If you’ve recently brought home a brand-new kitty, you’re probably thrilled to welcome that little furball into your home. While you’re enjoying cuddling and playing with your beautiful kitten, keep in mind that it’s important to give your kitten the right type of food and drink so he will be happy and healthy.
Good food is essential to the health and development of a growing kitten. If you’re unsure about what type of food and drink to offer your kitty, we’ve got the tips you need! Here is some information that will help you choose the right food and drink for your growing kitten.
Choose Kitten Food & Not Cat Food
Kittens grow rapidly and have different nutritional needs than their adult counterparts. That’s why kitten food exists. When your kitten is no longer receiving any nutrition from its mother, it should be eating food specifically made for kittens and not full-grown cats.
Kitten food is higher in protein, calories, and fat than cat food. A kitten will rapidly gain weight until he’s about six or seven months of age. Food that’s formulated for kittens fuels this rapid growth by providing your kitten with all the vitamins, minerals, and nutrients his body and mind needs.
Give Your Growing Kitten Good Quality Food
Because a young kitten needs to eat nutritious food to develop and grow properly, steer clear of the cheapest kitten food you can find and go with high-quality kitten food instead. Many of the cheapest kitten foods on the market don’t have enough vitamins, minerals, and nutrients growing kitties need.
It can be overwhelming to choose a good kitten food. You’ve probably seen the plethora of choices at your local grocery store and agree that it’s enough to make your head spin! If you can’t determine which kitten food to choose, speak to your veterinarian. Your vet will point you in the right direction and help you pick high-quality food that meets all your kitty’s nutritional needs.
 Give Your Kitten Water to Drink & Not Milk
Many people think it’s perfectly fine to give a kitten cow’s milk. While your kitten may eagerly lap up cow’s milk, it’s not a good thing to give your kitten. Cow’s milk can upset a kitty’s stomach and cause diarrhea.
You should provide your kitten with fresh clean water and not cow’s milk. Once a young kitten is weaned, it will readily drink water that’s easily available to it. That’s why you should always have fresh water available so your kitten can take a drink when he needs to.
Don’t Overdo It with Treats
We understand that it’s tempting to give your adorable little kitten some treats now and then. While it’s perfectly fine to give your kitten an occasional treat, you should do so with moderation. If your kitten is given too many treats, he may refuse to eat his regular kitten food because he’d rather have the treats.
When choosing kitten treats, look for words on packages like ‘additive free’ and ‘all natural’. Avoid buying any treats that are chock full of chemicals and other additives that may be harmful to your kitten’s health.
A good idea is to make your own kitty treats you know are safe. Use your online searching skills and look for homemade kitten treats you can whip up in the kitchen. Some simple human food treats you can give your kitten include:
- Cooked liver
- Cooked beef
- Cooked salmon
- Cooked eggs
- Cooked chicken
- Cooked turkey
- Cooked squash or pumpkin
- Salad greens
 Feed Your Kitten Several Times a Day
Kittens will eat a little bit of food five or six times a day. They only eat a small amount at a time because their stomachs are small. If you find it challenging or even impossible to feed your kitten five or six times a day, leave dry kitten food out so your kitten can eat when he wants to. You can offer a small amount of wet food once or twice a day but don’t leave that sitting out because it can spoil and make your kitty sick.
Conclusion
As the owner of a young kitten, it’s your responsibility to ensure your kitty is given the right food and drink to grow up to be a healthy and happy cat. Your kitten depends on you to meet his needs so don’t let him down. Feed him highly nutritious food and give him free access to fresh water. He’ll thank you by purring contently and giving you lots of kitten love!
Featured Image Credit: Impact Photography, Shutterstock
