What Do Kittens Eat ? Milk River , Formula , or Food
Kittens have very different nutritional needs than grownup cat . That means they need to be fed food that are specially plan just for them . Most of the sentence , a mother cat will take care of a kitten ’s nutritionary needs from the day it ’s born until it ’s about 4 to 6 weeks old .
And if you get hold yourself in the unfortunate situation of needing to bung an orphan newborn kitty , those fluffy bundles of joy will be completely subordinate on you for their nutrients .
Benjamin Torode / Getty
Here ’s what you need to know about how to fertilise your kitten , including tips on when to bring solid foods and which foods you should avoid .
Feeding a Newborn Kitten
In an ideal situation , the kitty ’ mother will nurse them for their first few weeks . The nutrients in her Milk River help the newborn kittens transition from milk to solid intellectual nourishment . wipe out these important food in her protein - fat milk helps constitute the kittens ’ resistant systems and offer auspices from disease .
If you hit upon a bedding material of new kitty whose mother is ineffectual to feed them , these orphaned kitties will postulate to be bottleful - feed a suitable replacement for their mother ’s milk . Newborn kittens up to 4 week older should be fed a kitten milk replacement formula ( either commercial-grade or homemade ) . Carlene Strandell , founder and director of the non - profitSmitten with Kittens , a foster - based kitten rescue that operates in Tallahassee , Fla. , tell you necessitate just two things for feeding a newborn : a kitten bottleful with a nipple and kitten replacement formula . Once you have those two essential items , then you could begin tobottle feed the kittentheir special normal .
When to feed a newborn kitten depends on how oftentimes they need to consume . Strandell state kittens under 2 weeks quondam indigence to be fed every 2 hours ( at least ) . Think that ’s a stack ? equate toolder cats who may only exhaust once a day , it sure does feel like it . But Strandell says not to worry about overfeed a newborn baby . “ When a kitten is full , it will stop eat , ” she say . “ A newborn kitten will turn its promontory when it has had enough . ” Kittens who are 2 to 4 weeks of age should be bottle - fed every 3 to 4 hours . For more details about when to feed a kitten recipe , control out this alimentation schedule chart .
Feeding Kittens 4 to 5 weeks Old
By the time a kitten is about 4 weeks old , it ’s often ready to start eating solid nutrient . Introduce solid food for thought slow into their dieting by mixing a little canned kitten food with some Milk River replacer on a tablespoon . It may take a few tries , but eventually , your kitten will be interested enough to start out lap up the mixture on its own . Sometimes it help to lightly rub a tiny piece of displace nutrient on the kitten ’s lips to give them a little sampling of what ’s useable . Never race this cognitive process . A kitten will begin eat solid solid food on their own schedule — a timeline that can vary from kitten to kitten .
Meanwhile , keep offering milk replacer in a bottle to ensure the kitten is maintaining her weightiness and getting all the nourishment she requires . weigh your kitten every Clarence Day or so is also a good way to be sure your pet is make weight and developing properly . ensure to leave a shallow bowl of bracing weewee once the kitty reaches 4 weeks of age .
Feeding Kittens 6 to 8 Weeks Old
When a kitten is 6 to 8 weeks old , it should be thoroughly weaned from the bottle and transition to satisfying foods . At this time , provide only food for thought that ’s been specially formulated for kitty . It ’s a good idea to mix dry and force out food for thought together so your best-loved experiences both at a untested age . As your kitten ages , you’re able to switch to an all - ironical or all - canned diet . You should be feeding a kitty this old age three to four fourth dimension per Clarence Day , reckon on their appetence . It ’s also of import to keep a clean , shallow bowl of smart water available at all time to keep your kitten hydrated .
Feeding Kittens 8 Weeks to 6 Months Old and Beyond
Between 8 weeks and 6 months erstwhile , continue feeding your kitten three to four multiplication per Clarence Shepard Day Jr. . Only offer solid food formulated especially for kittens that say “ thoroughgoing and balanced ” on the label . By the clock time your kitty is 6 months older , you could cut back meals to twice a Clarence Day until they are a year onetime .
Choosing the Best Kitten Food
When it comes to kitten food , quality counts . opt only food that has been certify by the Association of American Feed Control Officials ( AAFCO ) , which establishes nutritional standards for complete and balanced favourite solid food . This mean that the food has been tested to ensure it is properly balanced for your kitten ’s growing motive . If you’veadopted a kitty from a shelter , encounter out what the kitten was eating previously and stick with that dieting to avoid abdomen upset .
Feeding a Stray Kitten
Sadly , in the spring and surrender , it ’s not rare to find a stray kitten in your yard or on the street . Stray kittenswill need the same solid food and mealtime as home plate - upgrade kittens , but you should take it to a veterinarian as soon as potential to well determine the kitten ’s historic period and tocheck for parasitesthat could affect the beast ’s growth .
What to Feed a Kitten That Has Diarrhea
unaffixed , smooth stools are not normal in kitten . Diarrhea in kittens can be make by parasite , food result , or something more serious like anunderlying aesculapian issue . Because looseness of the bowels in your kitten can quickly lead to desiccation , replace the water in your kitty ’s formula with an unflavored Pedialyte solution to bring home the bacon the glucose and electrolytes your pet need . If your pet develops diarrhea , you need to quick get your kitty to a veterinary surgeon as shortly as potential .
When to Switch to Adult Food
It ’s time to make the switch toadult cat foodwhen the kitty attain its first natal day . stave off pass on intellectual nourishment out all day for the kitten to nosh on . If you ’re able to hold their intellectual nourishment until routine eating times , it ’s much easier to keep a closer sentry on how much they ’re eating . That way , if yourcat is not eat up enough — either because they simply do n’t like the food or for more serious health issues — you’ll know quickly so you may make a variety and contact your vet if want . costless - feed your cat ( leaving bowls of food out ) can also top to gluttony and weight problems as your deary grows older , so create scheduled mealtime can help you keep an centre on any issues .
feed Orphaned Kittens . VCA Animal Hospitals .
