Introducing kittens to your home is an exciting time. You get little balls of fur full of energy who just want to play. However, it is a big responsibility and you will want to make sure that you are giving the new members of your household a balanced diet. A good diet will mean that your kittens will be the healthiest they can be.
Because of the amount of energy they have, kittens need a diet high in both protein and fat. Carbohydrates aren’t necessary, but they don’t do kittens any harm. Just make sure that the carbs don’t come from unhealthy fillers like wheat, corn, or soy.
Both dry kitten food and canned kitten food can be given. It is a good idea to free feed, that is leave some dry food out so the kittens can snack in-between meals. If you decide to feed both types of food, 2 – 3 cans of wet food is sufficient per day, but if you decide to just feed wet food, your kittens will need 4 3 oz. cans a day. Just remember that there isn’t as much protein in wet food as in dry.
Kittens need to stay hydrated so if your kittens are eating a lot of dry food, make sure that there are a few water sources close to their food.
In this article we will discuss how to choose the right cat food for your kittens and then give you our top rated kitten foods.
Buyer's Guide
What do Kittens Need to Grow up Healthy?
For the first four weeks of their lives kittens rely on milk from their mothers. Then they slowly transition to kitten food and should be fully weaned by the age of eight weeks. They can double or even triple in size during this time, so your kittens will need a significant amount of calories, more so than an adult cat. 50% of these calories are needed to form and develop tissues and organs, while the other 50% is simply for play.
Because their energy needs are so high, they can’t get all their calories in one meal and should be fed 3 or 4 meals a day.
While they need the same amount of fat, fatty acids, and some vitamins as adult cats, they need more protein until they’re 12 months of age. They also need more amino acids and minerals than adult cats. Because of this you should feed your kittens specially formulated kitten food.
So how do you know if the kitten food you have chosen is good enough? Firstly, it should have a protein as the first ingredient on the label. Secondly, it should state that it meets the requirements of AAFCO (the American Association of Feed Control). This group regulates pet food.
What Shouldn’t You Feed Your Kittens?
It is not advisable to serve your kittens homemade diets in preference to specially formulated dry and canned kitten food as you may not be giving them the right balance of nutrients.
Don’t feed your kitten raw meat as it may contain parasites, and raw eggs may have salmonella. Raw fish can give kittens a vitamin B deficiency while cow’s milk may give kittens diarrhea. If you want to give your kittens milk choose a milk especially formulated for kittens.
In addition, make sure that you don’t give your kittens onions, garlic, chocolate, raisins, grapes, coffee, or tea. All can be toxic for cats.
Feeding Guide for Dry Kitten Food
Most people include dry kitten food in the diet of their kittens. Cats love to snack so it’s a great thing to leave out all the time as it doesn’t spoil like canned food does.
It is a good idea to buy crunchy kibble as it helps reduce tartar. Cats, like any other animal, can develop dental problems as they age, so it’s a good idea to start prevention early in their lives.
The great thing about dry kitten food is that it is calorie-dense, much more so than canned kitten food, so it gives them fuel for their high energy levels. Just make sure that you leave them plenty of water so they can stay hydrated.
You should check what the ingredients are in the dry kitten food that you buy. Make sure that protein is the first ingredient as kittens need at least 30% protein a day. More is better. The food should also contain the amino acid, taurine as it aids brain development and ensures healthy eyes. The vitamins C and E promote a healthy immune system and mental development. It is always better to go for grain free dry kitten food as these fillers have no health benefits whatsoever. In addition, check that the food is free from artificial colors, flavors, and preservatives. They add nothing to the diet of your kittens. Think about purchasing smaller bags of food which have natural preservatives rather than a large bag with artificial preservatives.
Feel free to try out a number of high quality dry kitten foods to see which of the tastes your kittens prefer. You don’t want their bowls to go untouched.
In the end you need to get the right balance of nutrition, taste, calories, and price. Then your kittens can be assured a healthy life.
Feeding Guide for Canned Kitten Food
Canned kitten food contains a great deal of moisture which helps to keep your kittens hydrated. However, be careful that there isn’t too much, otherwise your kittens won’t be getting their desired nutrients.
A more expensive kitten food will probably contain more protein than a cheaper version. Less pricey kitten foods may also contain too many carbohydrates. Check the label to make sure that there is no wheat, corn, or soy as these carbs don’t add anything to the nutrition of your kittens. If there are carbs, ensure that they come in the form of fruits and vegetables.
There are quite a few textures of canned kitten food available. You should probably start with a pate as it is easier for little mouths to chew. As they start growing up, you can introduce cubed, flaked, and shredded kitten food which will give them practice in chewing. Try out all textures to see which ones they prefer.
Dry Kitten Food vs Canned Kitten Food
You may wonder why you should give canned food to your kittens as well as dry as they contain so much moisture. However, on a diet of only dry food, kittens can be prone to getting kidney and urinary tract infections. Also, if kittens get used to only dry food, it can lead to weight gain later in life as it is more calorie dense than wet food.
The best answer is to give your kittens a mixture of both types of food. Serve wet food at meal times and leave out some kibble for them to snack on throughout the day. Cats love to snack unlike dogs who wolf down their meals as soon as it is put in front of them.
You will know if your kittens are getting the right type of nutrition just by looking at them. They should have glossy coats, bright eyes, be full of energy, and not be overweight. Instead they should gain weight at a steady pace.
Why Should I Feed Kitten Food Rather Than Cat Food?
The reason why you shouldn’t give kittens adult cat food is that they have different dietary requirements. Kittens need way more protein than adult cats to feed their high energy levels. In addition they need more of certain vitamins and minerals.
Although you probably intend to give your cats the best possible diet which you can afford, it is essential that kittens have high-quality ingredients. They need protein from a meat or fish source, not from by-products. Fats are essential in small doses, and your kittens should be on a grain-free diet.
FAQ
Why Should I Buy Specially Formulated Kitten Food?
The answer to this question is simple. To have the healthiest kittens you will want to give them the best diet possible. Trying to feed them homemade food usually doesn’t work well as it is difficult to know if you are giving them the right amounts of protein, fats, and carbohydrates. Kittens need a lot of protein to fuel their energy levels; in fact they need much more protein than adult cats. They should ideally be getting a minimum of 30% protein from their food each day. They should also be getting a lot of calories, not just for playing but also to help them grow in the healthiest way.
Should I Feed My Kittens Wet or Dry Food?
Ideally you should feed them both. A good plan would be to give them wet food three times a day, while leaving out dry food for them. Dry food doesn’t spoil in the way wet food does, and cats do love to snack.
Wet food has the advantage of containing moisture which will keep your kittens hydrated. A high-quality brand of wet food will contain all the important vitamins, minerals, amino acids and antioxidants that your kitten needs. Dry food, on the other hand, has a lot more calories and protein than wet food which will fuel their energy.
