Feeding your kitten: some food for thought
When you bring your kitten home for the first time, it’s best to carry on feeding the food they have become used to. Not all kitten foods are the same, for example, some have much better quality ingredients than others. This is why you might want to change your kitten’s food to one recommended by your vet. You’ll need to do this over a period of 5 to 7 days; your vet will advise you on this. Mix the new food into your kitten’s usual food, and gradually increase the amount until only the new food is in the bowl.
As you can imagine a kitten’s stomach is tiny, so to begin with small but frequent meals are needed. This means putting out fresh food in a clean bowl, up to 4 times a day until they are 6 months old.
Tasty Tips
Choose carefully
A “complete” kitten food will provide all the vitamins and minerals your kitten needs in an easy-to-serve form, either as dry food, or wet in cans or pouches. If you’re unsure which to buy, your vet will advise you. But whatever food you choose, follow the feeding guide on the pack, and be careful not to overfeed your kitten.
Thirsty kittens
Believe it or not, kittens don’t need milk. And for some cats, cows’ milk can actually cause diarrhoea. So if you want to give your kitten some milk, specially formulated cat milk is available. Notwithstanding that, please make sure your kitten has a bowl of fresh clean water at all times. If you suspect they are not drinking enough, it might be your kitten tastes the chemicals in it, so you could try still bottled water. Some cats even prefer to drink from flowing water sources, like fountains or dripping taps, you can buy water fountains designed especially for cats. And don’t forget that if eating dry, crunchy food, it’s essential you provide plenty of water.
Don’t worry, being sick sometimes is normal
If your kitten has a minor digestive problem, or needs to bring up a hairball, they will make themselves sick by eating grass. This is quite natural and there’s nothing to worry about. But if the vomiting persists and you spot other symptoms, you need to consult your vet.
Related products
Sensitive Stomach & Skin Adult Cat Food
Hill's Science Plan Sensitive Stomach & Skin Adult Wet Cat Food with Turkey is a complete pet food for adult cats, aged 1–6 years. This highly digestible wet food comes in a pouch and supports healthy digestion, as well as nourishes skin and promotes a thick and lustrous coat.
Sterilised Adult Cat Food
Hill's Science Plan Adult Sterilised Cat Dry Food with Salmon is specially formulated with ActivBiome+ Multi-Benefit Technology. It is a precisely balanced nutrition, tailored to meet the needs of sterilised cats, to help keep them lean & healthy.
Perfect Digestion Adult Cat Food
Hill's Science Plan Perfect Digestion Cat Food with Chicken & Brown Rice nourishes your cat's unique microbiome and helps them reach their full potential.
Hairball & Perfect Coat Adult Dry Cat Food with Chicken
Hill's Science Plan Hairball & Perfect Coat Adult Cat Food with Chicken is formulated to effectively help avoid hairball formation in adult cats while promoting a beautiful coat. Thanks to its mix of essential omega-6 fatty acids, this food benefits the cat's skin and fur, keeping them healthy and shiny. Our Advanced Fibre Technology helps reduce hairballs by naturally promoting their passage through the gut. This food is formulated with high-quality protein for a perfectly balanced, great-tasting recipe.
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Put your cat on a diet without them knowing
Our low calorie formula helps you control your cat's weight. It's packed with high-quality protein for building lean muscles, and made with purposeful ingredients for a flavourful, nutritious meal. Clinically proven antioxidants, Vitamin C+E, help promote a healthy immune system.
Put your cat on a diet without them knowing
Our low calorie formula helps you control your cat's weight. It's packed with high-quality protein for building lean muscles, and made with purposeful ingredients for a flavourful, nutritious meal. Clinically proven antioxidants, Vitamin C+E, help promote a healthy immune system.