Kitten growth period plays a crucial role in a kitten’s life, as it lays the foundation for health and well-being throughout their life. Many factors influence this process, but nutrition is the most significant element in a kitten’s development.
When selecting a diet for your kitten, it is essential to consider their digestive features, taste preferences, and sense of smell. Only specially formulated kitten food can guarantee the supply of all the nutrients necessary for a cat’s health, regardless of their age, breed, or activity level.
Monitoring Kitten Growth
Track your kitten’s growth by measuring their daily weight gain (10-30 g per day). Kittens grow most intensively between the ages of 4 and 5 months, with a weekly weight gain of up to 100 g.
Weigh your kitten consistently at the same time. Initially, daily weight checks are recommended until the weaning period. After the age of two months, weigh your kitten weekly or biweekly.
Factors Affecting Growth
- Breed: Larger breeds have longer growth periods.
- Gender: Male kittens generally have a higher growth potential than females, resulting in a slightly longer growth period. Between 6 and 12 months, males often surpass females in weight.
- Heredity: Kittens inherit half their genes from the mother and half from the father. The size, build, and other morphological traits of the parents and their lineage can influence growth.
- Hormones: After birth, growth depends on the proper synthesis of certain hormones. Early sterilization does not affect the kitten’s growth rate or adult size.
- Hygiene: Poor hygiene at birth increases the vulnerability of both the mother cat and her kittens.
- Stress: Like all young animals, kittens grow while they sleep. Although kittens older than two months sleep less, adequate rest is essential.
Note: Kittens may continue nursing even if the mother’s milk production has stopped. Do not assume that nursing kittens are receiving adequate nutrition.
Food Quality
A newborn kitten’s digestive system is adapted to milk, but it changes over time. Adult cats can no longer digest lactose (milk sugar). For harmonious development, kittens need a balanced diet containing adequate amounts of proteins, fats, carbohydrates, minerals, and trace elements. Healthy kitten nutrition requires calculating nutrients in strict accordance with their physiological and digestive needs.
One key factor determining the appeal of food to cats is its aroma. This should be considered when offering dry food to your pet.
From the age of 10 days, kittens can recognize four primary tastes: sour, bitter, salty, and sweet. However, sweet flavors do not attract them.
Changing the Diet
A sudden diet change can cause digestive issues such as diarrhea. Gradually transition to new food by increasing the portion of the new product over a week-long period.
Feeding Only Meat
While cats are carnivorous, they do not solely consume meat in their natural environment. Cats also eat the stomach contents of their prey, which are often herbivorous or omnivorous. Occasionally, cats need plant-based foods to maintain a balanced diet.
Types of Nutrition
Homemade Food
You can prepare your kitten’s diet at home using ingredients like boiled meat, rice, and vegetables. While this allows you to control the composition of the food, ensuring an accurate balance of nutrients is challenging. It is particularly difficult to meet requirements for minerals and vitamins.
Commercial Pet Food
Prepared foods contain all the nutrients essential for your kitten’s growth and development, making them an excellent choice. These products are meticulously made with the same quality standards and ingredients used in human food production. They are also cost-effective compared to homemade diets and ready to use, saving you significant time and effort.