Emil - you don't say what size can. What does the back of the can say? You are not feeding her enough, that's why she's throwing up. Feed her however much you are feeding her now only increase it to 4 times a day (of soft) or feed her the soft twice a day and leave hard out all day long (along with water). She will stop throwing up when you start feeding her enough.
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how much should i be feeding my kitten?
- Thread starter emil
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My Kitten Figuero is 8 weeks old how much should I be feeding him? I feed him when he Meows but thats like every 2 hours
Can they really be undersized from not eating enough as a kitten? I worry about this because my kitten seems to have weird eating habits. Sometimes he'll scarf down a while bowl of canned food, sometimes he'll eat half of it, then come back and finish the second half after a few minutes. I try not to leave canned food out longer than 20-30 minutes so it doesn't spoil. Occasionally he will eat a certain amount of his canned food and won't finish at all. There doesn't seem to be any real reason for it, and he's happy and energetic, but I do hope he's getting enough food.
Feed kittens as much as they want! I would not give a 6 weeker dry food as I think most kibble to big for a baby that size. Plus I don't do kibble but that is another story. If you need to do kibble please do no grain and a kitten formula so the bites are smaller. The store will exchange an incorrectly bought bag.
I do not worry about my canned food spoiling like some peeps. I leave it out until it is gone usually in 4 hours or so. With raw that is another story.
Buy 5.5 oz can of kitten, or all life stages, no grain wet food, cut it into thirds and feed every 4-6 hours. And if you have already bought and opened other dry foods-looks like you did-put some of that out in between meals of wet 24/7. Do not worry about them getting fat until they are much older.
I do not worry about my canned food spoiling like some peeps. I leave it out until it is gone usually in 4 hours or so. With raw that is another story.
Buy 5.5 oz can of kitten, or all life stages, no grain wet food, cut it into thirds and feed every 4-6 hours. And if you have already bought and opened other dry foods-looks like you did-put some of that out in between meals of wet 24/7. Do not worry about them getting fat until they are much older.
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I came here from google, searching for a good, detailed itinerary about how much my kitten should be eating for proper development, but not only were none of my specific questions answered, I feel like I have a bit of INPUT to add here.
This thread is basically over, but I feel it can't hurt for others finding this link via google or whatever else, such as myself.
Kittens CAN NOT eat regular adult cat food for a while, I'm not sure the EXACT age, but if it's not an adult cat, it is still very much a kitten, it still needs kitten food. Kittens can't ingest it/digest it properly, so it's basically like not eating. Kittens can START eating dry kitten food at a very early age, but it can't be the sole dietary source for a while. As for when a kitten can leave its mother, that varies not only breed to breed, but kitten to kitten. And, unfortunately, sometimes circumstances don't allow kittens to be able to stay with their mother the optimal time. Most of the time, if the kitten is weened from its mother and using the litter box, it's good to go.
Back to food, I personally don't like feeding my cats wet food, because I feel it's a lot easier for your cat to become overweight or lazy when that's a main staple in their diet. Most of the time it's basically junk food. However, for kittens, they need soft/moist foods in their diet still, or they can become constipated or have really painful, dry poop.
Like others said, cats don't really overeat. It's good to have some dry food out at all time, regardless of how old your cat is, but it's also important to remember that it gets stale. You don't like eating stale cereal or crackers do you? Neither does your cat like eating stale cat food. In other words, don't leave out so much that it gets gross before it's eaten. Fresh water is also really, really important. Also, an interesting cat-water factoid I saw somewhere recently is that, depending on where your tap water comes from, your regular water source might have some mineral deposits that can hurt your cat's stomach, not necessarily to the point of causing medical problems, but enough to cause a stomach ache. So sometimes it helps to leave water sitting out a couple minutes or so after filling the bowl/whatever you use before putting it down for your cat. Not 100% positive on credibility of that, especially since I no longer have the source, but it's there for anyone who might know what I'm talking about/want to be safe just in case.
This thread is basically over, but I feel it can't hurt for others finding this link via google or whatever else, such as myself.
Kittens CAN NOT eat regular adult cat food for a while, I'm not sure the EXACT age, but if it's not an adult cat, it is still very much a kitten, it still needs kitten food. Kittens can't ingest it/digest it properly, so it's basically like not eating. Kittens can START eating dry kitten food at a very early age, but it can't be the sole dietary source for a while. As for when a kitten can leave its mother, that varies not only breed to breed, but kitten to kitten. And, unfortunately, sometimes circumstances don't allow kittens to be able to stay with their mother the optimal time. Most of the time, if the kitten is weened from its mother and using the litter box, it's good to go.
Back to food, I personally don't like feeding my cats wet food, because I feel it's a lot easier for your cat to become overweight or lazy when that's a main staple in their diet. Most of the time it's basically junk food. However, for kittens, they need soft/moist foods in their diet still, or they can become constipated or have really painful, dry poop.
Like others said, cats don't really overeat. It's good to have some dry food out at all time, regardless of how old your cat is, but it's also important to remember that it gets stale. You don't like eating stale cereal or crackers do you? Neither does your cat like eating stale cat food. In other words, don't leave out so much that it gets gross before it's eaten. Fresh water is also really, really important. Also, an interesting cat-water factoid I saw somewhere recently is that, depending on where your tap water comes from, your regular water source might have some mineral deposits that can hurt your cat's stomach, not necessarily to the point of causing medical problems, but enough to cause a stomach ache. So sometimes it helps to leave water sitting out a couple minutes or so after filling the bowl/whatever you use before putting it down for your cat. Not 100% positive on credibility of that, especially since I no longer have the source, but it's there for anyone who might know what I'm talking about/want to be safe just in case.
I've been feeding canned food almost exclusively to my kitten, but now I'm doing four portioned meals of canned food spaced out every four hours, with Blue Buffalo dry kitten food available in his bowl at other times. Seems like a good compromise
So even though it's more expensive, I feed my cat primarily Blue Buffalo, supplemented by Blue Buffalo dried food and occasionally some meals from the junkier grocery store brands if I haven't had time to restock on the "good stuff." As per that cat nutritional site everyone posts in these discussions, I've learned to make sure the first ingredient is always an actual food -- like chicken, turkey, etc -- and to avoid cat food that has meat byproducts.
From everything I've read, and everything I've been told by the good people here, there is indeed wet cat food that is essentially "junk food," but there is also good, nutritious wet food -- and the nutritious wet food is the best for cats.
So even though it's more expensive, I feed my cat primarily Blue Buffalo, supplemented by Blue Buffalo dried food and occasionally some meals from the junkier grocery store brands if I haven't had time to restock on the "good stuff." As per that cat nutritional site everyone posts in these discussions, I've learned to make sure the first ingredient is always an actual food -- like chicken, turkey, etc -- and to avoid cat food that has meat byproducts.
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Most of what easily available to cat owners around here at least is very junky, but that is a good point. You really should pay attention to what EXACTLY you're feeding your cat.
Myself and my family firmly believe AGAINST keeping out cats indoors at all times for a variety of reasons, but in regards to nutrients because cats can get out and hunt the local fauna, so get a good dose of meat and exercise in one go. Naturally you can't let a 7 week old kitten out in the wild by itself, but adult cats are typically able to get out and contribute for themselves a little bit. Cats are typically very independent and need that ease of access to explore the outdoors.
NOTE: Mod Action: This thread is several years old now. Since the thread primarily discusses young kittens I am moving this from Care & Grooming to Pregnant Cats & Kitten Care.
For more information on older kitten nutrition I recommend looking through the articles and the Nutrition section of our forums. (http://www.thecatsite.com/f/64/cat-nutrition) Some of our members may also be able to point you to books and professional journals on cat nutrition available from booksellers or perhaps your local library as well.
Here are a few articles that may interest you:
http://www.thecatsite.com/a/how-much-food-should-i-feed-my-cat
http://www.thecatsite.com/a/choosing-the-right-food-for-your-cat
http://www.thecatsite.com/a/what-makes-the-best-canned-cat-food
I believe the above articles and more are all listed here; featured in our Feline Nutrition Month this past January: http://www.thecatsite.com/t/270384/announcing-feline-nutrition-month-at-thecatsite-com
For younger kittens; this is the place to look and ask questions.
For more information on older kitten nutrition I recommend looking through the articles and the Nutrition section of our forums. (http://www.thecatsite.com/f/64/cat-nutrition) Some of our members may also be able to point you to books and professional journals on cat nutrition available from booksellers or perhaps your local library as well.
Here are a few articles that may interest you:
http://www.thecatsite.com/a/how-much-food-should-i-feed-my-cat
http://www.thecatsite.com/a/choosing-the-right-food-for-your-cat
http://www.thecatsite.com/a/what-makes-the-best-canned-cat-food
I believe the above articles and more are all listed here; featured in our Feline Nutrition Month this past January: http://www.thecatsite.com/t/270384/announcing-feline-nutrition-month-at-thecatsite-com
For younger kittens; this is the place to look and ask questions.
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This is so right about giving them as much as they can eat, and I know this is a old post, I just want to warn people of something. Be careful if they are starved or you think there is a chance they have gone without eating for a bit. I picked up a feral kitten that was in a litter from a feral at our place. She just came running up to me and let me pick her up. I was going to trap the mom that night and get her spayed, my idea was to catch all the kittens. I hadn't really thought the kittens would be starving, so I gave the kitten some canned food and she gobbled that up. When I left the room, she proceeded to eat another cats portion and then started in on another cats food, I realized how hungry she was when I had to stop her from eating my piece of bread. . She is now one sick kitten. I have had her to the vets 2x to have fluids injected and am needing to give her tiny bits of canned mixed with KMR and homemade pedialyte. I honestly didn't realize she would be so starved. We had been putting out food, but maybe she wasn't aggressive enough and the others weren't letting her get enough. Maybe that's why she came up to me. It's like she has been raised by a human, she is so affectionate and comfortable from the get go. I in no way mean to insult any ones intelligence, but felt I should warn all the wonderful people out there rescuing kittens, I don't want their tender hearts broken, by getting their baby sick. I think she's getting better. This mistake was dangerous for baby, and has cost me over $200. Right now she is sitting on my shoulder perched like a parrot watching me type.
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How is your kitty doing?
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You want to find a wet food that is for kittens specifically. You also want one that has meat as the first ingredient. Good without grains or fillers is better too.
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Right as rain now. She is still anxious about food, but holding her own with the older kitten. She gets small amounts of canned 4x daily and quality dry is kept out for her to munch on. Hope to find her a home at some point.
She looks a little like she was rolled around in coal dust. but she is really sweet. She is actually a calico, but you can't see her bits of rust color in this photo. The fact that she came right up to me, is proof that she will make someone a really good companion.
She looks a little like she was rolled around in coal dust. but she is really sweet. She is actually a calico, but you can't see her bits of rust color in this photo. The fact that she came right up to me, is proof that she will make someone a really good companion.
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What a cutie!
@Crity Davis
That's awesome of you to take care of that litter, and to spend so much of your own money to save a kitten. She looks like a happy little kitteh, and she must trust and love you a lot if your shoulder is one of her favorite spots.
That's awesome of you to take care of that litter, and to spend so much of your own money to save a kitten. She looks like a happy little kitteh, and she must trust and love you a lot if your shoulder is one of her favorite spots.
