When Can Kittens Eat Dry Food Only

This way she can graze on the dry food throughout the day if she chooses and you can dispose of any dried out wet food before going to bed.

When can kittens eat dry food only. Many rescued cats are adopted from shelter situations where economics and convenience make dry diets preferable. Studies show that cats fed solely dry food have a lower water intake and lower urine volume than cats on a wet. Bradshaw feels that young cats are influenced by the foods that their mother introduced them to as kittens. Kittens start to eat solid foods from about three weeks of age.

Their bones are still growing stronger and their bodies will keep filling out. Keep feeding them their nutritious kitten food until they re about 12 months old when they can make the switch to adult food. Because of the cat s propensity to not drink a lot of water their ancestors being desert dwellers. Between the fourth and sixth week gradually transition the weaning kittens to dry food supplementing with formula if needed.

These animals grew up eating dry foods almost exclusively and their tastes have adapted to prefer it. At first add a lot of water and then reduce the amount of water as the kitten matures. Use canned food or dry kitten food mixed with water. The average cat who eats only dry food needs to drink several ounces of water a day to make up for the lack of water from food.

This should be given as small amounts often as their mum will still be feeding them too. The higher water content of wet food may contribute to a decreased incidence of dehydration kidney and lower urinary tract problems in cats but if your cat insists on eating only dry food this can be addressed by making sure your cat has free access to a fresh and clean drinking water supply. For these reasons most experts recommend you feed your kitten specially formulated kitten food until age 1. Although some cat foods are labeled as appropriate for kittens and cats of all life.

Kittens might look grown up by six to eight months but they re still kittens on the inside. Dry food is convenient in that it will stay fresh all day so it can be left out for your cat to eat whenever it wants. Wet food is about 75 percent water which is roughly equal to the percentage of water in cats prey in the wild. This first food should be soft and easy to digest so dry food should be soaked in water or kitten milk remember not to give your kitten cow s milk as this can upset their tummy.

A general schedule for kitten weaning might be. We must feed them with food appropriate for their age. Dry food must however be stored in a dry clean environment. Blended or mixed feeding routines can offer the best of both worlds.

Breastfeeding a kitten lasts about 9 weeks and when their teeth begin to come in after about four weeks they can begin to eat food. Dry food is only about ten percent water.