Feeding your kitten a nutritionally complete diet that is tailored to their specific needs is vital for supporting healthy development and laying the foundations for a happy and healthy life. Kittens have very specific nutritional needs that are different from adult cats. Your kitten's weight may double or even triple during the first few weeks. To support their explosive growth and high activity levels, they may have triple the energy needs of an adult cat.
Nutrients for healthy growth
There are a range of vital nutrients that your kitten needs during the early stages of their life to aid growth and development. Their diet must provide enough energy and quality proteins to support their growth, strengthen their immune system and be easily digestible. In addition, it must include the right balance of vitamins and minerals, as well as essential amino acids and fatty acids. The basis of your kitten’s diet should be a high quality, complete and balanced premium kitten food that is appropriate for their life stage and health status .
Getting the balance right
It is vital that your kitten gets the right balance of nutrients to promote good health and quality of life. Excess nutrients can be just as concerning as a deficiency, and there are various health concerns associated with an improper balance of nutrients. For example:
- Excess phosphorus: bone loss, weight loss and bladder stones
- Insufficient phosphorus: decreased growth, appetite and fertility
- Excess salt: increase risk of heart disease, high blood pressure and constipation
- Insufficient salt: decreased growth, fatigue, exhaustion, hair loss
It is important not to overfeed or underfeed your kitten. The feeding guide on super premium food offers a recommendation, but we recommend seeking advice from your local veterinarian. Your vet will be able to weigh your kitten, assess their body condition and provide advice on how much to feed daily. Please make sure clean and fresh drinking water is available to your kitten at all times.
Choosing super premium
Super premium diets such as Royal Canin and Hill’s Science Diet are nutritionally balanced to meet the needs of kittens of all sizes, lifestyles and breeds. By feeding super premium food, you can be assured you are providing your kitten with the proper balance of nutrients and giving them the best possible start to life.
Hill’s Science Diet
Hill’s Science Diet Kitten Food provides precisely balanced nutrition to meet your kitten’s special needs. Hill’s Science Diet Kitten Food has a range of benefits for your kitten;
- Precisely balanced to promote ideal body weight
- Promotes healthy development of vital organs
- High quality protein to support muscle growth and development
- Clinically proven antioxidant blend to support immune system
- DHA from high-quality fish oil for brain and eye development
- No artificial colours, flavours or preservatives
Royal Canin
Royal Canin Kitten Food supports growth and development by providing all the nutrients essential to a kitten’s needs in the first year of life. Royal Canin has developed a range of cat food formulas to support your kitten's growth and development, boasting a range of benefits for your kitten. Royal Canin Dry Kitten Food is packed with antioxidants, vitamins and minerals, and has an enhanced digestive tolerance.
To help your kitten grow and stay healthy, it is vital to provide them with super premium food that is suitable to their age, lifestyle and specific nutritional needs. It is important to remember that every kitten is an individual, therefore it is highly recommended to seek veterinary advice on your kitten’s nutritional requirements during the early years.
