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Experts answer six common questions about kitten food and more.
When it comes to cuteness, few critters can compare to kittens. If you’ve just acquired a kitten (or two), you’re probably learning all about kitten care. You want to do what you can to ensure that your adorable baby grows into a healthy adult. Proper feeding is a big part of the health equation. After the first four weeks of mother’s milk, a kitten gradually transitions to kitten food, and is completely weaned at about eight weeks. Here’s what you need to know once you’ve brought your kitten home. A kitten’s weight may double or even triple during the first few weeks of life. To support this explosive growth -- as well as high activity levels -- your kitten may have triple the energy needs of an adult cat. These high energy needs make it harder for kittens to get enough calories in one meal, says Jennifer Larsen, DVM, PhD, nutritional consultant and assistant professor of clinical nutrition at the Veterinary Medical Teaching Hospital at the University of California, Davis. “So most kittens want to eat at least three or four meals a day,” she says. “It’s also a comfort thing -- kittens are snackers at heart.” Kittens’ needs for fat, some fatty acids, and most vitamins are the same as for adult cats, Larsen says. But kittens have a higher requirement for protein, amino acids, and minerals, as well as for some vitamins. For example, kittens should get about 30% of their energy from protein. For these reasons, most experts recommend you feed your kitten specially formulated kitten food until age 1. Although some cat foods are labeled as appropriate for kittens and cats of all life stages, these aren’t appropriate for your kitten unless feeding tests support the label claim. And don’t forget to provide plenty of fresh water -- it’s a key to keeping cats of all ages healthy. Mindy Bough, CVT, senior director of client services for the Midwest Office of the American Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals (ASPCA) emphasizes the importance of high-quality kitten food. “I don’t recommend generic or store brands,” Bough says. Buy from a reputable company -- one that veterinarians recommend more frequently, she says. “Research has determined these kitten foods provide excellent health.” But how can you be certain a kitten food is of high quality? One way is by checking the label. It should at least contain the following: “Meets the nutritional requirements of kittens established by the American Association of Feed Control Officials (AAFCO).” AAFCO is a group of state and federal officials who regulate pet food. Even better, look for this: “Complete and balanced nutrition for kittens based on AAFCO feeding trials.” “Complete and balanced nutrition” means your kitten will require no mineral or vitamin supplementation. In fact, remember that too much of a “good thing” can be bad for your kitten, causing severe medical problems. Use supplements only if your veterinarian recommends them. Also use caution with homemade diets. For example, all-meat homemade diets can be low in calcium, leading to a mineral imbalance that causes hyperparathyroidism, a disease more common in rapidly growing kittens. “If you use a homemade diet, make sure it’s been formulated by a reputable nutritionist,” Bough says. After feeding for a period of time, you be the judge. With proper nutrition, your kitten should be healthy and alert, have a steady weight gain, and a clean, glossy coat. If not, check with your veterinarian about possible diet changes or ruling out any health problems. It’s important that very young kittens have at least some canned food to eat as part of their diet. Very small kittens have very small teeth and can’t chew dry food well. Without some canned food, they won’t get enough nutrition to grow properly. If you are feeding your kitten both dry and canned foods, then twice a day canned feedings are sufficient. If they’re only eating canned food, they should be fed four times daily. Cats are often considered the epitome of the “picky eater.” But it doesn’t have to be that way. Get your kitten started off on the right paw. “It’s easier to switch foods if a kitten has been exposed early on to different textures and flavors,” Larsen says. “If exposed to the same food over and over, cats tend to get a fixed preference for a particular flavor and texture.” If you’re trying to make a switch to a new kitten food, try mixing the new food and old foods in the same bowl. Over time, offer smaller and smaller amounts of the old food along with the new food. Remember that making rapid changes in food can cause stomach upset or “hunger strikes.” So you may need to make the transition to a new food over four to seven days. Check packages for suggested amounts. You want to give your kitten enough, but not too much. Even with their energy needs, overfeeding can become a big problem. "Young cats need more frequent feeding,” Bough says, “But as they get older, they can go to twice-a-day feeding.” Larsen agrees that it’s fine for young kittens to “free feed,” by making unlimited kitten food available to them all day long, and then to transition to meal eating around four to six months of age. Free-choice feeding has the additional benefit of reducing stomach distention resulting from rapid meal eating. It also helps underweight or slow-growing kittens. But free-feeding isn't the best option for overweight or obese kittens. For these kittens, measured portions offered as meals or until gone is a better choice. “Especially control intake around the time of spaying and neutering, which increases the risk for obesity,” Larsen says. “Preventing obesity is preferable to addressing it once it’s already occurred.” It’s OK to feed your kitten treats, as long as you follow the “10% calorie rule,” Larsen says. This means that treats should make up less than 10% of your kitten’s total calorie intake. But this doesn’t mean it’s a good idea to turn your leftover table scraps into treats for your kitten. Also, take precautions with the following foods: In addition, onions, garlic, chocolate, coffee, tea, raisins, or grapes can be toxic to kittens and cats.
SOURCES: APSCA: “Nutrition Tips for Kittens”. Jennifer Larsen, DVM, PhD, nutritional consultant and assistant professor of clinical nutrition, William R. Pritchard Veterinary Medical Teaching Hospital, UC, Davis. Virginia-Maryland Regional College of Veterinary Medicine: “Nutrition for the Growing Kitten.” Mindy Bough, senior director of client services for the ASPCA Midwest Office. © 2009 WebMD, LLC. All rights reserved.
You want to make sure your pet has a complete diet, but what happens if your cat won’t eat dry food? Cat food comes in two main varieties, wet or dry. But just as wet food can be jelly, gravy, or paté, dry kibble comes in an array of sizes, qualities, and flavors. This means that just because your cat turns his nose up at one type of dry food, it doesn’t necessarily mean he will dislike all of them. However, there could be many other reasons why your cat is not eating his dry food, which we will explore in this article. Why won't my cat eat dry food?The first thing to address is whether it is just the dry food he dislikes or whether he is not eating any food at all. This will help you to work out which of the following problems could be going on: Underlying health issuesIf your cat is generally off his food and is not keen to eat either dry food or wet, then you should get him checked over. Several conditions could cause inappetence in your cat and it can be hard to work out which one it is. Medical complaints like dental disease, stomach upsets, infections, kidney disease, liver problems, and cancer can all cause your cat to reduce his food intake. Your vet will examine your cat for obvious signs of disease, but may also suggest some further tests such as blood samples if they have concerns about your pet’s appetite. StressBehavioral issues like stress and anxiety in your cat can cause problems too. New pets or people in the home could put your cat on edge, or events such as fireworks or a recent house move. Issues with texture or kibble sizeThere are a variety of dry foods available with different kibble sizes and shapes, some of which may be more appealing to your cat than others. Naturally, kitten kibble will be quite small and easier for tiny teeth to manage. Adult cat food may be uniform, or it could contain a variety of shapes and your cat may have a preference for one over the other. Some cats just don’t enjoy the texture of dry food. Cats are carnivores (meat-eaters) by nature so might show a preference for moist, meaty foods instead of dry, crumbly kibbles. Poor quality dietYou should always feed your cat a good quality, complete diet that is appropriate to his life stage (ie kitten, adult, or senior foods). Some poorer quality commercial diets may contain less meat or meat derivatives, leading to issues with palatability. Look at our guide to the best dry cat food, for some inspiration when selecting a diet for your pet. Fussy eaterCats are notorious for being fussy eaters - what works for them one day, doesn’t always work the next! Some cats like variety, and receiving the same kibble each day might be boring. Other cats like familiarity and if you’ve recently changed the brand of their diet from the one they’ve always been happy with, this could be the cause. Changes to their food bowl could put them off too, or perhaps the location of their bowl. If your cat is getting lots of treats and titbits, then don’t forget this may be curbing his appetite and he could be developing a preference for these over his boring everyday kibbles. Is it bad if my cat won't eat dry food?There are some advantages to feeding dry food over wet food. It is easier to measure and weigh out your cat’s daily rations when he is on solely dry food. Dry kibbles are less smelly and messy than wet food, which can be a particular advantage in the summer. Many people think dry foods are better for their cat’s teeth and are concerned if their pet is only on wet food. However, studies comparing bacterial levels (opens in new tab) and oral health between the two are inconclusive. It’s important to remember that teeth brushing is the best preventative care you can provide against dental disease. As long as your cat is on a complete diet appropriate for his age, then it doesn’t matter if it is wet or dry food. It is far more important to monitor your pet’s weight and make sure you are feeding him the correct amount. Why has my cat stopped eating dry food but eats treats?Your cat might feel poorly and can only be tempted into eating if it’s something really tasty, like a special treat. Some cats just know to hold out for the good stuff! If you feed them lots of treats though this will curb their appetite for their main meal and lead to a nutritionally unbalanced diet. How to tell if your cat doesn't like their foodCats may explore their food bowl but take a sniff and walk away if they don’t like it. Others may have a few bites before giving up. It can be hard to tell the difference between your cat being unwell or just not liking their food, so take them to the vet for a check-up if their appetite seems off to you. How to encourage a cat to eat dry foodHere are some steps to take if you want your cat to eat dry food:
ConclusionIf your cat has gone off his dry food, then a check-up at the vet is a good idea, especially if there have been no changes to his diet or routine. If your cat shows a general preference to wet over dry, this is not necessarily an issue as long as he is maintaining a healthy weight. |