I have my two kittens and they are just about 3 to 5 months can they eat dry food now?

Question

I'm not sure how old ?

Answer 1

Yes, they have actually been able to eat dry food since about 3-4 WEEKS of age....just make sure it is formulated for kittens, not cats. Still too soon to make that switch just yet. If they've been 'spoiled' with canned kitten food all this time, you might have to add some warm water to the dry food to make a slight mush to 'convince' them they CAN eat it without their worlds coming to an end. (Kittens can sometimes be....um....just a tad dramatic about such things, LOL.)

Anyone who has cats shouild already know that all cats (and kittens) are deficient in the enzyme lactase which is required to break down the milk sugar lactose. Lactose is not a huge component of a queen's milk, or replacement milk formulated for felines, so the kittens have no problem with it. Cow's milk, however, is abundant in lactose.

Meaning....all cats are lactose-intolerant, and giving them milk (which they don't need beyond 5-6 weeks anyway) will cause gas, intestinal cramping, maldigestion/malabsorption (leading to malnutrition), diarrhea, dehydration, and death (in the worst cases, esp. in very young kittens.) Yes, kittens often DIE from being given cow's milk, when there's nothing else wrong with them. Don't do it.

Note: Time to make that spay/neuter appt. before someone accidentally gets pregnant!

Answer 2

oh yes. We found a kitten we guess at 10 weeks, and while we went out to get some wet food, when we got back he was eating the dry catfood for the two grown cats. No problems yet. It'll be fine.

Answer 3

Hi Veronica you emailed me, but yahoo will not allow me to reply, says your email address is not confirmed, so I am answering you through this question becouse it's the only one you have open and I have no other way to contact you.

As for this question, yes feeding your kitty dry food is important, trat them with soft food occasionally. Kitten food is best until 1 year of age. This with give them all the important nutrients they need to grow up healthy.
as for the question you email me abaout:
If the white lice looking things are only around the butt
area it could be worms, worms look like little grains of rice, they move when alive and look like dry grains of rice when dead, if this is the case go to the pet supply store and get some de-wormer.

If they are all over the body it could be larvae, larvae are the eggs
that are left from fleas, I don't know how old your kittys are, but if they are 12 weeks of age you can flea dip them or treat them with advantage or frontline, advantage has been my most
successful way of ridding my kitty of fleas. However if your cat has fleas, this means your home has fleas and I treated my home with bombs and vacuumed every other day, under furniture and washing all rugs. It's hard to rid your home of fleas, but I did it and so can you. Vacuuming is 95% effective
in ridding your home of fleas, but you have to throw the vacuum bags away after your done. Yes it's expensive, but once you have contained the fleas and keep them treated one a month with advantage, you will never have this problem again.

See this for advice, this site helped me get rid of fleas, I hope I
have helped you. Good luck:

http://www.catsofaustralia.com/fleasgetridof.htm

Answer 4

IMO kittens should have quality food, both canned and dry. Natural Balance makes a superior food and is not very expensive. NB has many varieties in canned and dry and the kittens should have a variety of protein souces in their diets - not only chicken. NB has vension. Eagle Pack has some duck in their dry food and Solid Gold has lamb and chicken.

Answer 5

Kittens can start eating dry food at 6 weeks, but by now they are used to the dry and you probarly will not be able to get them to eat dry. I started one of my kittens with dry and later gave her a can of wet, big mistake, she wouldn't eat dry again. My sister said she'll eat the dry when she gets hungry, but she never would.

Answer 6

I researched it to be certain...but kittens can begin eating dry food starting at 3 months. I also know from experience, that wet food should be given sparingly...the dry food is better for the small, dentally handicapped, kitty mouth. The more wet food you give, the more they want (of course)...so try to encourage the dry food more often to keep those little teeth strong. My kitty gets 1/4 can wet food daily...not a lot, but enough to satisfy...and she gets as much dry as she meows for!

Answer 7

Sure. 2 of my cats are 3 1/2 months and they eat solid food so I dont see why not.

Answer 8

I went and look it up. However, when I had my kitten Pickles I feed him dry cat food at about 3 months of age. But here are the facts that I have found:

*It is important that your kitten eat kitten food and nothing else until he is at least ~6 months of age. Kitten food has extra protein and minerals that kittens need to grow.
http://www.kittencare.com/askKC_Feeding_Weight.html



*Months 1-6
During these first six months I recommend that your mommy feed you 2 to 3 times a day. Given your age of 8 weeks you should be completely weaned and comfortable eating dry or wet food. I am partial to dry for the general dental benefits and recommend using warm water to help make your dry food softer (at first).
Your mommy should be aware that as a kitten you are likely to eat your meals in little bits. She should not be too concerned if you just approach your food, sniff it quickly and then eats just a bit. More than likely she will see you return at various intervals to eat more. Being a little kitten noise, commotion and your new surroundings are likely to cause you to stop eating so if possible have her keep it quiet during your meals!

Months 6-12
Once you reach 6 months of age, you should be fed twice a day if you are on a canned, soft-moist, or moistened dry food diet. I believe that dry food is better because it can be left out for you without danger of it spoiling. It is generally worthwhile to use the amounts recommended on the packages of the food you have. However, be sure to use it as a guide and have your mommy adjust it as necessary. So in answer to your question, if your mommy sees you getting fat, have her cut back a little bit. However, be aware that if you are well exercised you might need more food.
http://www.kittencare.com/askKC_Feeding_Kittens.html

*Q:My kittens keep eating the adult cat food. Is this bad for them?
A:Won't hurt them at all.The vet said that was fine.
http://answers.yahoo.com/question/index?qid=20061003100032AAzGCio

*Q:can i give kittens dried food?
A:The kittens might be able to nibble dry food at that young age, but they probably won't be able to eat enough to get all their caloric and nutritional needs until they get a little older and their teeth and jaws get stronger. Go ahead and let them explore the dry food, but feed canned food as well. You can also mix kitten formula in with either the canned or dry to give the kits an extra immune boost from colostrum until they are done with their shots, and to help soften and flavor the dry food and make it easier to eat. One formula is KMR (Kitten Milk Replacer), available at most big pet stores.
Even when they get a little older, say around 5 months old or so, they start cutting their larger permanent teeth (the bigger teeth, such as the canines/fangs, premolars and molars). Teething hurts, and their mouth will be sore again, and so they might want to eat canned food then, too. Still, make the dry food available as they will need to chew on things in order to help the new teeth set in well.
http://uk.answers.yahoo.com/question/index?qid=20061001130622AAtJfr1

I hope that this information is very helpful for you. I had listed the sites where I found the information for you, that way if you want to check futher into the information you are able to.

Good luck and have a great day.

Answer 9

Absolutely. Make sure it is dry food that is small enough for their smaller mouths. One of the benefits is that dry food is good for their teeth. I feed my 11 cats dry food mixed with canned food.

Answer 10

they can have dry kitten food now
you may want to mix in half a tea spoon of can food for about a week to help get them used to it.