Will kittens overeat? How much to feed a kitten (4 months old,dry food, Iams)?

Question

Will kittens overeat? I read that about 1 cup (Canada) of dry food a day is normal for a 4 month old cat, is this correct? I feed my cats Iams kitten food (dry) and use wet food for the occassional treat. Any info or suggestions would be appreciated! Thanks

Answer 1

I work for an animal hospital and I am the unofficial nutritional guru. Iams is a good quality food and it will tell you on the side of the bag how much is appropriate for his age and possibly weight. Early in life a kitten needs good nutrition and a balanced diet. Feeding as much as he would would like to eat may lead to an obesity problem later. 'Free feeding' ( leaving dry food in a bowl all day) is usually the problem. Meal feeding is feeding a specific amount so many times a day will reduce weight gain. 1 cup of food for a 4 month old kitten sounds reasonable but reduce that closer to a year of age to about 1/2 to 3/4 cup. It doesn't sound like much but cats requirements are no more than a 1/2 cup daily. I have 5 and they all look great because of meal feeding. Congrats on using wet food as treats only. I use it as a treat for my guys as well, they get about a teaspoon once weekly.

Answer 2

It depends on how the kitten was brought up and how it is used to eating. If the kitten has always had food available to it whenever it pleases, it will eat when it's hungry and stop when it's full. It will not overeat. This is how most breeders feed their cats.

If the kitten has always been given the exact amount of food in the morning and evening (and does not have access to food throughout the day) then there is a possibility it will overeat if too much food is left out. It completely depends on how they were brought up. Your kitten is still pretty young so I think you should be able to feed it either way and it will get used to it.

I think it is better to just leave food out and then they can eat when they are hungry. It is the most natural way.

Answer 3

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RE:
Will kittens overeat? How much to feed a kitten (4 months old,dry food, Iams)?
Will kittens overeat? I read that about 1 cup (Canada) of dry food a day is normal for a 4 month old cat, is this correct? I feed my cats Iams kitten food (dry) and use wet food for the occassional treat. Any info or suggestions would be appreciated! Thanks

Answer 4

There is nothing wrong with that. Kitten food has only slightly more calories and protein in the diet. The only real difference is in the fact that they are more digestible since kitten stomachs are more sensitive. So the cat will not be malnourished at all. Secondly some brands of catfood may be fed to both kitten or adults (but they recommend a particular amount to be fed to the different age groups to ensure the cats remain healthy) so it's really no cause for concern. Finally, cats like ragolls and maine coons are slow maturing cats. They take about 3 - 4 years to reach their adult size. You did not mention how old the kitten was. So that 'adult' cat you see could merely be a one year old cat (termed an 'older kitten' amongst fanciers) and it's perfectly alright for her to continue feeding her cat kitten food.

Answer 5

How Much To Feed Kittens

Answer 6

Hi, I have a 5 mo old kitten and the box I have said to give them about one half a cup. And my kitten doesn't overeat, he eats well, but not over. I put about a half cup (little more) and about 2 spoons of wet food and he doesn't always finish it. Sometimes he does, and i give him a little more. I personal feed my kitty newmans own, natural choice and a brand called wysong. I mix his food together and I also put this stuff its like a vitamin salad dressing. Honestly it does make a difference, my friends came over and pet my kitten and said his coat feels like silk. I would measure his food, and don't give him more, if you have to than divide his food throughout the day...

Answer 7

It's been my experience that kittens will not over eat, if they've been brought up in a good enviorment were food is always available to them.

If a kitten grows up as a stray and has to fight for everything they eat, then yes they will over eat..sometimes to the point where they will stuff themselves so much that they will vomit.

One of our four cats was a stray and she would eat everything in the bowl.
My Vet told me to put her on a schedule...for instance...feed her small amounts at 9AM, 12PM and 5PM then put some food out for her before you go to bed.

This worked great and now four years later I can have food out at all times and she only eats when she's hungry.

Answer 8

My kitten has her bowl or food out all the. She eats.. off and on all the time. She has high energy and her litter box looks normal. I like my cats to be grazers. After all would you like to be told when to eat? I have had longevity with my cats and let them eat whenever they want. I do not feed them expensive food. They are happy and healthy.y shames lived to be 20 years old ! I'm sticking to the free grazing.

Answer 9

Iam's is a poor quality and expensive cat food. It uses chicken by-product meat and is 2/3 corn at $2.50 per lb.

For the same money or less you can give the kittens a high quality meat protein diet - 2/3 meat and only 1/3 filler. Any filler is better than corn.

Try Solid Gold ($1.50 per lb.), Natural Balance ($1.75), Felidae ($2.10) or CA Natural at $2.40.

Canned food is not a "treat". Go to www.littlebigcat.com and read Dr. Jean Hovfe's article "Why Cats Need Canned Food". Natural Balance and Felidae have canned foods. Lick You Chops is a good canned food as is By Nature's Organic.

If you have more than one kitten splitting a can per day and leaving dry food out for the rest of the time will be fine. Kittens don't tend to overeat - it is after spaying and neutering that you need to start watching for signs of overeating.

Answer 10

Consulting a vet should be your first step. Otherwise, read the label on the bag of kitten chow. A cat usually will not over eat. Just put about half of the daily recommended amount in his dish twice a day. Let him eat it as he wishes throughout the day.