A kitten owner’s biggest concern is providing the perfect diet to their little one because starting well is crucial for your kitten’s long-term health and development. But with a bit of general knowledge about your kitty’s nutritional requirements, you can surely create a good meal plan for them.
What Should a Balanced Kitten Diet Consist Of?
Now keep in mind that a kitten’s nutritional requirements are different from a cat’s. To provide a balanced diet for your feline friend’s growth, you should give them a diet with higher protein levels, higher amounts of certain nutrients like calcium, and more calories per cup.
Your new kitten is likely to have tons of energy and would want to engage in rowdy play. Therefore, their food needs to be sufficient with nutrients so it can support their body when they burn their calories as well as expand energy for their growth.
Wet Food Versus Dry Food
Wet and dry kitten food can be tough to choose from as they are both commonly available in kitten formulations. Keeping in mind that there are pros and cons of feeding each, you should consult a veterinarian to get their recommendations about which one suits your kitty best. Here are some of the pros and cons for both.
● Wet kitten food: This has a high moisture content compared to dry food, which is a win for us as it’s beneficial for keeping your kitten hydrated, flushing their bladder, and improving their kidney health.
However, if you choose to opt for wet cat food then you must take the responsibility of keeping your kitty’s teeth in check. This is because wet kitten food gets stuck in the kitten’s teeth leading to painful dental problems.
● Dry kitten food: This is certainly a good option for multi-cat owners as it’s more convenient to serve. However, concerning kitten’s small and tender teeth it can be a little difficult for them to only consume dry food.
Moreover, with the constant consumption of dry food, there is a possibility that your kitten might get dehydrated because of the lack of moisture and also because they might not think about drinking water enough.
Another problem that comes with this option is that kittens might overeat dry food which causes them to gain excessive weight. And, excessive weight leads to different issues in the future like blood pressure problems, arthritis, or respiratory diseases.
How Much Wet Food Is Suitable for My Kitten?
As far as the quantity of wet food for kitten is concerned, well feeding guidelines are variable by kittens. However, a good starting place can be following the instructions given on the can of food. Thereafter, you can change and adjust the proportions according to your kitten’s needs. Generally, it’s recommended that you feed your kitten two-thirds of their daily calories from the kitten wet food and one-third from dry food.
Am I Overfeeding My Kitten?
Well, it’s almost impossible to overfeed a kitten as starting from the first few weeks of their lives till they are four months old, their metabolism is at its all-time high. This is because they are constantly growing and are in need of larger amounts of nutrients to sustain their energy. However, it is imperative to bear in mind that feeding your kitten frequently but in small amounts will not overload their tiny tummies.
It’s A Wrap!
Now, that’s about it. We hope this article was able to clear all your queries regarding your kitten’s diet. Keep in mind that dietary guidelines vary from kitten to kitten so you should not hesitate to pay a visit to the veterinarian if your kitten shows any signs of discomfort.
Oh and here’s a bonus tip: make sure to switch up the food flavors for your kitten so in the future you don’t have to deal with an unshakable diet.
Leave a Reply