Feeding kittens is usually not challenging, unless the kittens are unweaned. In that case, special measures are necessary.
Feeding a weaned kitten:
- For weaned kittens, a person should start by feeding any commercial dry food especially for kittens. The food should be slightly moistened with water. Fresh water should also be offered at all times. The dry food should be moistened until the kitten is about five to six months old. Do not moisten the food with milk. Cow's milk gives many cats diarrhea and is not healthy for them.
Some pet owners want to move a cat on to canned food. This should not be done until the cat is at least six months old. However, the canned food should still be supplemented with the kitten chow until the cat is 12-18 months old. The kitten chow provides extra nutrients that are essential for a healthy adult cat. Also, dry food should still be offered even if the cat eats canned food.
- The owner can move the cat from kitten chow to adult dry food by mixing the two and gradually decreasing the amount of kitten chow, until the cat is changed over completely to the adult dry food.
Feeding an unweaned kitten:
- Feeding an unweaned kitten is a very different process. The owner must take over the mother's job. The first thing to do is to take the kitten to a veterinarian for detailed care advice. Some vets keep a special kitten formula in the office, and this should be used, if available. If not, many pet stores sell kitten formula. The owner should also get a small bottle - marked in CCs - with a nipple especially for kittens.
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Author: Amy Pollick