Last Updated: 30/09/24
A balanced diet will help your kitten grow and prevent health problems caused by malnutrition.
Start by feeding your kitten food they’re familiar with, and then offer a complete kitten food.
Make sure that the food you buy is manufactured by a registered member of UK Pet Food (previously known as the Pet Food Manufacturers Association, or PFMA), and feed your kitten little and often.
Remember that sudden dietary changes cause tummy upsets, so make dietary changes gradually! Weigh your kitten regularly to monitor them, and ask your vet to show you how to check their body condition score.
Make sure they always have access to fresh, clean water in a separate area to their food.
Please reach out to your vet practice for further advice.
On this page:
- What to feed your kitten when you first bring them home?
- why is a balanced diet so important?
- Providing a balanced diet
- What if I have a large breed kitten?
- How often and how much should I feed my kitten?
- Wet versus dry food
- Can i change my kitten’s food and how do I do this without upsetting their tummy?
- When will I need to transfer my kitten on to an adult food?
- What about sharing my dinner?
- Are kitten treats okay?
- Does my kitten need milk?
- Can I give my cat or kitten cow’s milk?>
- Can I make my kitten’s food myslef?
- What about vegetarian of vegan diets for cats?
- How do I know if my kitten is growing normally?
- What about offering water?
- How do I choose the best food and water bowls for my kitten?
What to feed your kitten when you first bring them home?
It is important to find out what your kitten is used to being fed before bringing them home. You will need to keep them on the same food initially, as a sudden change in diet, combined with the stress of a new home, can cause stomach upsets and diarrhoea.
Why is a balanced diet so important?
Kittens need a balanced diet to ensure that they get the right nutrition to support their growth and development.
Cats have a very high requirement for protein, including a number of specific amino acids.
One of these amino acids, taurine, is naturally found in meat and fish and is responsible for lots of important functions within our cat’s body.
Cats are unable to make taurine, and if they do not get enough from their diet, they can suffer from severe health issues including heart failure and blindness.
Providing a balanced diet
Select a complete kitten food to support your kitten’s growth and all their nutritional needs.
Kittens have much higher nutritional demand than adult cats, so you should be looking for a complete diet, specially formulated for kittens rather than a generic cat food.
There are so many kitten diets available that this can sometimes feel a bit overwhelming! If you need any guidance, reach out to your local veterinary practice for some advice.
What if I have a large breed kitten?
If you have a large breed kitten, additional thought will need to be given to their diet. Adult Maine Coons, for example, can weigh twice as much as a normal cat.
They grow slowly and reach adulthood later; they can also be more prone to certain bone and joint problems.
Feeding a large breed kitten
It is therefore very important that they are fed a good quality diet, designed to meet their specific nutritional needs, and support all the growing they must do!
Breed specific, complete kitten diets are available, and you should always follow the recommended feeding guidelines. Speak to your local veterinary practice if you need advice.
How often and how much should I feed my kitten?
Kittens only have small stomachs and tend to eat small portions of food.
How often should I feed my kitten?
Specially formulated dry food can be fed in portions for your kitten to graze on throughout the day and night.
Food should be checked and replaced as needed at least four to five times throughout the day.
How much should I feed my kitten?
The amount of food to feed your kitten will vary based on the type and brand of food you are using and the age and weight of your kitten.
Feeding guidelines should be clearly displayed on the packet for you to follow as a guide.
If you have any questions about this, you can contact the manufacturer directly or reach out to your local veterinary practice for further support.
Wet versus dry food
The main thing when choosing food for your kitten is ensuring that it is a complete kitten diet.
Also check the manufacturer of the food is a registered member of UK Pet Food (previously known as the PFMA) so the nutritional content is assured.
Ultimately, you can decide whether you would like to feed your kitten dry, wet or a combination of both dry and wet foods, although your vet can also advise you on this.
Dry food
Dry diets tend to store better, don’t spoil as quickly when left in the bowl, allow easier measuring, and may help to prevent tartar build-up once your kitten’s adult teeth come through at around six months of age.
Wet food
Wet foods contain a higher water content, which can help to boost your kitten’s water intake if needed. Wet foods also tend to be smellier and as smell is a big driver of appetite – this can make it more appealing to picky cats!
If you decide to feed your kitten a mix of dry and wet food, it is important to make sure overall they are being fed the correct amount.
It can be helpful to feed the same brand of both dry and wet food, as the feeding guidelines will often indicate the amount of each to feed in combination.
Can I change my kitten’s food and how do I do this without upsetting their tummy?
You can change your kitten’s food if you need to, you just need to do it gradually.
Once your kitten has settled in, if you need to change their diet you can do this by transitioning them across on to the new food in stages.
As a rule of thumb, you can do this by dividing up each meal and gradually increasing the ratio of new food to old food.
Drinking water
It’s helpful to know that if you are transitioning your kitten from a wet to a dry diet, you may notice a coinciding increase in the amount of water they drink each day.
Wet food contains a much higher water content than dry food, so kittens on dry diets tend to drink a little more, those on wet diets a little less.
If you are ever concerned about your kitten’s thirst or it seems excessive, always speak to your vet for further advice, as this can also indicate underlying health problems.
When will I need to transfer my kitten on to an adult food?
This will vary depending on the breed of your kitten and the diet you are feeding them. Many complete kitten foods will state they are suitable for cats up to 12 months old (at which point you would transition them on to an adult diet).
Large breed kittens, for example Maine Coons, will grow more slowly and therefore remain on large breed kitten food for longer, often around 15 months (they would then need to transition on to an adult food designed for large breed cats).
Guidelines can vary between brands of food, so always read the label carefully, and if you have any questions about your kitten’s diet, reach out to your local vet for further advice.
What about sharing my dinner?
Get into good habits from the start and avoid giving your cat human food or treats from the table if possible.
This can fill them up without giving them the right balance of nutrients, and can cause behavioural problems and issues with begging in future.
Are kitten treats okay?
If your kitten is fed a complete kitten diet, they do not need additional treats to meet their nutritional needs.
If you would like to offer treats, it is best to ensure they are kitten safe and labelled as age appropriate. You should also follow the recommended portion sizes detailed on the packet
If you want to offer a small amount of chicken as a treat, ensure it is cooked (for example, boiled) and that all bones have been removed.
Treat foods should be given in moderation and the majority of your kitten’s daily intake should come from their complete kitten food.
Does my kitten need kitten milk?
Very young kittens will drink their mothers’ milk until they are weaned.
Most kittens are fully weaned by eight weeks of age and at this point, they will only need to drink water to stay hydrated.
If your kitten is over eight weeks old and on a complete kitten diet, there is no benefit to offering kitten milk alongside their food.
However, if you feel strongly that you would like to offer kitten milk, it should be offered in moderation as a treat.
Can I give my cat or kitten cow’s milk?
It’s best to avoid offering cow’s (and goat’s) milk as, despite the popular belief that cats like milk, many cats are actually lactose intolerant and can get a tummy upset from dairy products.
Specific cat and kitten milks are marketed as supplementary feeding products and contain far lower levels of lactose than cow’s milk.
Can I make my kitten’s food myself?
It is very hard to make a complete diet for your kitten at home. Even small variations in the quality of food offered have the potential to negatively affect your kitten’s development, as their nutritional requirements while growing are complex.
It is safer and more reliable to buy a reputable complete kitten diet from a manufacturer registered with UK Pet Food.
What about vegetarian or vegan diets for cats?
It is understandable that some vegetarian or vegan owners may struggle with feeding their cat a meat-based diet. However, our cat’s dietary needs are very different from our own and our duty as owners, and as vets, is to protect our cats’ welfare and keep them healthy and well, by providing a diet that fully meets their nutritional needs.
If you are considering changing your cat to an alternative diet, it is important to thoroughly research this and discuss with your vet whether this can be done safely, and in a way which supports your cat’s health.
How do I know if my kitten is growing normally?
It is a good habit to weigh your kitten weekly and to keep a weight diary so that you can check their progress. Weigh them at the same time of the day.
Kittens grow most rapidly between the age of four and five months old. Male kittens will tend to grow bigger than females and their growth period is longer.
If you have any concerns about how your kitten is growing, contact your local veterinary practice for further advice.
What about offering water?
Cats should always have access to clean fresh water. The water bowl should be located away from the food bowl so that it doesn’t get contaminated.
Cats are opportunistic drinkers, so it may be worth having several water bowls spread around the house to encourage them to drink regularly.
How do I choose the best food and water bowls for my kitten?
Generally, cats and kittens prefer wider shallower bowls which allow them to eat and drink without the edges rubbing against their whiskers. For the same reason, water bowls should be kept nice and full.
Bowls should be easy to clean and heavy enough that they are difficult to knock over. Food and water bowls should always be placed as far as possible from the litter tray.
Food and water bowls should also be washed regularly to prevent germs from building up.
If you need any help or advice regarding feeding your kitten, please reach out to your local veterinary practice for further support.
Other useful information:
- Cats Protection – Feeding cats
- International Cat Care – Feeding your cat or kitten
- PDSA – Your cat’s diet
- UK Pet Food
