Kitten Nutrition and Diet

For the first year or so of their life, you should feed your new kitten with specially formulated kitten food, preferably the same food they have always been used to.

Here are a few tips to keep your feeding on the right track:

• Never overfeed your kitten, as this can lead to diarrhea, vomiting and excessive weight gain
• Try to give them premium quality dry foods

Ban Homemade Meals

Everyone loves a homemade meal, but kittens are the exception. Feeding your kitten something you’ve made yourself might seem like a good idea but it’s not the best way of ensuring your growing pet gets all the nutrients it needs.

A balanced diet is important, especially in these early stages of their development. The best way for kittens to get this is by eating commercially produced kitten food that contains essentials such as calcium, phosphorous and other important vitamins and minerals. Cats have a specific need in their diet for taurine, one of the building blocks of protein. They can’t formulate this by their metabolism, so they need to have taurine in their diet.

Caring for Older Cats

As cats approach 8 years old, their diet can change and it might be time to look for specially formulated senior cat food at your supermarket, pet store or Vet. It’s important to take your cat for regular check-ups as they reach old age – just like you’d do for an elderly relative.

Milking It

If you give your cat a bowl of milk, they’ll appreciate it greatly, but it might not be as good for them as you think. Many cats are actually lactose intolerant, which means they can get quite sick from drinking your milky treats. Keep an eye out for specially formulated ‘pets only’ milk instead. You can find this in most good pet shops and in some supermarkets.