Kittens pack an enormous amount of growth into their first year, and their diet has to keep up. Feeding a kitten correctly lays the foundation for a healthy adult cat, and it differs in important ways from feeding a grown cat.
The early weeks
Kittens should stay with their mother and her milk until at least eight weeks where possible. From around four weeks they begin weaning onto a specially formulated kitten food, moistened at first. If you are hand-rearing an orphaned kitten, use a proper kitten milk replacer — never cow's milk, which causes digestive upset.
From weaning to a year
- Feed a complete kitten food, which is higher in calories and protein than adult food to fuel growth.
- Offer small, frequent meals — young kittens may need feeding several times a day.
- Provide constant access to fresh water.
- Most cats can transition to adult food around their first birthday, or as your vet advises.
Things to watch
Kittens are curious and can overeat or get into unsuitable food, so keep portions appropriate and human food out of reach. Monitor steady growth and a rounded but not pot-bellied appearance, and raise any concerns about appetite or weight with your vet. Good nutrition now pays off for years.
