Whiskas Cat Food for Playful Kittens
Having an adorable mouser at home is indeed a privilege and joy, but watching a kitten mature from a tiny bundle of fur to an elegant and charming cat is truly a sight to behold! And although bringing home a newborn kitten is fun, it comes with several new responsibilities to take care of. So, this article discusses some of the most important ways to take care of your newborn kitten.
- While it is not ideal to separate a newborn kitten from its mother, you must be adequately prepared if you are about to adopt a newborn kitty.
- Newborn kittens require a soft nest made of absorbent materials to soak up any afterbirth. In addition, it is also important to provide your tiny fur baby with a source of warmth to keep it cozy. Incubators designed for kittens can be really effective in this regard.
- Although kittens are entirely dependent on their mother's milk for nutrition, you can also consider feeding them special kitten formula using a dropper if the mama cat is unable to nurse them after birth. A mixture of evaporated milk, beaten egg yolk and karo syrup is also an excellent alternative for a kitten's newborn milk.
- In addition to feeding, caring for kittens also involves burping them, helping them relieve themselves, and even deworming them when they are 1 week old.
How much should I feed my kitten?
In the first few months following birth, kittens show an amazing transformation from being tiny furballs to elegant furry felines. In this period of rapid physical growth and cognitive development, it is not surprising that kittens require a tailored nutritional requirement with adequate caloric intake to support their growth.
In addition, a kitten's diet has substantial influence over its social development and temperament. So, it is extremely important to offer them a balanced diet with the right balance of nutrients during the growing months.
Although in their infancy kittens are entirely dependent on their mothers' milk as the primary source of nutrition and moisture, it is not long before kittens start teething and can be gradually transitioned to solid foods and water. In fact, feline fur babies as young as 6 weeks of age begin their weaning period and must be accordingly introduced to solid Whiskas cat food, home-cooked meals and delicious treats.
While commercially available wet and Whiskas dry cat foods are the best alternatives to home-cooked meals, it is important to know how much Whiskas cat food should be offered to a kitten.
Wet Cat Food
Whiskas wet food is easily the most preferred choice when it comes to feeding kittens. Not only is Whiskas wet food rich in nutrients like animal protein and fats, fatty acids, vitamins and minerals, but it also contains sufficient amounts of moisture to keep your furbaby well-hydrated all day long.
Initially, kittens over the age of 6 weeks can be fed Whiskas wet food in small amounts, and the quantity can be gradually increased to 4 to 7 servings as they gradually grow up.
Dry Cat Food
Most working cat parents are unable to stay back home regularly to cook nutritious meals for their adorable ball of fluff. So, Whiskas dry cat food is the next best alternative when it comes to feeding kittens. Kittens between the age of 6 to 12 weeks can be fed almost 1/3rd of a cup of dry cat food every day, and older kittens can be given almost 1 entire cup of Whiskas dry cat food.
Important Kitten Nutrition
A balanced diet with sufficient calories and nutrition is extremely vital for kittens in their growing period since they need specific nutrients to support their growth.
Before we move on to discussing how we can choose a high-quality Whiskas kitten food to support your feline munchkin, here is some beneficial information on the nutrients cats need for their transformation into adulthood.
Usually, mama cats are responsible for seeing their kittens through the weaning period when they start teething. Once weaned, growing kittens can be gradually transitioned to high-quality Whiskas kitten food that is rich in essential nutrients as follows:
Protein
Kittens, like cats, are obligated carnivores whose natural diet majorly consists of animal derivatives like protein, fats and fatty acids. Digestible protein in Whiskas wet cat food serves as the building blocks for kittens in their growing period.
Additionally, kittens are dependent on animal protein as a vital source of amino acids, such as arginine, lysine and methionine that support rapid physical development.
Fats and fatty acids
Animal fat and fatty acids are also essential for maintaining rapid growth, and keeping up eye and fur health.
Taurine and choline
An everyday intake of taurine and choline is required by adult cats as well as kittens to maintain all vital bodily functions and cognitive growth.
DHA
Docosahexaenoic acid, or DHA is present in fatty fish, such as salmon, and is an essential omega-3 fatty acid that benefits kittens with improvement in brain functions and vision.
Vitamins and minerals
Although kittens require various vitamins and minerals in limited quantities, they are still essential for complete physical growth and muscle mass. In fact, kittens require a significantly higher intake of Vitamin A, and minerals like copper, magnesium and iodine than adult cats to support their rapid transformation.
Calcium and phosphorus
Growing kittens require a limited, yet necessary amount of calcium and phosphorus in their diet to help with their bone and teeth development.
How to Select a High-Quality Kitten Food?
As responsible cat parents, we are always looking out for a balanced diet for our growing kitties. So, when it comes to selecting high-quality Whiskas kitten food, here are some things to keep in mind.
- Choose a high-caloric meal such as the Whiskas wet cat food for your growing kitten, since they have a higher caloric requirement to support an energetic lifestyle, playtime kittens and rapid physical growth.
- If you are introducing Whiskas dry cat food to your kitten for the first time, you may opt for a delicious mixture of canned Whiskas cat food and dry kibbles.
- Pay close attention to the Whiskas kitten food of your choice. High-quality Whiskas kitten foods prepared from fresh ingredients contain all essential nutrients without any added chemical preservatives.
How much to feed a kitten?
A kitten's dietary requirements depend on their age, breed, lifestyle. Although growing kittens require a higher caloric intake than adult cats, it is important to ensure that your kitten is not overfed, as it might cause feline obesity.
A kitten over the age of 6 weeks might require ⅓rd to ¼th cup of dry or Whiskas wet cat food every day, which can be gradually increased as they grow.
Why do cats play with their Food?
These wonderful furry felines never fail to keep us entertained by their silly antics and playing with food is one of them. But do you know that playing with food is actually an instinctive response in cats that stems from their predatory nature?
- Most cats choose to poke and prod at their food instead of tucking in immediately, leaving you to wonder why my cat plays with his food? Odd as this may sound, this is actually a strong hunting instinct in cats, considering in the wild, cats rely on their predatory nature to hunt down prey for food.
- Playing with their food is an instinctive response in cats that allows them to figure out that their potential prey is healthy and fit for consumption.
- Cats and playful kittens are opportunistic hunters, and insist on playing with the prey to tire out the prey, making them less likely to retaliate or escape.
- Additionally, playing with food allows cats and playful kittens to stimulate their senses. Housecats often tend to play with their food as a natural urge to relieve their boredom, and even stimulate their predatory nature.
How to cut down on the food play?
Although watching a cat play with its Whiskas cat food is extremely amusing to watch, playing with food can often result in wastage of food and even lead to messes that need to be cleaned up. Furthermore, playing with food can also increase the risks of contamination, exposing your feline munchkin to the risk of intestinal disorders.
As a result, most cat parents actively look out for ways to prevent cats from playing with food. If you are a cat parent looking for a quick fix to the issue of my cat plays with his food, here are some effective points to let them know it is not playtime kittens:
- Wetting the Whiskas cat food in water or broth can be an efficient way of discouraging cats from swatting at their food. Cats rarely wish to get their fur wet, and adding more moisture in the Whiskas wet cat food can help cut down on the food play.
- If you want to cut down on the food play without discouraging your playful kittens behaviour, you can also consider getting interactive puzzle bowls that can keep your fuzzy furball entertained.
Feed Your Cat The Right Serving Size
It is important to make sure your kitty receives meals that are well-balanced and provides the right amounts of calories without making them gain too much weight. The amount of food a Whiskas kitten can be safely fed is usually decided by its breed and age, as well as its lifestyle. Read on to find out how much food can be given to newborn kittens in their growing stage.
- As playtime kittens turns 5 to 6 weeks of age, it starts teething, and must be weaned to transition from drinking mother's milk to eating solid cat food.
- Once your kitten has successfully shifted to eating solid food, it must be given a lot of nutrients that help enhance their physical and cognitive development. In fact, growing kittens must be given high-caloric meals such as Whiskas wet food more frequently than adult cats to support their growth.
- Once your kitten has turned 6 weeks of age, it must be fed high-quality Whiskas kitten food at least once every 5 to 6 hours. Older kittens over the age of 4 to 6 months also require high-caloric meals and can be fed up to a cup of dry Whiskas kitten food.
Age | Weight | Weight |
6 weeks | 300 gms to 680 gms | ¼ to ⅓ cup |
7 weeks to 5 months | 680 gms to 2.6 kgs | ⅓ to 1 cup |
Over 6 months | 2.6 kgs to 5.4 kgs | ⅔ to 1¼ cups |
FAQs
-
Q:
How to play with kittens?
A:If your kitten is playful with you, you can play games like fetch and chase. Playing helps kittens develop their motor skills faster and deepens the bond between the kitten and its hooman parent. Just make sure you are gentle, and this can also help you with how to train your cat.
Q:Are kittens easy to train?
A:Wondering how to train a kitten? Be kind and gentle! The best and easiest way to train your dignified little furry munchkins is through positive reinforcement like cat treats, catnip, and cat toys that encourage them to respond to how to train your cat.
Q:How long one can leave a kitten alone?
A:Generally, it is advised against leaving cats alone for more than 4 hours till they are 5 months of age. It is important to be attentive to their needs while they are still trying to be independent with their lifestyle, which can also be helpful when it comes to how to train a cat to behave.
Q:Can we let kitten sleep with us?
A:Kittens are adorable as little balls of fur, and can be allowed to sleep on the bed with you. Not only is it fun for you and your feline, but it also contributes to creating a deeper, more meaningful bond, making it easier for cat parents to learn how to train your cat.
See More Articles Like This