How Often Should I Feed My Cat
Cats have evolved to eat numerous small meals throughout the day but leaving food out all the time is a major risk factor for obesity. At a minimum, a cats total daily food intake should be divided into two meals, but more is better. An automatic timed feeder, like the Cat Mate C500 Digital 5 Meal Dog & Cat Feeder, that can be preloaded with multiple, measured meals is a great way to provide your cat with just the right amount of food, divided into small meals.
You now have a general idea of how much food to feed a cat, but keep in mind that an individuals needs can vary by as much as 50 percent in either direction from the average. Monitor your cats weight and body condition to narrow in on how much they should eat and, as always, talk to your veterinarian if you have any questions or concerns.
Read more:
Weeks Four And Five Feeding Schedules
During weeks 4 and 5, a kitten will slowly increase how much food it consumes in a meal. Feedings will occur less frequently and a bowl of formula or other liquid kitten food should be made available for a kitten to start drinking from. By the end of week 5, a kitten should only be nursing three times a day but at each meal it should be consuming about 3 tablespoons of milk or formula.
A kitten should weigh about 14 to 16 oz. by the time it is 4 to 5 weeks of age if it is eating enough food. Towards the end of week five, you should be offering the kitten more food from a saucer than it is consuming from nursing. The food should graduate from being a liquid to eventually more of a gruel by using less and less water with canned kitten food over the course of a couple of weeks. This will be a messy stage of a kitten’s life since it usually ends up walking in the food, but it is a necessary step to begin weaning it off of its mother’s milk.
How Many Ml Do You Feed A Kitten
Image taken by: https://squarespace-cdn.com
A kitten should consume eight milliliters of formula per ounce of body weight on an average day.
The newborn kitten is extremely delicate and fragile, so feeding it the necessary nutrition is critical. To ensure that your kitten is getting the proper amount of food and type, its a good idea to reference a kitten feeding chart. A healthy newborn kitten should weigh between 50 and 150 grams on average. When the kitten is between two and three weeks old, the feeding schedule should resume every 2-3 hours. As kitten milk formula intake increases, the feeding time can be increased by 10 to 13 ml per day. By the third week, the kitten should have gained between 250 and 350 grams of weight. At eight weeks of age, a kitten should have completely weaned itself and be ready to eat solid food. Both wet and dry kitten foods have some advantages, but it is critical to feed food labeled specifically for kittens in the first year. If youre planning a dietary change, consult with a veterinarian to rule out any health issues.
Recommended Reading: Best Dry Food For Kittens
What Should The Average Cat Weigh
In veterinary medicine, we often say that the ideal weight for the average healthy cat is 10 pounds.
We follow that statement with the qualifier that healthy cats come in a variety of sizes and weights. More than the weight alone, we must evaluate the body frame size and the lean muscle mass of a cat.
How Do Kittens Nutritional Needs Differ From Those Of Adult Cats
A kittens weight may double or even triple during the first few weeks of life. To support this explosive growth — as well as high activity levels — your kitten may have triple the energy needs of an adult cat.
These high energy needs make it harder for kittens to get enough calories in one meal, says Jennifer Larsen, DVM, PhD, nutritional consultant and assistant professor of clinical nutrition at the Veterinary Medical Teaching Hospital at the University of California, Davis. So most kittens want to eat at least three or four meals a day, she says. Its also a comfort thing — kittens are snackers at heart.
Kittens needs for fat, some fatty acids, and most vitamins are the same as for adult cats, Larsen says. But kittens have a higher requirement for protein, amino acids, and minerals, as well as for some vitamins. For example, kittens should get about 30% of their energy from protein.
For these reasons, most experts recommend you feed your kitten specially formulated kitten food until age 1. Although some cat foods are labeled as appropriate for kittens and cats of all life stages, these arent appropriate for your kitten unless feeding tests support the label claim.
And dont forget to provide plenty of fresh water — its a key to keeping cats of all ages healthy.
Read Also: Siamese Kittens For Sale Ct
How Much To Syringe Feed A Kitten
Kittens are notoriously finicky eaters, and sometimes they need a little help getting enough to eat. If youre wondering how much to syringe feed a kitten, the answer depends on a few factors. First, youll need to know how much the kitten weighs. A general rule of thumb is to give them about 10-15% of their body weight in food per day. So, if your kitten weighs two pounds, youll want to give them about 1/4 cup of food per day. Second, youll need to decide what type of food to give them. Kittens need a high-calorie diet to help them grow, so youll want to choose a kitten food that is high in protein and fat. Finally, youll need to choose the right size syringe. A 3ml syringe is a good choice for most kittens. With all of that in mind, lets take a look at how to syringe feed a kitten. First, youll want to warm the food to body temperature. This will help the kitten digest the food more easily. Next, fill the syringe with the warmed food. Gently insert the syringe into the kittens mouth and slowly squeeze the food into their mouth. Be careful not to overfeed the kitten they should only eat about 1/4 cup of food per day. If you have any questions about how much to syringe feed a kitten, talk to your veterinarian. They can help you choose the right food and the right size syringe for your kitten.
Weaning From Formula To Kitten Food
At four or five weeks of age, mother cats start to wean kittens off of their milk, so they should begin to transition to kitten food. Bottle-fed kittens should also be introduced to kitten food at this same time. This can be done by mixing bits of kitten food with kitten formula. Youll still want to still supplement with kitten formula to make sure theyre getting enough nutrients, but consult your vet to get their take on it as well.
At five weeks of age, you can introduce your kitten to dry kitten food along with a bowl of water. Gradually decrease any formula use until your kitten fully transitions to solid kitten food.
At eight weeks of age, your kitten should be drinking water and eating completely on their own. Make sure to consult your vet if your kitty is having trouble with this adjustment.
You May Like: How Old Do Kittens Need To Be To Get Fixed
How To Get Your Cat To Eat
Cats are clever. You might have noticed that if they dont like the food theyre offered, they can wait for a while until something they prefer is provided. Some cats are fussier than others, and some can stop eating due to illness or stressed. If your cat is off their food and this is unusual, make sure you see a vet to rule out any underlying illnesses or behavioural problems.
You can encourage your cat to eat by:
- offering different wet and dry foods at different times, and introduce new foods slowly
- giving wet food at room temperature, instead of straight from the fridge
- offering small, regular amounts of food rather than a large portion this is less overwhelming and ensures the food is always fresh
- offering food with a strong odour. Warming it up can increase the scent, but be careful not to make it too hot!
- adding a drop of tasty yeast extract spread, fish oil or kitten food to your cats meal. This can make food more appetising but shouldnt be done regularly. Ask your vet for more advice.
- sitting down with your cat, or hand feeding them. This can induce their appetite. Try a small amount of chicken and fish as a treat if theyre struggling.
How To Encourage Kittens To Drink
Cats are opportunistic drinkers so place a few bowls around the house, making sure each one is in a calm place, away from food bowls and litter trays. Also try:
- Using glass, porcelain, or metal bowls many cats don’t like the taste of water from a plastic bowl.
- A wide, shallow bowl filled to the brim so your kitten can keep an eye on their surroundings while drinking.
- Letting your kitten drink from a water fountain or tap some prefer running water.
Read Also: Why Do Cats Push Their Paws Into You
When Can You Start Bottle
You cant give kittens solid food right away, so when can you start bottle feeding a kitten? In general, kittens can start being bottle fed when theyre about a week old. However, this timeline may vary a bit. Its also important to keep in mind that kittens 3 weeks or younger arent able to feed themselves, which means youll need to manually bottle feed them.
In order to bottle feed a kitten, youll need to have baby bottles with nipples as well as a suitable milk replacement. KMR powder is a popular choice for a kitten milk replacement. Simply mix one part KMR to two parts water , combining it until there are no clumps left. Make sure you keep the opened container of powdered milk replacement in the fridge, and dont keep premade formula for more than 24 hours.
When its time to feed your kittens, youll need to wake them up. Kittens dont typically cry or wake up when theyre hungry, so its up to you to decide how often to feed kittens and keep them on a regular feeding schedule. Most young, nursing kittens should be fed every 3-4 hours.
As your cat gets older, you can try putting a bit of milk replacement in a bowl for them. If they learn to eat on their own, you can add small bits of wet food when its appropriate for their age.
What To Feed Kittens 4 To 6 Weeks Of Age Weaning Begins
Weaning is the gradual transition from a diet of only mothers milk or an appropriate milk replacer to solid foods. For kittens, this generally begins around 3 to 4 weeks of age.
Start by offering a gruel made from high-quality canned kitten food mixed with warm water several times a day. Also put out a small bowl of water. For large litters, set up several feeding stations to ensure that everyone has access to what they need.
Bottle-fed kittens will let you know that they are ready to try solid food when they start chewing on the nipples while they nurse. Initially, continue to offer a bottle every 6 to 8 hours while food is freely available, but once the kittens are eating canned food well and drinking water from a bowl, you can stop the bottle feedings.
You May Like: When Can You Give Kittens Wet Food
Weeks Seven And Eight Feeding Schedules
Limited nursing sessions should still be allowed until the kittens are two months old, assuming they are all eating the kitten food that is offered to them three times a day. The mother cat may need to be separated from kittens that are relentlessly trying to nurse more than they should, but by the end of week eight, a kitten should weigh about two pounds from the combination of limited nursing and eating regular kitten food.
The Spruce / Emilie Dunphy
What To Feed Kittens 10+ Weeks Of Age A Kittens Diet After Weaning
Most kittens need to continue eating foods designed specifically for growth until they are around 10 months of age. Only feed your kitten commercial diets that meet the standards put forward by the Association of American Feed Control Officials . Look for a statement on the products label that says something along the lines of:
- Kitten Food A is formulated to meet the nutritional levels established by the AAFCO Cat Food Nutrient Profiles for growth and reproduction.
- Animal feeding tests using AAFCO procedures substantiate that Kitten Food B provides complete and balanced nutrition for growth and reproduction.
Try these vet-recommended wet kitten foods:
Also Check: How To Certify Cat As Service Animal
Reasons Your Kitten May Not Be Eating
If your new kitten is not eating well or has diarrhea, call your vet and schedule another checkup.
Sometimes intestinal parasites can cause gastrointestinal upset in kittens. It is common for kittens to come home already infected with parasites. They can get some parasites through the placenta before birth as well as in the milk from the mother cat.
Some of these parasites can also be transmitted to people, so good hygiene and preventive care are important.
Determining How Much To Feed A Cat
Different cats have different nutritional needs based on their size, life stage and more. Here are some factors to consider when deciding how much food your cat should eat.
- Age & Life Stage: Kittens have different nutritional needs than adults or senior cats. Pregnant or nursing cats also have different needs.
- Weight: If your cat is not at her ideal body condition, you may need to adjust what and how much you feed her, says Dr. Callie Harris, DVM.
- Activity Levels: Cats who are active and playful throughout the day may need more calories than those who prefer to spend their time napping.
- Indoor vs. Outdoor: Indoor cats may not get as much exercise as an outdoor cat would, so they need fewer calories. Outdoor cats living in regions with cold winters may need more food in the cold months.
The best way to determine how much food your cat needs is to talk with your veterinarian. They can tell you how much food your cat needs based on the above factors.
They can also help you troubleshoot any problems that may arise, such as your cat eating more or less than usual.
Also Check: Hills Metabolic And Urinary Wet Cat Food
What Kind Of Food
Kittens may be fed dry kibble kitten food or wet canned food. The choice is really up to you, based on your veterinarian’s advice. Some kittens may have difficulty chewing dry food properly. If canned food is used, it shouldn’t be left out for extended periods of time without refrigeration. Dry kibble food can stay out longer throughout the day. When a kitten is much older, some owners decide to feed their pet free choice” kibble, where the food is left available for much of the day. Other owners choose to feed wet canned food in single meals.
When Can Kittens Start Eating Regular Cat Food
While milk and milk replacements are an essential part of a kittens diet, switching over to specially formulated cat food is an important part of maintaining a healthy diet as kittens age. Once your kitten is old enough, you should slowly introduce regular cat food to get them used to it.
Soft, wet food is the first thing your kitten can eat, and they can start having that at about three weeks. You can introduce your cat to wet food by putting small amounts of it in a bowl with formula when theyre learning to eat on their own. Choosing wet food thats appropriate for kittens is important.
Once your kitten is about five to six weeks old, they can start eating regular dry food. Again, you can introduce your kitten to dry food by mixing a little bit in with a bowl of milk replacer. Transitioning from milk replacer to wet food to dry food is an important part of maintaining a healthy diet for kittens.
You can wean your kitten off of milk by teaching them to drink that milk out of a bowl. Once theyre comfortable with that, try mixing in some wet or dry food. You should never push your cats nose into the bowl to try to get them to eat on their own. Your veterinarian can give you more tips on how often to feed kittens and how to wean them off of milk.
Recommended Reading: Meow Mix Brushing Bites Cat Treats
How Much Wet Food Should I Feed My Cat
For starters, have your cat evaluated by a veterinarian. He or she will weigh your cat, identify your cats ideal weight, and determine the number of calories your cat should take in every day to reach that goal.
A pet calorie calculator can also get you into the ballpark. If your cat is severely overweight, your veterinarian may recommend a prescription cat food for weight loss otherwise an over-the-counter weight control cat food should suffice.
Next, look at the label of your cats wet food. At best, the feeding instructions will be somewhat vague, and they certainly dont apply to every cat in every situation. It helps do some math. A wet cat foods caloric content should be listed somewhere on the label.
For example, American Journey minced chicken and tuna recipe provides 73 calories per 3-ounce can. If you cant find this information, look it up on the manufacturers website or give them a call.
Lets say your veterinarian has determined that your cat should take in 240 calories per day. In this example, you simply need to divide 240 by 73 to determine how many 3-ounce cans of the American Journey chicken and tuna recipe you should offer your cat daily.
240 / 73 = 3.3
Therefore, your cat needs to eat roughly 3 1/3 cans of this food per day.