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Feeding Guidelines for New Kittens
Short Description
Feeding Guidelines for New Kittens
Description:
Kittens weigh about 100 grams at birth and gain
between 50 and 100 grams each week until they reach five to six
months of age. Weaning kittens from their mother's milk before six
weeks of age may slow their growth and result in overly cautious or
aggressive behavior when they reach adulthood. Usually, the mother
cat will wean the kittens when they are between seven and 10 weeks
of age. During the weaning, they should be fed a dry commercial cat
food that is specifically formulated for growing kittens. Cat and kitten foods are available in canned,
dry, or semi-moist forms. Most veterinarians recommend feeding a dry
kitten product because this type of food is less expensive than
canned or semi-moist foods, and the crunchy kibble helps to minimize
tartar build-up. Canned and semi-moist products, however, are more
palatable than dry food and can be provided as periodic treats. Once
the container has been opened, both canned and soft-moist products
must be covered and stored in the refrigerator.
Cat foods made specifically for kittens should be nutritious and
should support growth; look for the words "complete and balanced" on
the label. Complete and balanced products contain all the necessary
nutrients, in the appropriate amounts, for young, growing cats.
Although not required by law, most name-brand commercial
manufacturers test their growth products by feeding them to mother
cats and kittens. Owners should check the label for the Association
of American Feed Control Officials' claim confirming that the
product has been tested in animal feeding trials. Because cats are natural nibblers, averaging 12
to 20 small meals every 24 hours, they should have access to food at
all times. In addition, clean, fresh water should always be
available. In considering where to feed the kitten, owners should
take into consideration how they plan to manage training and
housebreaking, and whether there are additional pets or children in
the household. Some common feeding places include a quiet corner of
the basement, the kitchen, a bathroom, the garage, a bedroom, or
even beside the owner's chair in the living room.
Young cats that have reached the age of six to nine months and have
been spayed or neutered may experience a slight decrease in caloric
needs and an increase in body weight. In response, the owner should
switch gradually from free-choice feeding to portion-controlled
meals. The avoidance of excess body weight is important in
preventing obesity, which can lead to health problems as the cat
gets older.
Feeding instructions listed on pet food packages are reasonable
recommendations to follow for about two weeks after the new kitten's
introduction to the household; after that, an adjustment should be
made based upon the animal's body condition. A kitten in good body
condition should have an hourglass shape when viewed from above, or
from the aerial view, while a kitten that is overweight will have
lost definition around the midsection. The ribs should be able to be
felt but not seen; if the ribcage is visible, the kitten may be too
thin and the owner should consider increasing the total calories
offered. However, if the individual ribs cannot be distinguished
because too much fat is covering the ribcage, the owner should
consider reducing the caloric intake.
Most cat owners want to feed treats or snacks of
some kind, and there are several commercial cat treats available in
grocery stores, pet specialty shops, or available on the internet.
The use of treats as rewards during training is appropriate, but the
portions should be small because most treats, snacks and human
scraps fed to cats are a source of extra calories. To avoid problems
such as obesity and diarrhea, treats and snacks should not make up
more than 10 percent of the kitten's total caloric intake, and this
guideline applies to adult cats as well.
For several reasons, dog food products and vegetarian diets are
inappropriate to feed to cats and kittens. The daily protein
requirement is higher for cats than dogs because liver enzymes of
cats are constantly running at a higher activity level, and this
results in the need for a fixed amount of dietary protein to be used
for energy. Cats have an essential requirement for the beta-amino
acid taurine, which is needed for normal function of several organs
including the eye and the heart. Only animal-source proteins provide
taurine and arginine, another important amino acid for cats, in the
diet. Cats also require animal-source fats to provide the essential
fatty acid called arachidonic acid, whereas dogs can convert dietary
sources of linoleic acid to arachidonic acid and thus do not need
animal fats in their foods. And unlike dogs, cats cannot convert the
amino acid tryptophan into the B-vitamin niacin, or beta-carotene
into vitamin A, so these critical nutrients must be provided in the
cat and kitten food.
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