who has eaten some hard cat food, the vet said to feed him only milk until he's at least 4 weeks. Can the hard food hurt him? he had about 5 to 10 little pieces.
2006-08-30 18:09:40 · 17 answers · asked by Lo 2 in Pets ➔ Cats
the problem with the hard cat food is that the kitten may not be able to chew the food properly for digestion because of not having enough or strong enough teeth. they make special kitten milk that you should buy to supplement his diet with.
2006-08-30 18:14:06 · answer #1 · answered by Medic Jenn 3 · 0⤊ 1⤋
It won't hurt him now but its a good idea to stop letting him eat it. If you want to introduce him to a more 'solid' material you can buy maxx cat wet kitten food. This is what we feed all the kittens at the shelter, and yes even 3 week old babies. Just be sure you mash it up real good so its like a gruel, mabe help him eat it, put a little on your finger as you lead him with it to the dish. If he won't take it that way, try adding some warm milk ( not much) to it to make it more soupy, or just zap the food for 10 seconds in the micro. Just half a can for starts will work, until he starts taking it better. It is also good to continue feeding him kitten milk for at least another 2 weeks. By then he should be already set on the wet food eating which by that point, you'll be able to leave dry food out! Hope I was of some help!
2006-08-30 19:36:29 · answer #2 · answered by dreamkillerkitten 3 · 0⤊ 1⤋
It won't particularly hurt him but it is not good for a very young kitten. At three weeks old the mother would still be nursing her young. Hard food or even soft food would be too hard on the kittens stomach. I have a 6 week old kitten and he has a tough time with dry food unless it is moistened. I don't mean soggy just enough water to soften it a little, I sort of go half and half so he gets used to the hard food.
Also if you are feeding just milk then make sure it is whole milk or at the very least 2%. Skim milk would not have enough of a fat content. At five weeks you can start introducing soft canned food along with the milk a couple of times a day. 1/4 to 1/2 a teaspoon at a time. 5 1/2 weeks you can then start softening up dried food along with the canned food and start eliminating the milk with water.
2006-08-30 18:22:40 · answer #3 · answered by bennii 2 · 0⤊ 1⤋
It would not hurt it but, if the cat food is too dry it is probably to hard for it to chew. Soak it a little in milk or water. Still it should get some milk at least twice a day.
2006-08-30 18:16:19 · answer #4 · answered by Jose R 2 · 0⤊ 1⤋
I have had to bottle feed a kitten. I tried the milk and she would not drink it from a bowl. I suggest to go to a pet store and get kitten milk replacement. It will have the nutrients the mother was suppose to give them. You can buy little bottles making it easier for them to drink.
No, the food will not hurt them. I made the same mistake. Good Luck.
Here is a website that will give you instructions on how to feed and care for them.
Good Luck and enjoy. They are bonded to you and so much more healthy in the end.
2006-08-30 18:34:08 · answer #5 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 1⤋
Hi,
No, the hard cat food won't hurt your cat. It is just for the best growth and health feeding your cat milk for the first few weeks is the best food, preferable the mother's milk, but cow's milk will work quite well.
Enjoy your cat
2006-08-30 18:17:34 · answer #6 · answered by Augie R 2 · 0⤊ 1⤋
hard food usually gets larger in the stomach when mixed with liquid (water or Milk)
I do not think that would be of any harm to the kitten since 5 to 10 pcs are not too much but I suggest keeping the food that you do not want to kitten to eat away from it
2006-08-30 22:50:23 · answer #7 · answered by Ramrum 2 · 0⤊ 1⤋
The only thing it will probably do is make him sick and throw up. His stomach is not used to hard food and is not developed enough. Keep him on the milk for a little while then slowly start introducing canned food then hard food. GOOD LUCK!
2006-08-30 18:14:02 · answer #8 · answered by chairkiss_silver 3 · 0⤊ 1⤋
No, it won't hurt him and I would keep him out of it for a while. Kittens really take to canned meat when they start eating on their own so get some high quality stuff. I think Max kitten is good and I haven't feed kittens in a long time.
2006-08-30 18:23:46 · answer #9 · answered by old cat lady 7 · 0⤊ 1⤋
YES! He cannot chew the food properly so the food going into his stomach and intestines is hard and sharp.... kind of like you eating glass.
3 weeks warrants milk..... at five weeks milk and a little gruel.
Be careful and good luck
2006-08-30 18:42:34 · answer #10 · answered by rolahey 4 · 0⤊ 1⤋