What do I have to feed my kitten?
by Lenda | Apr 30, 2020 |
Although Lenda Kitten is the perfect choice for your kitten, we suggest that when she is a newcomer, you feed her the food she is used to. The breeder will advise you on their usual meals, feeding times and amounts. Leaving your littermates can be a stressful time, so it’s best not to complicate it with a diet change in the first few days.
The diet of small kittens
Choosing the right food for your kitten is critical. A good diet will ensure maximum benefit from nutrients and lead to small, firm stools. A concentrated food such as Lenda Kitten is ideal for immature digestions since at a lower feeding volume, less work for the intestine and less waste that it has to process.
Nutrition is not only an important factor in your cat’s external appearance, but it can also affect general behavior and temperament. Problems often arise when an (already complete) diet is over-supplemented with other high-calorie foods.
It is important that you watch the weight of your cat since he is small; cats that are less active or have been neutered can gain weight easily. As a general rule, you should be able to feel your cat’s ribs when touched, but not see them. And is that like us, cats need the right proportion of food and exercise to have optimal health and fitness.
Meal times
Meals in controlled amounts are recommended, rather than free feeding because kittens do not like stale food. Three to four small meals a day are ideal for a growing kitten as it helps prevent binge eating. Dry food can be moistened with a little warm water for about 20-30 minutes before serving, as this will enhance the meaty aroma.
Note: Food that has been soaked should be discarded if not consumed as it may be subject to bacterial growth and fermentation can cause digestive upset.
What to do with inattentive cats
If your cat is a little bit special when it comes to eating, you can heat the food a little on a plate in the microwave so that it reaches body temperature. Of course, be very careful about adding small details (such as pieces of ham or tuna) because this way you will soon learn to wait for them and you can start refusing to eat your regular diet.
In cases of inappetence, what you can do is add small amounts of finely chopped cooked fish or chicken, so that it mixes well with your usual diet, so that you cannot choose only these pieces. It is that you have to consume everything together, but that improves the flavor. By soaking dry food, mixing is easier. So that the nutrient balance in your diet is not greatly disturbed, supplements should not account for more than a third of your kitty’s daily calorie intake.
What should a cat eat when it is growing
The growth period is nutritionally the most important stage of your cat’s life. Kittens have greater structural and functional demands on their bodies, a faster metabolic rate, and a greater need for calories than an adult cat of the same weight. This is why diets formulated for the initial growth period have a higher energy density. Lenda Kitten has been specially formulated to meet the growing nutritional demands of the developing cat.
Cats have a high requirement for meat and fish so they will need good levels of high quality protein that will ensure that the structural and metabolic demands of the feline body are met efficiently. Crucial nutrients that must be present in your cat’s diet include taurine (an amino acid that is essential for healthy vision, heart function, growth and development, as well as reproduction) and arginine (important in the breakdown of ammonia). in the urea cycle). Cats are unable to make these essential amino acids on their own and therefore depend on a diet that contains them. A complete and balanced diet like Lenda Kitten ensures that all the necessary nutrients are present at the correct level.
Kittens and milk
Always make sure your kitten has water available and avoid giving him milk. After weaning, kittens lose the ability to digest lactose (milk sugar) and as they mature, milk can cause loose stools. Milk proteins are also one of the most common food allergens that can negatively affect cats and dogs.
If you are worried about calcium, phosphorus and vitamin D, you can trust that your Lenda diet contains all the necessary supplements, including glucosamine, chondrotin and MSM that help your bone development, something that few brands offer, and even less in food for puppies. At Lenda our goal is to provide the best possible protection from an early age, to try to avoid problems in later life.
The right balance Kitty Lenda offers a balanced calcium: phosphorus ratio and the right level of vitamin D to aid bone growth and development. Correct calcium: phosphorus ratio is essential for the structure and resistance of healthy teeth and bones, while calcium is also necessary for normal blood clotting and for nerve and muscle function. Skeleton health is further promoted by the addition of glucosamine, chondroitin, and MSM. These supplements are rarely found in other feline brands, and if used they are generally limited to “high-level” diets.
When do I start feeding my kitten adult food?
Many cat owners are unsure when to change their kitten’s growth diet to an adult recipe. As a guideline, it is recommended that when a cat reaches its optimal skeletal height (that is, as tall as it will be as an adult), it can begin to eat an adult diet. For most cats this will be between 6 and 12 months of age. There are many factors that can affect your cat’s dietary needs such as age, size, weight, activity level, whether it is an indoor or outdoor cat and its own individual digestion and rate of metabolism.
Toxic food
Some foods are dangerous to your kitty: chocolate, onions, grapes, raw potatoes, tomatoes, or raisins. Excess raw fish can also cause problems as it can lead to vitamin E deficiency. Also be careful with the liver as it can cause hypervitaminosis if you consume it in excess. Lastly, never give human or dog medications, as these can also be toxic to cats. Complying with a complete and balanced commercial diet, as Lenda avoids these risks.