Cats are kittens until they turn 1. Kittens and adults need different amounts of nutrients, vitamins and minerals. So for healthy development on the way to adulthood, kittens need food suited to their growth stage.
As with all living things, nutrition, or rather the right nutrition, is a very delicate matter for your kitten's healthy life. That's why every detail matters, from the quality of the food you use to how often you feed.
One of the most common mistakes is overfeeding. Just like in people, too much food leads to obesity. A certain share of pets are either overweight or obese. Sadly, this means a big drop in quality of life and health problems. As a solution, you can talk to a veterinarian to set the type of food, the amount and the feeding schedule for your cat.
A kitten's diet plays a key role in physical and social development. The right nutrients in their food help development and lay the foundation for a healthy life. The first weeks and months of life are key to giving your kitten a perfect start. Kittens are fed only their mother's milk until 4 weeks old, and over the next 4 weeks it's recommended to wean them on a mix of mother's milk and wet food. In some cases, kittens may be weaned earlier and separated from their mother. In these cases, it's recommended to feed them kitten milk replacer until 8 weeks old. When milk replacer is needed, always use a feeding bottle. Some kitten owners prefer to give diluted milk replacer with a syringe. Feeding a kitten with a syringe is risky, though. If you push the syringe a little too fast, the milk can go down the windpipe into the lungs. Since cats' lungs are very sensitive, this can have serious health consequences.
Once your kittens are 8 weeks old, gradually move them onto dry food by moistening it with wet food. How often kittens are fed matters during this period. They need more nutrients than adult cats to grow and build energy. And since their metabolism is very fast and their stomachs are very small, they need to eat often. This decreases as they grow. By closely following your cat's development, you can tell how much food they need, which will guide you on how often to feed them.
When needed, kitten foods can also be fed to pregnant or nursing cats. Since these foods can successfully meet a mother cat's increased calorie needs, you can choose them with peace of mind.
By 3 months, kittens have all their baby teeth, which even start to fall out gradually. It's normal for this to continue for 2–3 months. Their bodies start preparing for adulthood: their eye color becomes permanent, they build muscle, they sleep less and spend more time exploring the world. At 3 months, kittens are fully separated from their mothers, and kitten food now makes up their diet. Dry foods are considered among the healthiest cat foods. Choosing dry food is more effective for feeding your cat well and getting good results from litter training. Once kittens are weaned, they should be fed a good food.
They should eat kitten foods that are high in protein, rich in fatty acids and contain the vitamins and minerals essential for their development. Foods for growing cats should contain the protein, omega-3 and immune-supporting vitamins they need. Kittens need lots of calories to grow. These foods also contain DHA, which is found in mother's milk. Vitamin B9, omega-3 and omega-6, which support development, are also valuable in kitten nutrition. Kitten food needs to contain taurine for healthy heart function, vision, hearing, reproduction, and nervous, digestive and immune system health. In cats, taurine deficiency can cause a serious heart disease in which the heart muscle becomes thin and weak (dilated cardiomyopathy).
Kitten foods vary a lot in their ingredients. Dry foods for kittens can be breed-specific, and there are also versions that all kittens can safely eat.