Are You Feeding Kittens the
Proper Nutrients?

Kittens have special dietary needs. They require more fat and protein than adult cats because they are rapidly growing and expend more energy. Kittens grow at the amazingly fast rate of one pound a month until around ten months of age depending on the breed.

Fat supplies energy and protein supplies the building blocks necessary for muscle growth and tissue repair. Additionally, feeding kittens more calories than adult cats supplies them with the extra energy they need due to their increased activity levels.

Felines Require Different Diets

Felines are obligate carnivores. This means they must consume meat and do not do well on a vegan or vegetarian diet. It is preferable to feed them organ and muscle meat. Felines need more meat than dogs. In fact, adult cats need at minimum about 25 percent protein in their diet.

That’s why feeding kittens dog food for extended periods of time can leave them without the important nutrients they need to grow. Felines need cannot digest carbohydrates and lack the enzymes needed to break them down. Giving kittens too many carbohydrates (grains, sugars, corn based food) can lead to large foul smelling stools. Luckily, felines do not tend to crave sweets.

Essential Nutrients for Kitten Feeding

Feeding kittens requires giving them more of everything an adult can requires: more choices, more time at the feeding bowl, and more nutrients. Here are the top essential nutrients required for kittens.

Top Nutrients for Kittens

• Protein--Protein is made from amino acids. Kittens need even more protein than adult cats. Taurine is an essential amino acid for felines. Kittens without sufficient taurine may develop fading kitten syndrome, blindness, and cardiomyopathy (a heart disease). Look for kitten foods with at least 0.04 percent taurine.

  Arginine is another amino acid. It helps to process waste in the body. Without this amino acid, kittens retain too much ammonia and develop toxicity, which could lead to death.

• Carbohydrates--Carbohydrates are sugars and starches that serve as energy sources for the body. If you are feeding kittens carbohydrates, choose slow-digesting carbohydrates like sweet potatoes, barley, and bran.

• Fat--Fat plays an important role in supplying kittens the energy they need during the day for play and growth. As with humans, kittens need “good fats”. Omega 3 and Omega 6 fatty acids help keep kittens with glossy coats and aids in maintaing healthy skin.

• Vitamins--Vitamins are an often forgotten nutrient in a kitten’s diet. A kitten’s body is not able make vitamins D or A. In humans, beta-carotene from the diet is converted to retinol, which is the active form of vitamin A in the body. The human body also makes vitamin D from sunlight. Kittens are unable to convert beta-carotene to retinol and also cannot make vitamin D. Felines, unlike humans, must get vitamins A and D from their diet.

• Minerals--Calcium and phosphorus deficiencies can affect kitten bone development, the kidneys, and the heart.

• Water--Water is an underappreciated nutrient. It makes up most of a kitten’s blood volume. Without adequate water, dehydrated kittens tend to get more kidney problems and develop urinary tract infections. Dark concentrated urine is a sign of dehydration. Kittens fed dry food need more water than kitten fed wet food. Always keep fresh clean water available for kittens to drink.

Types of Kitten Food

Wet is the preferred type by kittens. It contains the most protein. It is also the most expensive kitten food. Wet kitten food contains more water than dry food.

Feeding kittens this type of food, requires regular teeth brushing. Wet food is not abrasive against the teeth and doesn't remove tartar like dry food. Raw uncooked, food is also an option to consider when feeding kittens.

Semi-moist food contains more water than dry food and may have added colorants and sugars. Semi-moist food appeals to kittens (and owners!) more.

Dry food may help keep teeth cleaner, as it is abrasive against kitten teeth. Just make sure the dry food is low in carbohydrates.

The sugar in carbohydrates can feed bacteria that lead to teeth decay and can increase risk of obesity and diabetes. There is less risk of spoilage because of the preservatives within dry food. Dry food, however, can lose nutritional value as it gets older and should be thrown out after a few months.

Dry food has less protein than wet. It also contains less water which could lead to increased risk of dehydration and constipation. Kittens often do not like dry food. It’s just not as appealing to them as wet food. Often, kittens will tolerate dry food if it’s mixed with wet.

Click here for yummy homemade kitten food recipes!

Feeding Kittens Differently Than Adult Cats

When kittens are first born, they get nutrients and immune protection from their mother cat’s milk. Older kittens weaned and no longer drinking mother’s milk need a formulation of food designed specifically for kittens. Bottle fed kittens also need to have their dietary needs met.

Fresh water should be left out all day for kittens. They get thirsty more often than adult cats because they are so active. Kittens prefer food at room temperature and may not eat cold food.

Feeding kittens can occur throughout the day by grazing or at set meal times. But, if you have a spayed or neutered kitten, beware. Kittens that have been fixed have slower metabolisms and may need less food than unaltered kittens.

Foods Kittens Should Avoid

• Chocolate
• Onions (Alliums)
• Grapes/Raisins
• Alcohol
• Cow’s Milk
• Tuna
• Yeast Dough
• Coffee
• Dog Food
• Fatty Foods

Remember…feeding kittens is an individual matter. Speak with your vet about what’s right for your kitten.

Return from Feeding Kittens to All About Cute Kittens Homepage