my kittens who are nine weeks old are stealing mummy's and daddy's food?

Question

they eat all their kitten food which is felix and will eat go cat kitten biscuits but they are instantly at their parents food bowls as soon as we put their felix as good as it looks (steaklets) down. the parents do not push the kittens away from. the kittens are also eating adult go cat biscuits. is it alright for them to be doing this, and any suggestions on how to prevent them eating their parents food. i know my adult cats had adult food from six months old but nine weeks i think is really too young. (mum weighs 3.9kg and dad weighs 5.1kg babies all weigh over 1kg in weight.) sensible answers only

the babies have been fully weaned since they were seven and a half weeks as they were hand raised as mum had an illness during her pregnancy which meant she could not feed them beyond about a week and half as she had hormonal mastitis.

Answer 1

This is OK, at 9 weeks of age kittens are growing at a remarkable weight and must be allowed to eat as much as they want! It's only really after they neutered (between 5 and 6 months of age) that they should slow down a little on the food, and by the time they're fully grown (between a year and 18 months) they should only be eating the recommended daily amounts of whatever food they're on.

In the wild, kittens eat their parents food, so that's why the mum and dad don't mind their kids nicking it, they expect it!

Be aware that if these kittens remain big eaters when they're grown up (which they won't necessarily) I would switch them to a higher quality food like Iams, so they don't have to eat so much to get all their nutrients - and so they don't get fat!

Chalice

EDIT: Adult cat food will not damage the kittens! Kittens raised on adult cat food only will be malnourished, but since these ones are on kitten food too, there's no problem.

Answer 2

Kittens are growing, and can eat an enormous quantity of food for their small size. If she seems always hungry she might be! Cats also crave (and need) protein, so the lower the protein in the food, the more she needs to eat to get what she needs. The grocery store foods really aren't high quality - they contain cheap fillers, and very little "good" meat. Read the ingredients - it's all by-products. By-products are a low quality source of protein, and they are all the scrap "bits" that have been deemed unfit for human consumption. They are things like heads, feet, hides, intestines, spinal chords, spleens, and diseased and spoiled meat. Surely not what you'd intentionally choose to feed your baby! Go to the pet store and get her a better quality of food - if it contains soy, wheat, or corn, or by-products, put it back and keep reading the labels. At the budget end Petsmart's Authority is a fine brand to use, and doesn't cost significantly more than the food your feeding now. At the high end would be the great foods like Innova's EVO, Wellness, and Blue Buffalo (there are plenty of others, but these are easy to find). My foster kittens are all fed EVO, and they thrive! Aim to feed her 4 times a day on the canned. If she gobbles up the portion and looks for more, then give her another tablespoon or so. If it's not quickly eaten, then give a bit less. It's kind of a trial and error, as each kitten is a bit different. Her appetite will naturally slow down as she gets older. She's going to be old enough to be spayed in a week or two, so you might want to plan on that to get it over and done so you never have to worry about her coming into heat or getting pregnant : )

Answer 3

Sounds like the kittens want more food. They're at the age when the mother is trying to wean them and her milk is drying up, so even if they are still nursing, they are not getting much from it.

Supply the kittens with more kitten food, and feed the adult cats in another area. Actually, it would be good for the mother cat to eat kitten food, too, because she could use the extra calories and calcium to replenish her body from the effects of pregnancy and nursing.

Answer 4

Feed baby kitties in another room, get them used to the fact that they eat elsewhere...when they go into the room with parents bowls in, if they go for the bowls pick kitten up and remove it from room.
When kittens are bigger, the parents will probably give them a swipe if they eat their food, best to stop it now.

Answer 5

If their diet is mainly kitten food this won't hurt them, they are getting the extra protein and fat that they need while they are growing from their food. They are naturally curious, like all kittens, about what the adult cats are eating, and they want to try it as well. It is always fun to watch kittens try to imitate the older cats, that is how they learn.

Answer 6

feed the kittens first.. then the mummy and daddy in a separate room!! then the kittens cant get at their food.. any young animal will eat and eat until they are sick because they do not know when to stop! feed them kitten food it is beter for them

hope this helps =D

Answer 7

That food could damage it, if it's for Adult Cats.
I would have a mom and dad feeding room,
and since the kitties want to eat real food, get them some food that is just for kittens.

Hope I help!!!!!!!!!!!!

Answer 8

Feed them kitten food, the sounds of it they are hungry

Answer 9

I think they sound like they are ready for regular kitty food and they aren't getting enough. That's why they are eating the other food. You'll have to start feeding all of them more. If it weren't good for them or if they couldn't handle the food they wouldn't be eating it.

Answer 10

try feeding the parents in another room, away from the kittens.

give the parents a chance........ they don't need to be apart for long