From birth to adulthood, four critical growth periods can be identified in a cat’s life in terms of her nutritional requirements:

• The newborn kitten - the critical first few hours of life
• The nursing kitten - from birth to week 4
• The weaning kitten - from week 4 to week 8
• The growing kitten - from week 8 to 12 months

Meeting the kitten’s needs with proper nutrition during these critical growth periods will help kittens mature into strong, healthy adult cats.

 The newborn kitten

Immediately following birth, the mother produces a special type of milk called colostrum. Colostrum contains antibodies and other immune substances that help protect the newborn kitten from disease. These protective substances can only be absorbed through the intestine during the first 24 hours of life, so it is vitally important that the kitten begins to nurse from her mother as soon as possible after birth.

 The nursing kitten

The mother’s milk slowly changes from colostrum to mature milk during the first 24 to 72 hours. During the first 3 to 4 weeks of life, kittens should nurse a minimum of 4 to 6 times daily. In healthy kittens, the mother’s milk is adequate for normal growth until about 4 weeks of age. After this time, milk alone cannot meet the high demands for calories or nutrients that are needed for continued normal development, so supplemental feeding should be introduced.

 The weaning kitten

To help supplement the nutrition of mother’s milk and to prepare kittens for weaning, kittens should be introduced to semi-solid food at around 3 to 4 weeks of age. Do not feed either cow’s or goat’s milk, as this may cause diarrhoea. Offer a high quality complete and balanced kitten food at least three times daily. If feeding a dry kitten food it may be necessary to moisten it initially and then introduce it dry from 6 weeks of age. Most kittens are fully weaned off their mother’s milk by 6 - 8 weeks of age.

 The growing kitten

After kittens are weaned, they enter a stage of rapid growth, which lasts through the first 6 months of their life. At this time they need a balanced diet which will deliver the nutrients and energy needed to sustain such rapid development. Kittens have more than twice the energy needs and nutrient requirements of adult cats per kilogram of their body weight. But their smaller mouths, teeth, and stomachs limit the amount of food that they can eat and digest during a single meal. Kittens at this age need to eat at least 2 - 3 times a day.

Because every bite must be packed with nutrition and energy, kittens require a diet that is specifically formulated for growth. The best choice is a meat-based food that is highly digestible, nutrient-dense, and formulated to meet the kittens’ unique nutritional needs. Eukanuba Kitten Kitten Food combines all these features, providing every kitten with the very best nutrition during this critical growth period. It is also essential that kittens always have plenty of fresh, clean water available at all times. And regular visits to the veterinarian will help to keep kittens happy and healthy.

 Adolescent stage

When kittens reach adult size, their nutritional requirements begin to change once again. The rate of growth begins to slow, activity levels may decline, and they are able to eat fewer, larger meals each day. Although these kittens are beginning to look like adults, they are still growing. The adolescent growth stage is a time when many cat owners are tempted to change a kitten’s food to provide variety. Unlike humans, who seek variety in their food, cats actually prefer and thrive on a consistent diet of high-quality food.

 Feeding mistakes

Feeding a kitten home-made diets or food formulated for adult cats (especially those designed for weight loss) could cause nutritional disorders. Supplementing a complete and balanced diet with additional vitamins and minerals can cause problems. Giving a kitten “human food” and table scraps could lead to undesirable behaviours like begging or stealing food. Moreover, the addition of extra foods can result in the cat becoming overweight.

Kittens and cats are strict carnivores and need the nutrients found in meat. For example, without sufficient amounts of taurine (an essential amino acid provided naturally through meat), cats may develop blindness, heart disease, and reproductive disorders.

 Switching from kitten to adult cat food

When the cat is around 12 months of age, it is recommended to switch to an adult cat food such as Iams or Eukanuba. At this age, cats no longer need the extra calories and nutrients for growth supplied by kitten food. Remember that this change, like any other change in a cat’s diet, should be gradually introduced over a period of several days. Cats are creatures of habit and do not like sudden changes.

During the transition period, it is also important to monitor the cat’s weight and body condition, and adjust feeding portions if necessary. Because cats will generally eat only what they need, free choice feeding is suitable for most cats. However, indoor cats, which do not get much exercise, may overeat if fed free choice and portion-controlled feeding twice a day is a good alternative for them.

After the switch from kitten to adult food you can continue to rely on Iams or Eukanuba. Each product provides cats with high quality nutrients and the energy they need to remain in excellent condition. The best guarantee for a long and healthy cat life!