These guys are eating me out of house and home!
2006-08-27 13:21:36 · 24 answers · asked by Laura C 1 in Pets ➔ Cats
Thanks for your responses. Here are the stats: I have two 14 week old males. Both very healthy, playful, strictly indoor cats. They are not finicky eaters in the least. I started them on this expensive ($18/small bag) "babycat" food, then switched to Kitten Chow. I have tried adult cat food on them, and they love it just the same. I have heard that it is good to switch their food a lot in the first few months so they don't become picky eaters. Please tell me what I should do!
Thanks,
Laura.
2006-08-27 13:34:32 · update #1
Buy cat food in those bulk bags. You can save around 5 to 6 bucks just buying in bulk.
2006-09-04 07:27:07 · answer #1 · answered by jrollo76 4 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Kittens should be fed kitten food for the first year of their life. They are still growing and need the nutrition found in the kitten food. If you are feeding them food especially for kittens there shouldn't be any need for vitamin supplements. Switching the food they eat all the time is harder on their system than feeding them the same brand of food all the time. When you switch food for your cat you should do it gradually, mixing some of the old food with the new a little at a time until you have changed completely. For example 1 part new food to 3 parts old food. do this gradually over several days increasing the new and deceasing the old. Their diet should consist of dry food and moist so they will have a healthy coat and skin.
2006-08-27 22:59:37 · answer #2 · answered by peanut_b 1 · 0⤊ 0⤋
At twelve weeks - four months - it is perfectly fine to feed kittens dry cat food. In fac, the mother usually forces them to eat elsewhere by twelve weeks since the kittens have ahd teeth for a while.
As for vitemins, they are not necessary, as any quality cat food will have all the vitamins they require.
Does that mean you shouldn't give them vitamins? No, feel free to if you want, it can only help.
If you are having problems getting them to eat dry food, try mixing it with a little water, or KMR (Kitten milk replacer) to soften it up. KMR is available at almost all pet stores.
Good luck!
2006-08-27 20:27:58 · answer #3 · answered by urbanbulldogge 4 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Buy dry kitten food... Don't buy the other because the mushy smelly kind is too expensive.. Besides Dry food is better for their teeth because it helps remove plack from their teeth. Also, don't feed them constantly... 3 little meals a day spread out is enough. Like a cup full each 3X a day... Make sure they have plenty of water and a bowl of milk once a week. Even if they act hungry they will eat out of being bored and you can't afford that..
2006-08-27 20:27:29 · answer #4 · answered by Lea 4 · 0⤊ 0⤋
kittens need to be on a kitten food until they are a year old. Kitten food has nutrients etc. that kittens need to grow that adult cat food does not have. Purina Kitte chow is a good food and is not that expensive. If you can't afford to feed them then maybe you should adopt them out.
2006-08-27 21:26:22 · answer #5 · answered by leftygirl_75 6 · 0⤊ 0⤋
If you have gotten them spayed and neutered, you can start mixing adult food in with the kitten food.
If you have not, SHAME ON YOU! Get them spayed and neutered before you transition them onto adult food. Their little bodies have huge caloric need and are sized too small to eat sufficient adult food. Once they are surgically altered, their caloric need drops.
You should AVOID supplements!!!!! It is very easy to over-supplement a four pound animal and that can CAUSE major health problems!
2006-09-04 11:01:24 · answer #6 · answered by catlady 1 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Yes, that's fine.
When my husband and I got our last two kittens, we didn't use any special expensive food: We just fed them Purina kitten chow for the first year. They took to eating adult food with no problem after we phased out the kitten food.
2006-08-27 21:14:27 · answer #7 · answered by Tigger 7 · 0⤊ 0⤋
If you are feeding them the highest quality food available, yes. Mother cat does not bring special "kitten" mice for her babies to eat when she weans them.
And I mean the HIGHEST quality. No grocery store food ever. No Science Diet, no Purina or Iams.
Use CA Natural, Natural Balance, Nature's Variety (Prairie) etc. A small owner-operated pet store will have these good cat foods. For directons on switching all your cats' food click on my name in the icon. You must do it gradually.
2006-08-27 20:28:44 · answer #8 · answered by old cat lady 7 · 0⤊ 0⤋
No. Kittens up to a year old need to eat kitten food. There's no way around it. Kitten food doesn't cost much more than cat food so it shouldn't be a huge issue.
2006-08-27 20:26:44 · answer #9 · answered by GPcrazy 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋
You can feed them regular cat food by now - they are able to digest the food. If you get a good brand of cat food (IAMS, Science Diet, etc) you might not even need to suppliment with vitamins
2006-08-27 20:26:14 · answer #10 · answered by lonely_girl3_98 4 · 0⤊ 0⤋