Kitten diet
Kittens require a complete, nutritionally balanced diet to support their growth and development, and to support good health through their adulthood.
Cats are obligate carnivores, meaning that they rely on the consumption of animal proteins to meet their nutritional needs. This means that cats require higher levels of protein in their diet compared to dogs.
What should I feed my kitten?
We recommend feeding your kitten a complete and balanced kitten diet. Kitten diets are higher in protein, fats and carbohydrates than regular adult diets to support growth and development.
Because premium kitten diets are completely nutritionally balanced, kittens can be fully supported on these diets without the need for any supplementation.
Kittens should be fed wet and dry food separately.
When should I feed my kitten?
Feeding guidelines are available on the side or back of all premium kitten diets. Cats prefer to consume many small meals throughout the day (seen as “grazing” behaviour) as this best replicates their natural hunting and consumption habits. We recommend leaving their daily dry food ration for them to eat during the day. Their wet food can be given 2-3 times daily depending on their personal feeding habits. Your kitten should always have access to clean water.
Can I give my cat homemade food?
Care should be given when providing homemade diets to your kitten, as it is extremely difficult to ensure all of their specific nutritional requirements are met. Unlike dogs, cats require taurine in their diet, which is an essential amino acid available in animal proteins. Taurine deficiency can lead to retinal degeneration (blindness), or dilated cardiomyopathy (heart disease). Grain or vegetable based diets are not recommended for cats as their taurine levels are insufficient.
Can kittens eat raw meat?
Never feed your kitten (or cat) raw meat. Raw meat can carry salmonella (and other dangerous pathogens), which can be life-threatening for kittens if they become infected (it can also be harmful to your household, especially young children). Bones should also be avoided, as they can result in choking, gastrointestinal obstruction or broken teeth (which would need to be extracted).
Obesity in cats
As your kitten grows, you will need to slowly transition them to an adult diet. Obesity is a common disease that affects cats. Obesity can be prevented by feeding your cat an appropriate balanced (animal protein rich) diet, following feeding guidelines, and engaging in regular exercise (this includes lots of play time, or access to an outdoor run where your cat has lots of space to climb and explore regularly).