How To Feed Your Newborn Kitten

Kittens should be fed frequently in small amounts throughout the day. For kittens over 2 months old, kitten food can be given 4 to 5 times a day. From 6 to 12 months old, the number of meals can be reduced to 2 to 4 times a day

It is important to keep your kitten hydrated, especially if you are feeding them dry food. Kittens do not need milk once they have been weaned off. Instead of milk, it is best to give them clean and fresh water to drink. Ensure that your kitten has fresh water to drink wherever and whenever they need it. Generally, you should start giving them water to drink once you have started giving them a little solid food. Give them fresh, clean water in a shallow bowl. It is best to place it in places where they like to relax. You should not place it in the same place as where they eat.

Besides baby cat food, kittens can try small bites of solid food to familiarise themselves with it. At 2 months old, they should be weaned off mother’s milk and switch from baby cat food to wet kitten food.

Foods to avoid

Although you may have good intentions, some human foods are not recommended for cats. Human foods are high in calories, and lack the essential nutrients that cats need. Some of the food that we eat can be very harmful to cats. This includes onions and garlic, milk and dairy products, alcohol, grapes and raisins, caffeine, chocolate, raw eggs and meats, and fat trimmings and bones.

Feeding kittens human food can have detrimental effects as kittens have very different dietary requirements compared to humans. Kittens require about 40 essential nutrients to deliver complete nutrition, whether the food is dry, wet, or semi-moist.

Since kittens are carnivores, animal meat is one of the safest human foods to give them as they rely on nutrients found in animal products. There are 11 essential amino acids for kittens that must be supplied in their diet:

• Arginine
• Histidine
• Isoleucine
• Leucine
• Lysine
• Methionine
• Phenylalanine
• Taurine
• Threonine
• Tryptophan
• Valine

These essential amino acids, along with other essential nutrients, are best supplied by animal meat and organs (liver, heart, and kidney). Fish, meat, and poultry are the best choices as they provide all the protein and essential nutrients your kitten needs. It can be minced, ground, or blended so your kitten can eat it easily. However, it is not recommended to feed your kitten too much fish such as tuna and salmon. These fish contain high levels of mercury and can cause mercury poisoning (dizziness, loss of balance and coordination). Make sure everything is cooked thoroughly to destroy any bacteria or parasites before feeding your kitten.

Besides meat, kittens also eat plants occasionally for roughage or fibre. The recommended vegetables for your kitten are carrots, broccoli, and spinach that have been steamed or boiled. These vegetables are also a source for vitamins and minerals. Similarly, make sure that all vegetables are washed and cleaned thoroughly before cooking. Avoid feeding your kitten raw vegetables as it cannot be digested and can cause digestion problems.

How to feed a kitten up to 4 weeks old

As kittens grow, they require different types of food and different ways of feeding to support its growth and development. When kittens are born, they obtain all the nutrition they need from their mother’s milk, which is the best baby cat food. It is important to ensure that your kittens and the mother cat are safe and away from any disturbances. This allows them to feed peacefully. Keep your kittens warm and place them in a comfortable position on their stomach as they feed. After 4 weeks, they should be weaned off and introduced to food for kittens.

How to feed a kitten from 4 weeks to 4 months old

Once your kitten reaches 4 weeks old, it may start showing an interest in solid food! You can start to gradually wean off your kitten and introduce them to a bit of solid kitten food. Dry kitten food can be mixed with water so that it is soft enough for kittens to eat easily. Wet kitten food can also be used. Place the food in a shallow dish or bowl to get them used to good eating habits. It is essential to learn how to feed a kitten properly with the right food to help them grow happily and healthily.

How to make kitten food

Homemade kitten food that is prepared using natural and fresh ingredients is a great way to introduce your kitten to different tastes and textures. This helps in their growth and development. Since kittens are carnivores, they can eat most kinds of meat like chicken, beef, and fish that have been minced or ground and then cooked.

Kittens require 4 times more protein than humans. In order to fulfil this need, homemade kitten food needs to contain at least 70 g of protein per 1000 kcal of metabolisable energy (ME). This is equal to roughly 220 g of chicken meat, or 320 g of fish. The meat should be cooked, either by steaming or boiling it. However, if you don’t know how to make kitten food, or don’t have the time to - don’t worry! Whiskas® kitten food is the best kitten food that covers all of your kitten’s nutritional needs in a wide range of delicious flavours

Many kittens have a preference for certain textures and flavours. Try to feed your kitten a mixture of wet and dry kitten food. You can also try the wide variety of Whiskas® kitten food to find your kitten’s favourite food.

Kittens need a complete diet with the right balance of proteins, essential fatty acids, carbohydrates, minerals and vitamins. Whiskas® offers a wide range of kitten food with all the nutrition they need.

Mother’s milk is the best kitten food (below 2 months) as it contains DHA which helps in the early stages of development. The colostrum is also very high in protein and helps to strengthen a kitten’s immune system.

As important as cat vaccinations are, it can leave your furry munchkin distressed, anxious and confused. To help your cat once it has been vaccinated, you can provide them with a warm, cosy bed to rest and recover, ensure they have easy access to food and water to stay well-fed and hydrated, and avoid getting them excited or riled up for nothing. With sufficient rest, love and care, your cat can get over the distress of vaccination in no time!

Most cats have a higher resistance to diseases. However, in their infancy, cats can often be susceptible to various diseases, and to avoid any severe health risks that can prove fatal, certain preventive measures must be adopted. Cat vaccinations are one such measure that can significantly lower the chances of your furry pal getting sick. In addition, vaccinations are also important as they play a vital role in preventing the transmission of viruses from one cat to another, or to humans.

To avoid any severe health complications, most cats are required to receive cat injections with core vaccines, including rabies, feline rhinotracheitis, feline calicivirus, and feline panleukopenia vaccines. The other non-core vaccinations your cat might require are the feline leukemia virus, chlamydophila felis, and bordetella bronchiseptica vaccinations, as well as cat booster vaccines.

Of the cat injections that are recommended for cats, the 3-in-1 vaccine is one of the most essential vaccines that protect your cute furball against infectious diseases. The 3-in-1 vaccine, as the name suggests, is responsible for safeguarding against three diseases, namely - feline calicivirus, feline panleukopenia and feline viral rhinotracheitis. The 3-in-1 vaccine in cats is usually administered through injections.

Cats often need vaccines including rabies, tricat and tetracat, as well as the vaccines required for specific diseases. Other than the panleukopenia (or feline distemper), feline calicivirus and feline viral rhinotracheitis, your little pal might also require additional vaccination shots to prevent common diseases like feline leukaemia and bordetella. The purpose of cat vaccine is to help develop a stronger immune system and ward off potentially harmful diseases.

If the constipation is mild, regardless of after diarrhoea or in general, it should be fine. But if your cat doesn’t pass faeces for 48-72 hours, consult a vet.

Diarrhoea is one of the symptoms of intestinal bowel obstruction. Partial obstruction causes diarrhoea while complete obstruction causes inability to pass stool and gas. It is an extremely serious condition and requires immediate medical attention.

Depending on the cause, it can take anything between a few days to 12 weeks. Usually, a diet change takes time to show effect, whereas medications can give quick relief.

When a cat has megacolon, they can have stool build-up in their colon causing constipation. However, sometime your fur kiddos can leak a little lose stool from around the hard faeces, which an be misinterpreted as diarrhoea. If you notice constipation and diarrhoea at the same time in your furball, take it to a vet without ado.

Cat food rich in fibres and probiotics can be good for cats with constipation. Also, if your cat has constipation, feed it wet food instead of dry food as that will help increase their water intake.

Spaying female kittens can reduce their libido or sex drive. Without adequate sex drive, the female cat is unlikely to respond to mating calls or look for potential mates in heat. So, neutering can calm down female kittens, making them more affectionate and loving.

Though early cat neutering can be helpful in population control and avoiding unwanted litters, if carried out at a drastically young age, neutering can delay the closure of bone plates, affecting the kitten’s growth. Feline babies neutered too early also can lead to a narrower urethra, increasing the risks of urinary blockages.

Behaviours, such as their personality, training, and preferences are unlikely to change in cats after neuter. Neutering male fur babies cut them off from the source of testosterone, the male sex hormone, which can result in a change in behaviours that are driven by the sex hormones, such as roaming and aggression.

Spaying and neutering for cats are best done between the age of 5 to 6 months, the perfect age to neuter cat. However, no two cats are alike, so it is always wiser to consult your veterinarian and seek professional advice on when to get your cat neutered or spayed. Make sure your kitten receives the after-neuter care cat it deserves following the procedure.

Newborn kittens at their infancy do not need to be given any additional water as they are entirely dependent on their mother's milk for nutrition and moisture. However, kittens over 4 weeks of age must drink at least 70 ml water regularly.

Yes, kittens at 4 weeks of age must be gradually transitioned to solid food. However, dry cat food or crunchy cat treats might not be the best idea. Instead, try feeding your weaning kitten home cooked meals or wet cat food in smaller bite-sized portions.

Kittens aged 4 weeks or more should be prepared for the transitive process of weaning, and must be gradually introduced to solid food. Home cooked meals with low salt, oil and spices, as well as commercially available wet cat food are perfect for weaning kittens.

Wondering when should kittens be weaned? It is unwise to suddenly introduce your weaning kitten to solid food. Instead, your little furball must undergo a gradual transition process of switching from milk to solid food, known as weaning, and is a crucial event in a feline's life.

Generally, you should feed a kitten until its belly feels full. For newborn kittens, it is recommended to feed kittens 4 to 5 pouches of Whiskas^® wet kitten food.

Bags of dry kitten and cat food should be stored in a cool, dry place. For wet kitten food that has been opened, store it in an airtight container and place it in the refrigerator.

Many kittens have a preference for certain textures and flavours. Try to feed your kitten a mixture of wet and dry kitten food. You can also try the wide variety of Whiskas^® kitten food to find your kitten’s favourite food.

It is recommended to feed kittens twice a day, either with dry food, wet food, or both. You can follow our feeding guide that can be found on every Whiskas^® kitten food bag.

Most first-time owners may be wondering; what do kittens eat? From birth to 4 weeks old, kittens will have milk from their mothers. After that, they can start trying solid food. If you’re wondering on how to feed a kitten during this time, consider mixing some dry food with kitten milk or water, or use wet food so they can eat it easily.