Tips on How to Feed Kittens

Feeding your kittens well from the very first day of life is crucial to their future health and longevity. Therefore, it is wise to do a little research on the nutritional needs of kittens and various brands of kitten food to ensure that they are getting exactly what they need. While feeding kittens is not a difficult task, there are some things that should always be born in mind.

From Birth to 4 Weeks of Age

If the litter is still with its mother, then there is very little that you need to do to care for your kittens in the first few weeks. However, to make sure that Mother is able to produce enough milk, it is wise to offer her more food and water. Some owners choose to provide kitten food for a lactating cat, as it has a greater quantity of calories.

Obviously, if Mother is unable to care for her litter, or you are taking on orphaned kittens, you will need to hand rear them with a specifically designed kitten milk replacement.

Although you do not want to interfere too much, it is wise to keep an eye on the kittens in the first two week to make sure that they are all feeding. In addition, the kittens should double their body weight in the first fortnight, if one or more fails to do so, you should seek the immediate assistance of a vet.

From 4 to 8 Weeks of Age

At approximately four weeks, the kittens will begin to imitate Mother and show an interest in solid food. During this period, it is a good idea to mix some kitten food with kitten milk replacement and offer the kittens small portions of this ‘baby food’. However, they will make a mess if left with it, so keep an eye on the kittens and be sure to remove the leftover food once they have finished eating.

The trick to weaning them, as with any animal or human, is to gradually reduce the amount of added liquid in the food. Week-by-week reduce the amount of milk replacement that you mix with the kitten food, until, by about eight weeks of age, the kittens are eating solid food.

During this time, it is also a good idea to reduce the amount of kitten food that is offered to the mother, until she is back on adult food.

From 8 Weeks to 1 Year Old

When selecting a kitten food for your litter, it is wise to choose a high quality brand, as the budget foods are, typically, deficient in key nutrients. If you are in any doubt over which type of kitten food to choose, seek the advice of your veterinarian. If you intend to feed your kittens a dry food mix, it is essential that you provide a wet food, too. As an exclusively dry food diet can result in severe dehydration. You may also find it beneficial to place your kitten’s water bowl in a separate location to his, or her, food bowl, as cats are naturally inclined to eat and drink in different places.

Once kittens have been weaned, there is no need for them to have milk (kitten or cow’s). In fact, it is best to avoid milk, as once a kitten is weaned it loses the ability to digest lactose properly, which can lead to stomach upsets and digestive difficulties.

Changing a Cat’s Diet

If you need to change a cat or kitten’s diet, it is best to do so gradually, just as you would when introducing solid food. Some owners find it helpful to mix the new and old foods together, gradually phasing out the old. This is necessary because a cat’s stomach is very sensitive to changes and sudden alterations in diet can cause digestive problems.

A healthy diet from the start of life will ensure that your kittens grow into strong, robust adult cats.

Samantha Markham is a professional freelance writer, based in the UK. She currently works for Remmeer.com, a high quality supplier of pet products, including unique cat & kitten gifts and cat picture frames for kittens.

Article Source:http://www.articlesbase.com/pets-articles/tips-on-how-to-feed-kittens-1603042.html

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