can also offer some natural foods to provide variety. Make sure your cat eats a balanced diet that is suitable for their age health status and lifestyle. Top tips for feeding cats. Give your cat constant access to clean drinking water.
But kittens have a higher requirement for protein amino acids and minerals as well as for some vitamins. Your kitten will need constant access to water even if they are eating wet food. Since water makes up a larger portion of a kitten s body than that of an adult cat it is extra important to make sure they drink.