If you have brought home a cute little kitten and are wondering, “What do kittens eat?” we’ve got you. Kittens grow rapidly, so to support this growth, you must provide nutrient-rich food to nurture proper development.
The article dives deep into how to provide quality kitten food, including all the nutrients needed for kittens’ growth and health.
Understanding Kittens' Nutritional Needs
What can kittens eat? When kittens are weaned off their mother’s milk, they can have more flavors in their diet. It is crucial to understand that kittens need a balanced diet with all the nutrients for their growth and development, and specially formulated kitten food includes all the required ingredients.
Importance of High-Protein Diets
Protein-rich diets play a vital role in a kitten’s growth and development. Since kittens grow rapidly, they need higher levels of protein because it offers all the amino acids necessary for the organs, tissues, and muscles to develop and function. It is also a great source of energy for kittens. Protein intake keeps them active and playful.
Essential Vitamins and Minerals
Vitamins and minerals are necessary for growth and overall health, such as a healthy immune system, vision, metabolism of carbohydrates, and retaining calcium and phosphorus in the body for stronger bones and teeth.
The essential vitamins and minerals your cat needs include vitamins A, D, B1, B2, B3, B6, iron, calcium, sodium, magnesium, and chloride.
The Role of Hydration
Hydration is a physical state of balanced minerals, fluids, and electrolytes in the body, and it is necessary to maintain this balance. Proper water intake is essential for your kitten’s growth because it helps with all the crucial functions in the body, such as nutrient transportation, organ function, circulation, and digestion. It also helps the kidney rinse off toxic substances.
Best Foods for Kittens
The best food for kittens is the one that is specifically formulated for the little ones to help with their growth and development.
Commercial Kitten Food
You can get commercial kitten food specifically formulated to fulfill all your kitten’s nutritional needs. It comes in two forms - wet and dry. If your veterinarian has not recommended any specific food for your cat, you can choose wet or dry, whichever you and your feline friend like.
Benefits of Wet Food
Choosing wet food for your kitten has its numerous benefits, such as:
Wet food entices cats more than dry food because it has a stronger aroma.
Wet cat food for kittens has about 75% to 78% moisture content, which helps keep them hydrated.
The soft texture of wet food makes it easier for teething kittens to chew.
Benefits of Dry Food
Dry kitten food also offers various benefits, which includes:
According to an article by PetMD, dry food, once opened, can be left out for a longer time. Also, you do not need to refrigerate it like canned food.
Since dry cat food is easily measured, you can give only the amount your baby kitten needs.
Munching on the kibble helps keep your kitten’s teeth healthy and clean.
Recommended Ingredients to Look For
When searching for a formula for your kitten, the ingredients you should be looking for include higher levels of protein and calories, magnesium, calcium, iron, phosphorus, and zinc, extra vitamins C and E, and DHA.
Natural and Homemade Diet Options
You can also offer homemade foods to your kitten, but ensure you balance them with all the essential nutrients. The natural and homemade diet options include.
Cooked Meats
You can offer your kitten tiny bits of cooked meat, such as chicken, turkey, lamb, and beef. Do not offer them fatty, fried meats or meats with salts or nitrates. Also, avoid giving them bacon, sausage, or hot dogs because these can potentially cause diarrhea. Cut or shred the meat into tiny pieces.
Fish
Adding cooked fish to their diet will make your kitten happy. You can offer them tiny bits of cooked catfish, salmon, trout, or tuna without any seasoning or salt. The cat would love any cooked fish. Ensure you give only about a teaspoon and not more than that.
Salad Greens
While kittens are obligate carnivores, some greens in their food will be very beneficial. Since vegetables are a great source of fiber, vitamins, and minerals, adding salad greens to their diet will keep them healthy and active.
Squash and Pumpkin
You can also give squash and pumpkin to your kittens. Shred some squash or pumpkin, put it on a paper towel, and cover it with a damp paper towel to dry a little bit. Then heat it for a few seconds until it is cooked, wait until it cools down, and offer a tiny bit of it to your kitten. You can refrigerate the rest of it for the next day.
Cat Grass
Cat grass is typically oat or wheat grass, but often it's a mixture of grasses. The grasses will provide vitamins, fiber, and minerals to your kitten, though these are mostly given to them to explore something new. And that is why your kitten may be enjoying pulling out the grass rather than devouring it.
Scrambled Eggs
Feeding kittens a spoonful of scrambled eggs will make them happy. While scrambled eggs are nutritious for kittens, make sure there is no salt or pepper added to them.
Foods to Avoid
When introducing solids to your kitten, you must also avoid offering foods that are toxic to cats.
Toxic Foods
Toxic foods you must avoid giving your kitten include chocolate, onions, and garlic. Chocolate contains methylxanthines, substances that can cause diarrhea and vomiting, muscle tremors, abnormal heart rate, high body temperature, increased thirst, and seizures.
Whereas onions and garlic typically cause damage to the cat’s red blood cells, which results in anemia. Consumption of onions and garlic in any form and quantity is toxic to kittens.
Dairy Products and Lactose Intolerance
Cats usually have difficulty digesting the lactose in milk, which causes diarrhea or upset stomach. Kittens only drink their mother’s milk for a few weeks, and their digestive systems are not developed enough to digest lactose in the milk and are usually lactose intolerant. Hence, you must also avoid giving dairy products, such as cheese.
Raw Meats and Bones
Consuming raw meats can give way to E.coli and Salmonella in your kitten’s body and cause vomiting, diarrhea, and lethargy. Also, avoid providing raw bones to your cat because they can cause them to choke, damage their teeth, and block up their digestive tract.
Conclusion
Before introducing solids to your kitten, consult your veterinarian to understand which food is best for your cat. By keeping your kitten's diet balanced and nutritious, you will be giving them support for a happy and healthy life.
Frequently Asked Questions
What human food can cats eat?
Cats can eat cooked meats, fish, scrambled eggs, salad greens, squash, and pumpkins.
When do kittens start eating food?
Kittens can start eating moistened dry or wet food by the age of 3 to 4 weeks.
When can kittens eat dry food?
Kittens can begin eating dry food between 6 and 8 weeks when they are fully weaned off their mother's milk.
How much should a kitten eat?
According to Purina US, kittens aged 4-12 weeks can have 1/4 to 1/2 cup of moistened dry food per day, 1/3 to 2/3 cup of dry food per day for kittens aged 12-36 weeks, and 1/4 to 3/4 cup dry food per day for kittens aged 36-52 weeks.
