Should Kittens Eat Wet Food

How Often Should Kittens Eat

Kittens eating formula should ideally eat 7 times per day if 1 week old, 6 times per day if 2 weeks old, 5 times per day if 3 weeks old and 4 times per day if 4 weeks old.

Kittens prefer to whenever they feel like it. However, meal feeding once your kitten is eating solid food can lead to healthier eating habits in the future. Feeding 2 to 4 meals per day is preferred.

Get The Right Supplies

Pick up some wet kitten food, making sure that it says “kitten.” Kitten food is higher in calories, fat and protein that the kitten needs to help grow big and strong. Wet food is the healthiest choice for kittens to start off with, as the moisture content will help them stay healthy and hydrated. However, some kittens may prefer dry food, and thats okay as long as you choose a healthy kitten kibble. You’ll also want to pick up some shallow food dishes so the kitten can easily access the food.

Best Kitten Foods Of 2022

When they are ready, you may present the food on a shallow plate. It may take a few days for your kitten to get used to the idea of eating off a plate.

The process of weaning kittens off their mothers milk , is a gradual process. Whilst you are introducing wet cat food to kittens, it is still necessary to allow them to continue feeding on milk , as this ensures that your kitten is getting all the calories and nutrition he needs during this gradual transition.

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Cats Need Wet Food To Keep Them Hydrated

Alarmingly, some cats are being overfed on dry food that is high in carbohydrates. This diet does not provide the water content needed to help maintain healthy kidneys, which can lead to bladder infections.

Dry food also has more calories than wet food, which can lead to obesity, diabetes, and other diseases. Kittens need wet food because it can increase their water intake.

How To Choose The Best Kitten Food

With so many cat foods on the market, its hard enough to tell which foods are best for your cat. If you have a kitten, though, there are even more things to consider. From what nutrients your kitten needs to what foods will keep up with their high energy levels, choosing the best kitten food for your new addition can be overwhelming. Luckily, weve narrowed down the things to be on the lookout for when picking a food for your little one.

As always, its important to consult with your veterinarian to identify any unique health and nutrition needs of your kitten and to determine if any underlying health conditions may require specific dietary needs.

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Royal Canin Mother & Babycat Canned Wet Cat Food

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• Come in different can and case sizes

• Higher calories per can

• Contains corn, wheat, yeast, and rice ingredients that may not be suitable for all kittens

• Usually over $1.50/can

Kittens who are weaning are new to the experience of chewing their food, so youll want to offer something that doesnt take much effort. Royal Canins Mother & Babycat formula is a mousse that is super soft and designed specifically for weaning kittens. Royal Canin has a long history of making high-quality pet foods, and this wet food is also well-accepted by tiny kittens. Since the only other experience they have with food is sucking milk from their mother or a bottle, kittens can be messy eaters when they start eating something else.

Because of this, Dr. Blackburn recommends feeding weaning kittens in a large, easily cleaned area and offering the canned food on a very large, shallow plate/flat surface. “They tend to be messy eaters and explore foods by walking in them and grooming said food off their paws, etc, she says.

Price at time of publish: $47.56, case of 24, 3oz. cans

Ingredients: Water sufficient for processing, chicken, chicken liver, pork by-products, wheat gluten, powdered cellulose, modified corn starch, and more | Calories: 78 kcal/can | Protein: 9% min.

What If Wet Food Gives My Kitty A Tummy Ache

If your cat rejects wet food because it makes them sick, don’t revert to biscuits. Find out what triggers an upset tummy, and switch to a different product if necessary. Here are some common reasons:

• Low-quality meatCats have a keen sense of smell, so stale and rubbery meat is a turn-off for them. If your cat frequently retches or acts finicky while eating, switch to a product made from fresh whole meat and organs
• High fat contentFat improves the taste of food, but too much can cause diarrhoea and vomiting. Eggs, oils, milk, or other dairy products can also make food tastier yet cause gastrointestinal issues
• Too many fillersWet food can also contain fillers like coarse grains, fibre, and vegetables to make up for the low meat content. Such products have low digestibility and taste bad, making cats lose their appetite
• Harsh additivesMany manufacturers add artificial flavour enhancers and chemical preservatives to improve the taste and shelf life of wet food, but these additives can irritate the feline digestive system or even trigger an allergic reaction

Sometimes, it all comes down to your kittys taste preferences. Some cats like thick gravy dishes, while others prefer the lighter flavour of jelly.

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Wet Food: The Downside

There are disadvantages to the canned variety, though. Wet food generally costs more for its volume, so pet parents on a strict budget may prefer dry food to canned for monetary reasons. Open cans need appropriately sized lids when storing them to keep them fresh and prevent odor from permeating the rest of the refrigerator . Some cats dislike cold food, though, so you may need to put her canned food on a microwave-safe plate and warm it 3-5 seconds before serving. If your cat isn’t particularly hungry, she may leave wet food scraps in her bowl or on her plate, which should be tossed after being out more than four hours.

Also, if you have a long-haired or light-colored cat, you might be averse to feeding wet cat food because it can get on her whiskers and nose. But cats are meticulous groomers and will typically clean their own faces, and over time your cat should learn to be less messy of an eater. If you happen to have a cat that is a little lazier and doesn’t clean themselves as regularly, you might look into serving them food on a flat plate and purchasing some cat-safe wet wipes to help clean your cat after eating.

Do Kittens Really Need Kitten Food

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In fact, kittens require a special diet. In the first year of life, kitten food is essential for the growth and development of the newborn. Large breeds of cats, such as the Maine Coon, need kitten food for 18 months to 2 years after birth due to the longer maturity window. Kittens are playful, curious, and full of energy, as they are full of energy, curiosity, and playful play.

Feeding kitten food is a viable option. If kitten adult cat food is consumed, it can cause serious health issues in the long run. When a kitten is born, its mothers milk is the only source of nutrition. For large cats, such as Maine Coon cats, maturation takes longer. They usually reach maturity at the age of 18 to 24 months. If youre feeding a cat high-quality food, youll need to feed it more to encourage its rapid growth. After one year, kittens can eat adult food as long as their diets change.

When the kitten is three to four weeks old, he or she can consume wet kibble. For a kitten, completely dry kibble can be difficult to swallow. If your kitten wont eat kitten food, youre most likely dealing with a feeding issue. If you want your cat to eat food, there are some tricks you can use. It is generally true that dry foods have a longer shelf life than wet foods that quickly go bad after opening. If your cat consumes wet food, it will not be able to consume as much water. Your kitten will find it easier to eat in the larger bowl, which has a shallow depth.

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Too Long Eating The Same Food

Just like humans, cats get bored eating the same food for too long. Cats need some change after a long period of time. Usually, a cat gets bored eating the same food for about a year. So if youve been feeding your cat the same food for over a year and he or she stops eating it, you may want to consider changing the brand or variety.

Is There A Difference In Cat Food And Kitten Food

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There is a difference in cat food and kitten food. Kitten food is designed to be higher in calories and nutrients to support a growing kittens needs. Once a cat is full grown, they can switch to an adult food.

A kitten food is created in such a way that it meets certain criteria. It is critical to consider how much protein and fat an infant kitten consumes in order for it to grow into an adult. A growing kitten requires more calories than an adult cat. As a result, a growing cat requires a specific diet designed specifically for him. Due to its active lifestyle, an expanding kitten requires more calories than it can consume. Adult cat food, on the other hand, has a lower protein and fat content for your cat. A well-balanced adult cat food should also have fewer calories than a low-calorie diet.

The kitten must consume a sufficient amount of food to sustain its growth and development. If a kitten eats adult food, he or she will not receive enough protein and calories, which can lead to health issues. When an older cat eats kitten food, they receive more calories than they require, which can lead to weight gain. The Blue Buffalo Wilderness Kitten Chicken Grain-Free Canned Cat Food provides the recommended amount of food for a kitten to eat until they are 20 weeks old, then reduces the amount of food given to a kitten every week until they are 30 weeks old.

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Healthy Kitten Growth Rate

A general rule of thumb in kittens is that they typically gain about 1 pound per month.

Often, a kittens weight is about 1 pound at 1 month , 2 pounds at 2 months , and so on until about 4-5 months.

Kittens do most of their growing within the first year and then stabilize from there. Many of the growth plates of the bones in the kitten skeleton close by about one year old.

At this time, after much of the growth is finished, your vet will typically switch your kitten to an adult diet.

How To Feed Your Little Kitty

Kitten food is specially formulated with high levels of protein, calcium, magnesium, zinc, phosphorus, and iron to help build strong bones and teeth. It also contains more of the vitamins C and E to support your kittys immune systems.

When youre on the hunt to find the best kitten food, look for options that have been certified by the Association of American Feed Control Officials . This means your kittens food is formulated to meet the organizations standards. And it will include the appropriate nutrients for their age.

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When To Call The Vet

Watch out for changes in your cats eating and drinking behaviour, as this could indicate that something is wrong. See your vet if your cat:

• normally eats well but suddenly stops
• has not eaten for 48 hours
• develops a ravenous appetite
• will only eat with one side of their mouth
• makes a grinding noise when they eat
• starts drinking noticeably more than usual
• loses weight for no apparent reason
• is vomiting or has diarrhoea

Regular eating and drinking is essential to your cats health. If your cat doesnt eat, even for a few days, they can develop a condition of the liver which can be fatal in severe cases.

Fancy Feast Gourmet Naturals

If you want to feed your kitten wet food rather than dry kibble, you may be looking for a low-cost option that is still nutritious. This fancy feast gourmet naturals cat food has turkey liver, fish, chicken, and broth.

This grain-free kitten canned food is an excellent choice. There are no synthetic additives, colors, or artificial flavors in this paté, and it costs around $1 per serving.

Fancy Feast may be less expensive than Purinas other products. However, you can be sure that it was still developed by veterinarians and follows American feed control officials guidelines for kitten nutrition.

The silkiness of the paté makes it appealing to both young and adult cats.

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Do Cats Need Wet Food Benefits Of Including It In Their Diets

If youve only ever fed your cat dry kibble, you may wonder if cats need wet food. In nature, cats derived most of the water their bodies needed from their prey.

Because dry food has low moisture content, your cat needs to get water from a dish, fountain or wet food. Feeding a combination of wet and dry food, rather than just dry, is a great way to help your cat get more water. There are many benefits of including wet food in her diet.

Instinct Original Kitten Grain Free Recipe Natural Cat Food

The Instinct Original Kitten Grain-Free Recipe is my choice of wet kitten food because it satisfies essential criteria. This includes it being grain-free, having a smooth paté consistency, and not containing any meat by-products or artificial flavorings. Besides the chicken, it also contains salmon and meat liver, as well as whole foods such as carrots, cranberries, blueberries, cabbage, and broccoli. This means it is well nutritionally balanced and perfect for growing kittens.

Other popular and top-quality alternatives of wet kitten food include Blue Buffalo Wilderness, and Wellness.

Below youll full reviews of these three top products and why I love them so much. You will also find why wet food should be your kittens initial solid food, what a healthy kitten diet looks like, and how you can best aid your kittens transition to solid food. I even share a selection of homemade recipes if you prefer a little DIY.

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Feeding Wet Kitten Food Vs Dry Kitten Food

Wet cat food has some significant nutritional advantages over dry cat food. Cats are notoriously poor water drinkers, so feeding wet food can help ensure that they remain well-hydrated. High quality wet kitten foods, like Instinct Kitten Grain-Free Pate Real Chicken Recipe Natural Wet Canned Cat Food, tend to contain more meat and protein and be lower in carbohydrates than dry foods, which better matches a kittens nutritional needs in comparison to dry. For these reasons, many veterinarians recommend that most, if not all, of a cats diet consist of wet food.

While most kittens benefit from a diet of wet canned food, there are advantages to feeding them dry food. Dry kitten food tends to be less expensive and can be left out for longer periods of time without spoiling. Kibble can also be used in food puzzles like the PetSafe Funkitty Egg-Cersizer Treat Dispenser Cat Toy, which provides both entertainment and exercise.

Early in life, cats develop strong preferences for how food should taste and what it should feel like in their mouths. Offer your kitten a variety of foods if you want to keep all your options open. However, youll have to keep exposing them to a variety of foods as an adult if you want to avoid food rejection in the future. Be sure to talk to your veterinarian about the right mix of foods for your kitten.

Canned Cat Food Drawbacks

Canned food is often more expensive than dry food, so this may play a role in your decision.

Once opened, canned food has a shelf-life of 24 hours and must be stored in the refrigerator. If your cat does not finish their wet food, it should be properly stored in the refrigerator or discarded. Leaving canned food out for longer than a few hours can run the risk of contamination and cause gastrointestinal upset.

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The Best Of Both Worlds

To avoid picky eating habits later in life, offer kittens both dry food and wet food.

If youre torn about whether to feed your cat dry food or wet food, consider offering both. You might serve one meal of dry food in the morning before you leave for work, then offer wet food in the evening once you return home. Or, if your cat tends to eat her food all at once, mix the two types together. Any amount of wet food can boost your cats overall diet with extra water and protein.

If you have a kitten, offer dry and wet food early on. Cats usually develop preferences for taste and texture early in kittenhood. If your kitten eats only dry food, she might turn her nose up at wet food in the future .

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For all cats, always offer plenty of fresh, clean water.

Ask your veterinarian for advice if you are still wondering about the best food for your cat, especially if your cat has specific health issues like kidney disease or diabetes.