Cat age progression
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Look for options labeled as cat food for all ages, all life stages cat food or adult-specific, such as Tiny Tiger pate beef and poultry grain-free canned cat food or American Journey turkey and chicken grain-free dry cat food. Once cats reach maturity, their dietary needs change from kittenhood, as their metabolism starts to slow, bodies mature and activity levels change. Thus, you should consult your own veterinary when determining your cat’s maturity. Gray, although some larger cat breeds (such as Maine Coons) have a longer growth period and may still need to eat kitten food until they are 18 to 23 months old. When to feed kittens adult food depends on when they reach maturity-usually at around 1 year old, estimates Dr. Pay attention to ingredient labels and nutritional information, and look to kitten-specific formulas, like Wellness CORE grain-free kitten formula dry cat food, that provide the recommended caloric intake, fats and proteins little ones need. These foods will not meet the energy requirements that are vital for proper growth.” They should not be fed diets labelled for adult cats. “Kitten diets are carefully formulated to meet these requirements. “Kittens need additional calories, protein, healthy fats and minerals such as calcium and phosphorus to allow for growth and healthy musculoskeletal development,” Dr. “Kittens should eat about one-half to one cup of dry kitten food or six to nine ounces of wet kitten food per day, divided into at least three meals,” says Megan Teiber, DVM, associate veterinarian at Indian Prairie Animal Hospital in Aurora, Illinois, and a consultant for Tuft + Paw in Traverse City, Michigan.įeeding instructions are designed to meet the specific dietary needs during kittens’ developmental stage.
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It’s easy to over- or underfeed, but veterinarians can help provide structure to set the kitten up for health in adulthood. Once kittens have fully weaned from their mother’s milk, the correct amount to feed them becomes the responsibility of the humans in the house. “Once they're eating solid food you can then add in some dry, again in small amounts initially, and soaking it in water can help them eat it.” “You would start out by offering small amounts of canned food mixed with water to make it very soft, and then gradually add less water as the kitten grows,” says Suzy Gray, BVetMed, DACVIM (SAIM), veterinary specialist with VCA Emergency Animal Hospital and Referral Center in San Diego, California, and author of the book “My Patients and Other Animals: A Veterinarian’s Stories of Love, Loss and Hope.” What ages are kittens weaned and can begin eating commercial kitten food? Generally, kittens start to become interested in eating solid food at around 3 to 4 weeks old.
#Cat age progression how to#
To get started, refer to this guide on cat food for all ages and how to maintain optimum cat nutrition from kittenhood through adulthood. That gives you a good starting point, and then you’ll need to fine-tune the amount in order to maintain a healthy body weight-your veterinarian can help guide you through this process.” “After that, look for a feeding guideline on the bag or can of food. “Try to buy a food labeled for the appropriate age range of your cat,” says Zay Satchu, DVM, co-founder and chief veterinary officer of Bond Vet in Brooklyn, New York. From there, keep your cat’s veterinarian involved so they can make recommendations according to any specific health needs, if needed. A basic place to start is with a life stage formula. Wondering what ages are kittens weaned, when to feed kittens adult food or what is the best cat food for all ages? When it comes to cat food, one size doesn’t fit all, and selecting the best cat food or a specialized diet for a feline companion can seem a little overwhelming with so many options available.