How to transfer a kitten to a ready-made diet?

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In normal mode, the mother herself gradually minimizes the feeding of offspring. When 3-4 weeks have passed since his birth, the cat begins to avoid kittens, her milk production decreases. Yes, and the kittens cease to have enough food from the parent. In search of an additional source of energy, they begin to try new foods.

During this period, it is advisable for them to offer food suitable for the first feeding. It includes, in particular, specialized diets for kittens Royal Canin Mother&Babycat, Royal Canin Kitten, Whiskas brand line. Also, the corresponding feeds are produced under the brands Acana, Wellkiss, Purina Pro Plan, Bosch and others.

Experts recommend a combination of dry and wet diets from the first days of switching to a new food.

But if wet food does not need preliminary preparation, then dry food can be diluted with water at first to a state of slurry. Then the amount of water should be gradually reduced so that the kitten painlessly gets used to the new texture of the food.

End of weaning

Completely on ready-made diets, the pet passes in 6-10 weeks. He already categorically lacks mother’s milk, but industrial feeds are able to provide a growing body with an increased amount of energy, and all the ingredients for full development. However, the owner must take into account the norms shown to the animal and ensure that the kitten, which does not know the saturation limit, does not overeat.

A kitten that is already 1-3 months old should be fed in small portions 6 times a day. It’s good if you can do it at the same time to establish a clear routine. During this period, 1 sachet of wet and about 35 grams of dry food is consumed per day.

As the kitten grows older, the feeding schedule also changes: at 4-5 months of age, the pet should eat 3-4 times a day, while eating a bag of wet food in the morning and evening and 35 grams of dry food during the day. A 6-9 month old kitten should be given food with the same frequency, but in large portions: daily the kitten will eat 2 bags of wet food and about 70 grams of dry food per day.

Emergency

During the first month of life with mother’s milk, the kitten receives all the necessary substances in the right balance. Therefore, it is of critical importance for the formation of the animal’s immunity.

There is practically nothing to replace this food – cow’s milk is not suitable for a kitten at all. For comparison: cat’s milk has one and a half times more protein than cow’s milk, and at the same time it contains a moderate amount of fat, calcium and phosphorus.

But what if, for certain reasons, it is not available? A number of manufacturers have rations in case the cat lost milk or the kitten was weaned from it early – this is, for example, Royal Canin Babycat Milk. This food fully meets the needs of a newly born animal and can serve as a worthy alternative to mother’s milk.