What To Feed Your Kitten: Essential Foods for Growth

Bringing a new kitten home is no doubt one of life’s sweetest joys: the soft purring when they curl on your lap, the sound of their tiny paws padding across your floor and their look as they quietly explore their new home are amazing things to witness.

But, kittens aren’t just adorable; they also come with lots of responsibilities. One of these is figuring out what to feed them to promote healthy growth and development. While it may be tempting to give them human food or adult pet food, the truth is, they often have specific needs that these options can’t meet.

In this post, we explore what your kitten needs to thrive, what to avoid and when to feed them.

Once kittens are weaned off milk by their mothers, they start to enjoy a more varied diet. If you’re wondering what to feed kittens or what kittens eat, it’s wise to search for products that are specially formulated for young cats and to opt for high-quality foods that are packed with essential nutrients.

Kittens need a balanced diet rich in components like:

• Protein for growth and development

• Calcium to develop healthy, strong teeth and bones

• Docosahexaenoic acid (DHA) for healthy brain development and vision

• Taurine for heart health

Because their bodies are still in the development phase, their foods need to have higher protein, fat, mineral and calorie content than adult cats’ food. According to the Association of American Feed Control Officials (AAFCO) guide, kitten cat food should be at least 30% protein to support development. In comparison, adult cat food can contain 26% protein.

If you have a kitten or you’re looking forward to welcoming a new feline friend to your family, here is a timeline to help you decide what to feed them as they grow:

• 0-4 weeks: Mothers usually take charge of feeding their kittens until they’re 4-6 weeks of age. If you have a newborn kitten that is not being fed by its mother due to illness or rejection, you can give them newborn milk replacement formula. Newborn kittens need to feed frequently, typically every 2-4 hours, until they are around 4 weeks old.

• 4-5 weeks: At this life stage, most kittens are ready to start supplementing milk with solid foods. It’s a good idea to combine kitten food with milk formula during the transition period. Some kittens are more eager to switch to solids than others. If your kitten is reluctant, keep them topped up with formula to ensure they continue gaining weight and growing. Eventually, they will make the change when they are ready.

• 6-8 weeks: By this point, your kitten should be fully weaned and more comfortable with solid foods. Choose wet and dry kitten food that has been specially formulated for young felines, and always ensure there is clean, fresh water available. Most kittens will eat 3-4 times per day at this age.

• 8 weeks and beyond: Keep feeding your little feline up to 4 times per day, opting for high-quality kitten food until they reach 6 months of age. You can reduce feeding to two meals per day when they are 6 months old.

What you feed your kitten will have a direct impact on their health and overall well-being. So, be careful with both your dry and wet food choices.

Ideally, you should maintain a consistent, nutrient-rich primary diet and supplement it with other additions, like treats, to keep mealtimes interesting. However, treats shouldn’t be more than 10% of your pet’s daily caloric intake.

Some safe options include:

This could be any high-value kibble or wet kitten food (or both) that your feline enjoys and that meets their dietary needs. It should contain essential components like proteins, minerals and fats and be free from artificial preservatives, fillers or additives.

Stick to one brand of kitten food once you find a suitable fit to maintain consistency and minimize the risk of digestive upset. This isn’t to say that your feline friend should eat the same thing daily; you can bring in some variety by switching flavors from the same brand.

Canned foods can serve as treats during potty training or when teaching your cat how to respond to different commands. They can be excellent motivators because they’re different from what your kitten is used to.

They’re also a great way to introduce your kitten to other foods and tastes. Try out different flavors, like shrimp, fish, chicken, turkey and vegetables to find what your feline friend loves and use it to bring some variety to their primary diet.

This is one of the best natural kitten foods because it’s rich in vitamins, amino acids, zinc, selenium and iron. So, when you make yourself scrambled eggs on a Sunday morning, complete with melted cheese, offer your kitten a little spoonful.

However, make sure their share doesn’t have salt, pepper or salsa, as they can cause dehydration and digestive upset.

A tiny bit of trout, catfish, salmon, tuna or any cooked fish can be an excellent training treat. It will not only bring something different into your kitten’s diet but also serve as a source of protein and omega-3 fatty acids, which can support your feline’s growth and development.

If you don’t have time to prepare the fish on your own, you can always opt for some of The Honest Kitchen’s options, such as Smittens White Fish Cat Treats and Minced Salmon & Cod in Fish Broth Gravy.

Feel free to offer your kitten bits of cooked beef, chicken, turkey, lamb, venison or other lean meats in moderation if they’re not part of their primary kitten food. If you do, dice or shred the meat into tiny pieces to prevent choking hazards.

However, not just any meat is good for cats. Avoid fatty or greasy fried meats, hot dogs, bacon, sausage, or meats with added salts, nitrates or preservatives as they can upset their digestive system, potentially causing diarrhea.

Although cats are obligate carnivores, meaning they are carnivores that must eat meat, adding some vegetables to your kitten’s diet will add fiber, vitamins and minerals. So, don’t be afraid to feed them a few broccoli florets or some finely diced lettuce — in moderation, of course.

If you cook squash or pumpkin for your family, you can always set some aside for your kitten. They have a low calorie count and high fiber content and can, therefore, promote digestive health without overfeeding your cat.

However, as with other non-primary foods, only feed your kitten small bits of your squash or pumpkin to avoid exceeding their daily calorie limit.

Pet stores and some grocery stores carry grass kits that allow you to grow cat grass at home. The grass, typically wheat, oat or a mixture of different grasses, can be a good addition to your kitten’s diet as it offers fiber, vitamins and minerals.

It also gives your cat something new to experience and play with, which is beneficial for their overall well-being.

Young kittens are sensitive to what they eat. Sometimes, even natural and healthy-sounding foods can be dangerous. So, be careful with what you feed them. Some particularly harmful types of foods include:

• Cow’s milk: Contrary to common belief, cats are lactose intolerant and, as such, can’t handle milk.

• Onions and garlic: May damage their red blood cells, potentially causing anemia.

• Raw chicken, bones, fish or eggs: May be carriers of Salmonella or E. coli.

• Chocolate and caffeine: They can be toxic for kittens.

• Raw dough: May cause gastrointestinal (GI) issues.

• Human leftovers: May lack valuable nutrients for your kitten.

This list is in no way conclusive. Some pets may be sensitive to foods that others aren’t.

To keep your feline friend safe, closely monitor them after trying new foods and contact your vet if you notice diarrhea or vomiting symptoms. Then, cross the food off their diet to keep them safe in the long term.

Introduce your kitten to new foods slowly. Ideally, you should introduce a single food item at a time and watch for reactions over 24 to 48 hours before introducing another item.

If you notice signs of food sensitivity or intolerance, such as vomiting, consult your vet to rule out any other potential causes and get the kitten on an elimination diet trial to identify the specific ingredients responsible for their GI upset.

Also, introduce new foods in small portions. A great way to go about it is to follow the 10% rule, making sure new items don’t constitute more than 10% of your kitten’s caloric intake. Only increase the ratio if the kitten adjusts well to the new foods. And when you do, reduce the portion sizes of other foods to prevent overfeeding.

The Honest Kitchen offers a range of human grade cat foods specifically designed for kittens at various stages of development. Some popular picks include:

• Dehydrated Grain Free Recipe: It’s rich in protein, easy to digest and available in Turkey , Chicken and Chicken & Fish flavors.

• Grain Free Câté (Pâté): It’s also popular for its ease of digestion and flavor variety. It’s available in Beef & Chicken , Chicken , Salmon & Cod and Turkey varieties.

• Cat Blend Instant Goat Milk: This is a popular choice for pet parents with kittens in the early weaning stage. It offers hydration and gut support when used as a daily topper with dehydrated food.

• Perfect Form Herbal Digestive Supplement: While not exactly a food, this can be a valuable addition to your feline’s diet. It can offer relief from occasional digestive upset as well as make it easier to transition to a new diet.

Each of these products is made with high-quality, ethically sourced whole ingredients and processed in a human grade facility to maximize their nutritional value and promote your little feline friend’s safety.

Your kitten’s nutrition in the first year is crucial to their growth and development. For a healthy cat, feed your kitten high-value, nutrient-rich foods while also monitoring their calorie intake. If you want to train them or add variety to their diet, choose high-quality treats and ensure they don’t exceed 10% of their daily caloric intake.

With The Honest Kitchen, you can effectively meet your kitten’s nutritional needs. We offer human grade kitten foods, treats and supplements, all made with high-quality whole ingredients to provide maximum value to your little friend. Whether you’re in the early weaning stage or are looking to transition your already-weaned kitten to a new diet, we’ve got something for you.

Explore our kitten-appropriate, human grade food options today!