What Makes Up a Kitten's Diet?
You've stocked up on toys and catnip. You've prepped the litter box. You've tucked away all your cords and set up a great cat bed (although she'll probably just sleep in the box). Your house is ready for your new kitten—but what does she need to eat?
Kittens have a slightly more finicky diet than adult cats. Once they're separated from their mothers, they need to continue a diet rich in the nutrients that help them grow. While your new kitten is tumbling around the living room and swatting at catnip mice, you can brush up on your pet parenting skills so you're ready for dinnertime with the best kitten food.
All Cats Are Carnivores and Must Have a Meat-Based Diet
Domestic cats are descended from the fierce predator cats that still roam the wild today. House cats, like wildcats, are carnivores—obligate carnivores, to be specific, which means while they can snack on other things (like catnip), they cannot survive without meat in their diets.
You might be thinking, "Hold on, kittens survive on their mother's milk—do they still need meat in their diets?" The short answer is yes. Kittens who are still dependent on their mothers get all their nutrition from mom's diet. So, if mom needs a meat-based diet, so do the kittens when they get older.
Can Kittens Eat Solid Food?
Cats mature much faster than babies from other species. While they start out blind, unable to walk, and reliant on their mother's milk, kittens can start eating solid food as early as four weeks old, and typically have strong enough stomachs to go off milk completely by six weeks of age.
The best kitten food is a formula made specifically for young cats. In other words, food that isn't marked "adult" or "maintenance." The cat food available on today's market runs the gamut as far as formulas go. You'll be able to find wet or dry varieties of food designed for babies, senior cats, cats with allergies, and everything in between.
What's the Difference Between a Kitten's Diet and an Adult Cat's?
It might seem more efficient to buy a big bag of "regular formula" cat food for your kitten. After all, they'll only be "kittens" for the first eight to twelve months! However, kittens require a different balance in their nutrition because of how rapidly they grow and gain weight.
Compared to an adult cat's diet, kittens need more protein and fat—approximately 34% protein and 20% fat (compared to 30% and 18%, respectively). They also need a diet richer in certain minerals, like calcium, phosphorus, and potassium. These help your kitten grow strong bones and teeth, while protein and fat help your kitten gain weight and muscle.
How Often Do Kittens Need to Eat?
Because their ancestors follow a predator's diet (eating when they're hungry, saving some for later, and seeking a challenge from their food), kittens aren't going to eat an entire bowl in one sitting. In fact, most kittens tend to eat a couple mouthfuls at a time and then head out for more play and exploration of the home.
To tempt your cat into eating, start out with a simple kitten formula and see how your little guy or gal takes to it. If they start having dietary problems, switch up the formula to eliminate things like grain or rely on organic ingredients: your kitten might have a food allergy, or he/she might just have a sensitive stomach.
Should I Be Worried If My Kitten Isn't Eating Much?
Nope! Most kittens only want to eat a little bit at a time, since their tummies are too small to hold more than a few mouthfuls. Just make sure they have access to food and water whenever they might be interested (and access to a litter box after every meal!).
While you shouldn't be concerned if your kitten isn't eating much, you should take your cat to the vet if she/he stops eating or drinking completely. Kittens, like all living creatures, need food to survive, and skipping meals entirely may be a sign that something more serious is up. It may be something as simple as personal preference (and you can try fixing this by switching from dry to wet food, or vice versa). Your vet will be able to make a recommendation based on your kitten's behavior and vitals.
Your little fur-ball is exploring the world, getting to know your home, and learning to trust you. And at the same time, they're probably stealing your heart! With the right care and a lot of love, your kitten will grow into a healthy and happy adult cat.
Resources— Hartz, Love To Know, International Cat Care
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