![]() By 8-10 weeks of age, he’s fully weaned and should be eating a meat-based kitten food that delivers plenty of protein, animal-derived fatty acids for brain and eye development, and the right levels of vitamins and minerals. Frequent meals are still essential to accommodate your kitten’s small stomach and high energy demands.Īt this exciting stage of development, your kitten’s personality is developing and his predatory nature is becoming ever more apparent. While your newborn kitten ate every 1 to 4 hours, kittens over 4 weeks may go 6 to 8 hours between meals. How Often Should You Feed Your 4-8-week-old Kitten? Your kitten may need 60 calories per pound of bodyweight. ![]() How Much Should You Feed Your 4-8-week-old Kitten?Īt this stage, your kitten is growing rapidly and needs about 3 times as many calories per pound as an adult. Kitten Lady has an excellent video on transitioning your kitten from kitten formula to solid food. Start by replacing some of his usual meals with a loose slurry of wet kitten food and kitten formula in a bottle, then gradually starting feeding your kitten from a bowl. During this time, they’ll start gradually shifting from milk or formula onto a solid food diet, which delivers the protein, fatty acids, and nutrients that fuel their early development.Īt 4 to 4.5 weeks of age, bottle feeders may start slowly transitioning their kitten to a diet of watered-down kitten food. Kittens usually begin the weaning process around their 4th week. Mimic this feeding schedule when bottle feeding, gradually reducing the feeding frequency to 4-6 feedings per day by the time your kitten reaches three weeks of age. Newborn kittens feed frequently, latching on to nurse once every 1-2 hours. How Often Should You Feed Your Newborn Kitten? In most cases, you’ll feed about 2 tablespoons of liquid kitten formula per 4 ounces of body weight. If you’re bottle-feeding, follow the instructions on your package of kitten milk replacer. If your kitten’s mother is available to nurse, he will nurse freely. How Much Should You Feed Your Newborn Kitten? Do not feed a kitten cow’s milk-it doesn’t have the right nutritional balance to nourish a newborn kitten. ![]() Kittens require a kitten milk replacer, which replicates the nutrition found in mother cat’s milk. If their mother is present, you won’t need to feed kittens at all-they’ll know how to feed themselves! That said, if you’ve rescued an orphaned kitten, you’ll need to bottle feed him. Here’s a guide on how to feed your cat during the different phases of his life.ĭuring this stage, most kittens rely on their mother’s milk as their only source of nutrition. The nutritional guidelines on the package will point you in the right direction, though you may need to make some modifications to fit your cat’s exact needs. For the average house cat, the appropriate feeding instructions are usually already placed on the packaging of the cat food. While you’re looking at the label, check out the feeding instructions as well. These foods don’t contain the appropriate balance of macronutrients (protein, fat, and carbohydrates) and micronutrients (vitamins and minerals) and shouldn’t be your cat’s sole source of nutrition. ![]() The label will read, for example, “…formulated to meet the nutritional levels established by the AAFCO cat food nutrient profiles for all life stages”.įoods that aren’t nutritionally complete and balanced will usually be labeled “for supplemental feeding only”. Usually located on the back of the bag or can, this statement indicates whether or not the food is nutritionally complete and balanced for its intended life stage. Your first stop when choosing the right food for your cat? The nutritional adequacy statement. Meeting those requirements at every phase of life sets the stage for good health. Your Cat’s Dietary Needs Evolve Over Time.Īs your cat moves through kittenhood, early adulthood, and beyond, his nutritional needs will change. How Much Should You Feed, Senior Years, 11+ Years.How Much Should You Feed, Age: 4-6 Months.How Much Should You Feed, Age: 8-16 Weeks.How Much Should You Feed, Age: 4-8 Weeks.How Much Should You Feed, Age: 0-4 Weeks. ![]()
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