Feeding Your Kitten Properly

The days of a bowl filled with milk for a baby kitten seem long gone. While this idyllic image is now a thing of the past, that doesn’t mean we know how to feed the little kitten we’ve just taken in. However, there are simple rules to follow to ensure your kitten grows and thrives in peace. A baby kitten is a bit like a human baby. Quantity, quality, and gradual diversification are all factors to consider. Its digestive system isn’t fully developed yet, even after weaning (the transition from nursing to solid food). You’ll need to feed it according to its physiological needs, not your own preferences.

The First Steps After Weaning a Kitten

Weaning, therefore, generally begins in the third week. The baby will start eating a more varied diet and begin to eat solid foods.

The veterinarian you’ll see shortly after adopting your cat will recommend dry food that’s easy to digest and suited to your cat’s needs. And they’re obviously right. At this stage, there’s no need to vary their diet. It’s more important to provide them with the amount of protein and fat essential for their growth. Don’t forget that even though your cat is still small, it is still a carnivore.

So, how should you feed your kitten?

Your kitten has a good appetite, but its stomach is still small. It will come to its bowl frequently throughout the day and night. Make sure the bowl isn’t empty, as it will return to it about twenty times over a 24-hour period. Feed it multiple small meals. Also, don’t forget to fill the bowl before going to bed so it can eat as needed while you sleep.

Starting in the fourth month, his diet will gradually adjust to more closely resemble what he’ll eat as an adult. The number of meals will decrease slightly, but the portion sizes will increase. It’s still up to you to make sure he doesn’t overeat. However, since nature works in mysterious ways, your companion should regulate himself. Dry food is always higher in calories than wet food. There’s no need to keep his bowl constantly full. If he’s really hungry, he’ll let you know—loudly.

It is also important to provide the kitten with fresh, clean drinking water (free of hair or dust). Like adult cats, kittens should be able to drink whenever they want.

Kitten kibble or wet food?

If you choose wet food (canned or homemade), you should start feeding your kitten three meals a day between four and six months of age. Be careful not to exceed the recommended calorie intake. Keep in mind that kittens spend a large part of their day sleeping and thatkitten kibbleis very high in calories.

However, don’t let your cat go hungry, as this could disrupt its natural balance and lead to obesity—a condition commonly known as “gluttony” in cats.

And as always, cats are nocturnal animals, so be sure to fill their bowl before you go to bed. Don’t leave your cat hungry.

How much food should I give my kitten?

It depends on the type of food and the brand you choose. For dry food, you should follow the feeding guidelines listed on the package and recommended by the manufacturer for a 24-hour period.

The tip you need to know

Be sure to place your cat’s food bowl in a quiet spot in your home, away from the litter box. Cats don’t like stress or noise while they’re eating.

Alleva Equilibrium Kitten Dry Food, 5 kg

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