Help us make PetMD better Was this article helpful? Yes No. Share this article. What did you find helpful? What was not helpful? Say more Sign me up for the PetMD Newsletter. Submit Feedback. Still have questions? Continue to Chewy. Connect With a Vet Experienced vets answer all your pet questions via chat or video. Cats are notoriously poor water drinkers, so feeding wet food can help ensure that they remain well-hydrated.
While most kittens benefit from a diet of wet canned food, there are advantages to feeding them dry food. Dry kitten food tends to be less expensive and can be left out for longer periods of time without spoiling. Early in life, cats develop strong preferences for how food should taste and what it should feel like in their mouths. Offer your kitten a variety of foods for example, dry, wet, and different flavors and shapes if you want to keep all your options open. Be sure to talk to your veterinarian about the right mix of foods for your kitten.
Most kittens should have food left out throughout the day and night until they are months of age. If you want to feed both wet and dry, leave a high quality dry kitten food, like Blue Buffalo Carnivora Woodland Blend Kitten Grain-Free Dry Cat Food , out continually and offer two to three meals of canned food each day, depending on the caloric needs of your kitten. Unless your kitten is underweight, switching to a meal-based kitten feeding schedule is usually wise at about this time.
Identifying how much food to feed a kitten is tricky, and you are not alone! Their needs change as they grow and can vary by as much as 50 percent in either direction from the average. Getting portion sizes right from their earliest weeks can help to make sure your cat stays at a healthy body weight neither too skinny nor too heavy.
As always, talk to your veterinarian if you have any questions or concerns. Want to give your pet superior health and nutrition? Chewy offers a variety of premium cat food so you can feed your feline the highest quality ingredients. Shop Chewy's selection of premium cat food here. Published: July 18, By: Dr. Jennifer Coates Updated: August 13, Jennifer Coates Updated: June 15, Alison Birken Updated: January 28, By: Chewy Editorial Published: November 18, Now your kitten has started to show a preference for the food they like, it is time to start introducing meal times.
However, they still have a lot of growing to do, so need to be fed at least four times a day. Refrigerated food should be allowed to return to room temperature before putting it down for the kitten.
Your kitten has learned the ropes pretty well now and will start showing a preference for routine. Now is the time to start serving food consistently in just one part of your home which is quiet, calm and clean. Dry food allows the kitten to eat whenever they want, but wet food should be given separately in small, regular portions.
Feeding dry food alone or feeding both wet and dry foods are both perfectly acceptable, but feeding wet alone may make it difficult for your kitten to get sufficient nutrients in the day. Whichever type you choose, it is vitally important to have fresh water constantly available. The water bowl should not be next to the food bowl but there should be one in the same room. Now your kitten is well on its way to becoming an adult cat. Some cats can regulate their intake themselves to avoid weight gain, but others can be prone to overeating.
Now is the time to start paying more attention to how much food you are giving.
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