Kittens need twice as much energy from food for each pound they are in weight versus an adult cat. Little kitties are rapidly growing, making the need for more vitamins and nutrients crucial in raising a healthy kitten. Most kittens are weaned by six or eight weeks of age and as soon as they are should be started on a regular diet. Start kittens out with canned food or moistened dry food. Do not be alarmed if it seems that your kitty isn’t eating very much. Kittens are exploring their new home and tend to eat sporadically several times a day. If you notice that your kitten isn’t eating, make sure the food you are giving her isn’t spoiled. After several hours, canned food or wet dry food can spoil if it’s left out for too long. Place canned food into the fridge and discard any spoiled wet-dry food. If you are keeping your kittens food fresh, but they are still not eating, look for other sign that could indicate illness. Look for diarrhea, watery eyes, and runny nose or urination problems. If you notice any of these contact your local veterinarian immediately, there are many viruses a kitten can catch; some viruses are very dangerous. Feed your kitten twice a day, but if you have more than one, keep them separated so it’s easier to notice any changes in your kitten’s behavior. If feeding your kitten two times a day is making them obese contact your veterinarian and see if the amount of food your kitten is eating needs to be adjusted. Your veterinarian can also help you with choosing the best food for your kitten, and which food will most likely suit your cat’s needs for a number of income households. Cat foods may range in price and manufacturer, but the just because the price is higher doesn’t mean it’s the best option available for your cute kitten.

Properly feeding a female cat when she is pregnant or feeding is extremely important. A female cat should be eating food that is right for any age. Changes in your kitty’s body will cause her to gain weight and want to eat more. Contact a veterinarian if your cat is not eating properly, but keep in mind that the closer she gets to having kittens, the more she will lose an appetite for food. Do not worry her appetite will return to normal when she has her kitties after a couple of days. If you notice your female kitty losing weight, instead of gaining weight, during her pregnancy – she may be sick and need proper medical attention to make sure her kittens stay healthy.
When a momma cat has to feed her little kitten milk she will need to be fed three times a day. If you are feeding your female dry cat food moisten it a bit. This keeps her hydrated and may encourage older kittens to eat real food to help kick-start the weaning process. At five to six weeks the momma cat will begin weaning her kittens. Keep moist food available to your babies so they are encouraged to start eating real food. If you moisten the food with warm water the smell will attract the baby kittens to it. At this time you should begin to gradually start feeding the momma cat less and less until she is being fed the same amount of food before she was pregnant; this may take five to seven days. All questions and concerns about the amount of food your momma cat should be eating for the weeks of gestation to the end of lactation should be discussed with a veterinarian. Your veterinarian will direct you on what foods to buy and what is normal behavior for a cat that’s pregnant or lactating.