Why Do Kittens Have To Eat Kitten Food

Once they start transitioning to solid food.

Why do kittens have to eat kitten food. At 1 year old a kitten is considered an adult cat and can transition gradually over to a complete and balanced adult cat food. Kitten food tends to be higher in calories but it also contains some vital nutrients that a growing kitten needs. There are other reasons why a cat might lose his appetite as well so don t start worrying right away. Continued how do i wean a kitten off of mother s milk or bottle feeding.

Very small kittens have very small teeth and can t chew dry food well. Without some canned food they won t get enough nutrition to grow properly. Essentially feeding a kitten adult cat food may be harmful because you actually may be depriving her of the important vitamins and minerals she needs to grow and thrive for that matter. Why it s a problem if your cat stops eating.

What type of food does my kitten need wet or dry. Your cat s lack of eating can also be a symptom of a disease or problem that s causing pain or discomfort. Do not use cow s milk as this will cause stomach upset and diarrhea in some kittens. It s important that very young kittens have at least some canned food to eat as part of their diet.

Kittens are normally weaned and eating solid food between 6 and 8 weeks of age. According to the american veterinary dental college avdc most cats will have some level of dental disease by the time they reach three years of age. When commercial kitten formulated food is readily available at stores there is absolutely no reason to give a kitten adult cat food end of story. Dip your fingertip or the syringe or bottle the kitten is used to nursing from into the liquid let the kitten lick it then guide him by moving your finger down into the bowl.

The exception would be larger breed cats such as the maine coon which do not reach adult maturity until they are 18 months to two years of age. Adult food is available for indoor cats too the nutrients are tailored to deliver different energy requirements to. It won t harm the adult cat to eat kitten food other than consuming the extra. If your cat isn t feeling well it may stop eating because there s something stuck in its stomach or intestines or your cat might not like the food you re offering.

As a general rule cats that are less than one year of age are considered kittens. Regardless of the reason it s a major concern if your cat stops eating. Reasons why a kitten won t eat. Kittens need their rapid growth and development supported through specially tailored nutrition found in kitten food until they reach 12 months of age.

Here are some reasons why your kitten may not be eating their food. Serve kitten milk replacer in a shallow bowl. Studies show that cats fed solely dry food have a lower water intake and lower urine volume than cats on a wet food diet even if they have constant access to fresh water. It is important to feed your pet a kitten formula up to one year.