What Do Kittens Need In Their Diet

Proper diet and nutrition is a key predictor of adult health in kittens.

What do kittens need in their diet. Overall cats have a very high requirement for protein. Kittens needs for fat some fatty acids and most vitamins are the same as for adult cats larsen says. High protein low carbohydrate diets do have their place particularly in the feeding of diabetic cats. In fact some grain free pet foods contain carbohydrate levels similar to or even higher than diets containing grains.

If a kitten is nursing from its mother you ll have to depend on how much the kitten weighs to know whether or not it is consuming enough food. A nutritious balanced diet is essential to keeping your cat healthy. Kittens need large amounts of energy about two to three times that of an adult cat. Kittens also need optimal calcium to phosphorus ratio for proper bone growth.

Learn what you should be feeding your cat at every stage of its life. Cats also require more than a dozen other nutrients including vitamins minerals fatty acids and amino acids. Kittens need large quantities of protein. The omega fatty acid dha which is an important nutrient for brain and vision development in kittens.

A 2 to 3 week old kitten will still need to be fed every 2 3 hours and it should consume at least 1 2 tablespoon of formula or milk during each meal. Common cat feeding errors could you be making one of. Canned food will appear to have less because it is diluted with water. Cats need animal sources of this nutrient as the amino acids from vegetable sources aren t well utilized.

Avoid adult cat diets labeled for maintenance. But kittens have a higher requirement for protein amino acids and minerals as well as for. Your pet will need to eat kitten formula food until she reaches maturity at about one year of age. However it is important not to assume that a grain free diet is a low carbohydrate diet.

Don t feed a kitten puppy or dog food. Cats evolved as hunters that consume prey that contains high amounts of protein moderate amounts of fat and a minimal amount of carbohydrates and their diet still requires these general proportions today. How much each animal may need can vary slightly due to a variety of factors including physiological state age activity and the digestibility of the protein source being fed. Kittens can eat a variety of foods depending upon their age.

Make sure the food you offer is specifically formulated for kittens. They don t have the higher protein and fat content that kittens need. Wet diet and natural foods everything you need to know to choose the right food for your cat. A healthy diet will ensure proper growth and development minimize the risk of disease and keep your kitten s teeth clean and healthy.