All animals have different nutritional requirements and require different foods. When they are particularly young, these specific requirements are even more important as the animal is constantly growing. That’s why it’s important to give your kitten the best start in life by feeding it the right diet.

Why an optimally balanced diet is important for kittens

Cats require a lot of protein in their diet to support normal function, and kittens need a good supply of high quality proteins so that they can develop into healthy, strong adults. Because kittens are often unable to hunt prey themselves with a high protein content such as birds and mice, it’s important that they are fed it with their meals. It is also important to avoid feeding them foods that are overly rich in carbohydrates, as these can be hard to digest. Giving your kitten large bowls of cow’s milk is therefore not recommended, as it is high in the carbohydrate lactose. Cats find this very difficult to digest and it can cause stomach upsets and diarrhoea. Kittens also require minerals and vitamins in specific amounts to ensure that they remain healthy and grow properly. In short, they require a balanced diet that is tailored just for them.

Thankfully, this doesn’t mean that you need to go poring (or pawing) through extensive scientific literature regarding cat nutrition and then carefully weigh out each component of your kitten’s meal. There are a variety of kitten foods on the market that contain everything you need to ensure your young feline friend has a healthy diet.

Hills cat food is a good choice for kittens, as their ‘Science Plan’ range of dry cat food is scientifically balanced to contain everything that kittens need, including antioxidants to help boost their immune system. Their ‘Kitten Healthy Development’ is a good choice to opt for, and also contains fish oil extracts.  As they get older you might then want to move them onto quality wet food from a trusted brand, such as Sheba cat food.

In terms of how often you should feed your kitten, this can vary with the individual, but small meals given frequently are the general rule. Around five times a day is often a suitable number.