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Kitten Care Guide on Kitten Feeding

    UK Pets Blog How to/Advice?
  1. Kitten Care Guide on Kitten Feeding
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Reading Time: 4 minutes

Are you planning or about to raise a kitten? Certain situations will lead you to bear the responsibility of a life-saving adventure. Whether you have bought, adopted or rescued orphaned kittens, congratulations! Fostering kittens is a rewarding decision of saving lives, and this post will help you in taking the first steps of being a cat parent. Then, you may want to learn further on tending your kitten’s needs even whilst being at work.

kittens eating together

Generally, kittens are often described as baby carnivores but with specialised needs. Note that their capability to digest protein is low but more especially the plant-based protein. As such, meat diet without salt is a preferable choice. They remain dependent from their mother’s milk until it reaches the age of 8 to 12 weeks. In the wild, cats at around 8 weeks old may start foraging their own food whilst decreasing her intake of her mother’s milk.

Learn the kitten’s initial dietary intake.

Talk to the breeder from where you got your kitten. Find out what they have been feeding the kittens so far. You should follow the same type of food for at least the first few weeks before gradually shifting to a different brand. It is important to avoid sudden changes when introducing them to new things as cats are generally known as habitual creatures.

Consider all your options on kitten feeding.

bottle-feeding a kittenPet stores will show a wide variety of options on cat feeding even for the younger ones. You have the option to choose on whether to feed it with wet, dry or a combination of both types of cat food. The next thing to consider is the brand and its quality. You may seek advice from your veterinarian for such important decisions. Cat parents may also want to take a leaf out of the world’s two oldest cats’ book to enjoy longer companionship with their pets.

Once you have decided on the type of feeding, you must do it gradually. It is important to note that the gradual transition must be done within at least a couple of weeks. Be sure to keep an eye for any unusual reactions from the said shift.

Kitten feeding chart by age

The chart below shows the kitten feeding schedule from newborn until 8 weeks and more.

WeeksFeedingDevelopment
0-1
  • Bottle feeding
  • Half tablespoon of formula
  • Feeding of 2-3 hours interval
  • If the mother cat is present, make sure that all kittens are able to nurse.
  • Kittens may weigh around 4 oz.
  • Newborns are deaf and blind.
  • Minimal handling is advised.
1-2
  • Bottle feeding
  • Half tablespoon of formula
  • Feeding of 2-3 hours interval
  • If mother cat is present, make sure that all kittens are able to nurse.
  • Kittens may weigh around 7 oz.
  • Ear canals and eyes will gradually open.
2-3
  • Bottle feeding
  • One tablespoon feeding in every 3-4 hours
  • Kittens may weigh around 10 oz.
  • Handling is recommended to introduce human contact.
  • They will begin to crawl and minimally play with the littermates.
3-4
  • Bottle feeding
  • One tablespoon feeding in every 4 hours
  • Overnight feeding is no longer required.
  • Kittens may weigh around 13 oz.
  • They can now see well and may start to groom themselves.
4-5
  • Weaning begins gradually.
  • Take three tablespoons of formula every 8 hours.
  • Litter box training should be introduced as early as 4 weeks of age.
5-6
  • Gruel feeding 4 times per day
  • Dry food and water
  • Food should be meat-flavoured without onion powder as an ingredient.
  • Socialise your kittens by having playtime sessions.
6-7
  • Regular feeding of either canned, dry food or both
  • Follow three meals a day
  • Set schedule on mealtime, playtime, and naptime.
7-8
  • Feed each kitten with one canned food a day.
  • Wet food can be introduced 3-4 times a day.
  • Do not feed leftovers.
  • Keep playing and socialising with kittens.
8 and more
  • Wet food twice a day
  • Keep food bowls of dry food and water to be eaten at will.
  • Do not feed leftovers.
  • Kittens may weigh about 2 pounds.
  • They are ready for adoption and spay/neuter.

Tips when introducing gruel feeding:

  • Place gruel in a dish with your kittens near the dish. If they cannot recognise the food, encourage them by using a tongue depressor or spoon into her mouth.
  • After the bite, gradually lead them towards the dish of the gruel.
  • Follow bottle feeding until the weaning process for at least three times a day.

Watch out for allergens.

a kitten scratching its neckThere are some cats that are prone to food allergies and sensitivities. Cats with allergy may manifest with the following food allergy signs and symptoms:

  • Diarrhoea
  • Itchy back or tail
  • Ear infections and itchy ears
  • Itchy eyes
  • Dry, itchy skin accompanied with extreme scratching of the body
  • Paw chewing
  • Sneezing and coughing
  • Snoring due to an inflamed throat

Monitor their weight.

It is best to monitor your feline’s weight to ensure that they are growing and developing as they should with an appropriate diet. Their size and weight will normally increase in a gradual manner until they reach their mature size.

Consider all your options (again) when transitioning to adult food.

As soon as your furry companion reaches the age of one, you will have to switch to adult food. The selection process will require you to look at the bigger picture as your cat’s optimal health depends on her daily nutrition. As a general rule, introduce changes gradually.

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Emily Taylor

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