Content
- When can the kitten eat feed?
- When do kittens start eating?
- progressive changes
- Other precautions to take into account
From the beginning of life, the feeding of a kitten cat it must be very balanced to avoid problems in the future. Good nutrition is synonymous with good health and well-being for your cat.
Whether a kitten is bottle-fed or mother-fed, you need to know at what age it starts to feed on its own. Therefore, in this article by PeritoAnimal we will tell you about what age and what kind of food kittens eat. Keep reading and find out at what age do cats start to eat chow.
When can the kitten eat feed?
The first food that kittens eat when they are born is the breast milk. This food is very important to them, as it gives them maternal immunity against the main infectious agents.
If you adopted a kitten at lactating age or his mother rejected him, you should give him special cat milk from the bottle. This milk is the only milk the kitten can drink and you should not give it cow's milk. For more information, we recommend that you consult our article: "How to Feed a Newborn Cat".
The milk that kittens drink, whether maternal or artificial, is rich in fatty acids, colostrum (antibodies) and vitamins.
When do kittens start eating?
The lactation of a kitten kitten lasts about 9 weeks and when the first teeth start to appear, around four weeks, can start eating solid food. You should choose a food suitable for kittens, and it is recommended that you moisten it a little with warm water, to make it easier to start the chewing process. In addition, you can add some moist food or pate, suitable for kittens.
The food that kittens must eat, from the end of lactation to the first year of age, must be composed of highly digestible proteins, antioxidants and fatty acids such as omega 3 and omega 6. This food must be of high quality and the quantity must follow the guidelines described on the package. Despite this, your veterinarian may advise you to adjust the amount more or less, depending on your cat's specific characteristics.
If you prefer, you can choose to make homemade food for this stage of your cat's life. However, the most advisable according to most veterinarians is to opt for a super premium food suitable for the age of the cat in question. With homemade food, it is more difficult to achieve balance and all the nutrients the cat needs. Therefore, if you choose this method, our advice is that you should seek out an animal nutrition specialist.
progressive changes
Now that you know at what age kittens start to eat by themselves, you should try different rations to choose the most suitable one. It's important that you never forget that the change of food must be done progressively and gradually introducing a new food. Sudden food changes can cause intestinal dysbiosis that results in diarrhea and vomiting.
If your kitten is still living with its mother, the weaning process takes place little by little. There is no need to separate them. On the other hand, it is not advisable to remove the puppies from the mother before a certain age. It is with mom and siblings that the cat learns all the typical behaviors of its species. For more information, see our article on: "When can kittens be separated from mother?"
Once the cat starts the weaning process, instinctively he starts looking for food. If it doesn't, you can help him by giving some food directly from your hand. If he still lives with his mother, it is recommended that you let him eat from the same dish as her, so that he can learn through observation.
The kitten itself will manage the food it eats. In addition, you should choose a wide, flat plate to facilitate the kitten's access to food.
Other precautions to take into account
When kittens start to eat solid foods, it may happen that they suffer from a little constipation. You can help him defecate by doing gentle massages in his belly. In addition, always make suitable litter boxes available for him to start making needs in the right place.
Coinciding with the beginning of solid feeding, there must be the first internal deworming. Consult your trusted veterinarian, so that he can advise you and define a protocol for deworming and vaccinating the puppy. Health is the most important and you must never neglect this point. Furthermore, it is important that you provide fresh, clean water daily. Ideally, the water pot should be away from the food pot and in a different room from the litter box.