The diet forms the basis for a healthy development of the cat, especially when growing, a sufficient and balanced supply is essential.
Demands of growing cats
In the first weeks of life, mother’s milk offers the kittens everything they need. Of course, the mother’s health and high-quality feeding also play a role; the better she is, the better she can look after her young.
After 2-3 weeks, the puppies open their eyes and start crawling around in the nest. At this point in time, they have already tripled to quadrupled their birth weight. At 3-4 weeks of age, the milk teeth begin to erupt and the young slowly begin to consume solid food. At around 8 weeks of age, the puppies are already eating mostly solid food. Some cat mothers no longer allow suckling at all, other cats allow the puppies to go to the milk bar even at 12 weeks. At this point, however, milk only plays a subordinate role in nutrition.
Learning and romping takes a lot of energy
By the age of approx. 4 months the young cat will have reached about half of its final weight. Weight gain slows down and teeth change begins. The energy requirement is reduced, but is still significantly higher than that of an adult cat. This is also due to the high activity of young cats, learning and romping around is exhausting and consumes a lot of energy. Until the final weight is reached, the muscles continue to develop and the mineralization of the skeleton is completed.
The cat is fully grown at around 12 months of age, large breeds such as the Norwegian Forest Cat or Maine Coon need longer.
During growth, the supply of high-quality proteins and all vitamins and minerals is particularly important, the growth and high activity of puppies and young cats lead to a high energy requirement. A deficiency in nutrients, vitamins and minerals can lead to permanent damage such as bone deformation, heart disease or nerve damage during this development period.
The different types of feeding
Good food for kittens has a high energy density, a balanced ratio of calcium and phosphorus and contains high quality proteins as well as sufficient vitamins and minerals. Especially with young puppies, the digestibility and consistency of the food also play a role in their tolerance.
A good ready-made feed covers all the necessary nutrients if it is declared as complete feed. A supplementary feed alone does not cover needs, it can be given for a change or must be supplemented with other components accordingly.
Wet food
A high quality wet food is a good basis for the nutrition of kittens and cats. It is significantly less processed than dry food, contains moisture and can be stored for a long time in the form of cans or bags and simply fed. Cats are carnivores, so their diet should consist primarily of meat. Meat comes first in the list of ingredients. Ideally, the meat content is broken down further, for example into muscle meat, heart, liver … Animal by-products do not have to be inferior, but this cannot be recognized without further naming and it is not possible to assess the proteins and their value and digestibility.
This plays a particularly important role in kitten food, as the young cats have a great need for high-quality protein. Grains should not be included, rice, potatoes or vegetables can be present in small proportions. A small proportion of vegetables and herbs provide secondary plant substances and fiber. Good fats in meat and in the form of oils round off the can. Vitamins and minerals are always added to ready-made feed. Some of these are lost during the manufacturing process and only through additives can it be guaranteed that all the necessary ingredients are present and that the feed can be declared as complete feed. Preservatives are usually not contained in wet food, as the shelf life is guaranteed by heating and sealing.
Although sugar has detrimental health effects, it is still found in some strains as an attractant and for improving texture. It can also hide behind terms such as caramel, molasses or sugar beet pulp.
Especially when getting used to solid food, the consistency should be very fine and not contain any large chunks.
dried animal food
Dry food has a number of advantages: it saves space, is easy to store and can lie in the bowl all day without spoiling. Most cats are very happy to accept it. However, it is much more processed than wet food and often contains grains or other fillers and preservatives. Cats meet their fluid requirements mainly from food, so they have to drink significantly more when feeding dry food. If you do not do this, the kidneys will be stressed and urinary stones may develop.
High quality dry food has a high meat content, contains no grain, no attractants and only natural preservatives. With kitten food, the kibble should be small and not too hard.
Dry food should not be given as the only food, but it is very suitable as a reward and for feeding games. High-quality dry food is significantly healthier than most treats and is usually just as popular with cats. Food games keep cats busy and they have to work out some of their food, especially for indoor cats a wonderful opportunity to exercise their mind. The dry food can be hidden in the apartment or in cardboard boxes, thrown as a hunting game or worked through with fumble boards and intelligence toys.
Barfen / cooking
If you want to provide your cat with raw (barf) or self-cooked meals, you have full control over what ends up in the bowl. The foods are fresh and are hardly processed or only slightly processed during cooking; they come closest to the mouse or bird as natural food of free-living cats. The effort involved in procurement, storage and preparation are significantly higher than with ready-made feed.
In the case of self-prepared menus, the responsibility for the adequate supply of the cat with all nutrients lies with the owner, it is therefore necessary that he informs himself comprehensively. This is especially important for kittens and young cats and if you are not familiar with this yourself, you should seek support from a nutritionist or veterinarian.
Note the imprinting phase
Cats that only get to know a certain food in their kitten time are very difficult to get used to later. In the first few months, kittens should therefore get to know different types of food, flavors and consistencies . Since the nutrient contents of different brands also differ, a variety can also contribute to an optimal nutrient supply. When they are used to it, cats usually tolerate the switch very well. For example, a base of various high-quality wet food brands and types, high-quality dry food as a snack for occupation and in between, for example, some cooked ground beef or a fresh, raw chicken heart is well suited.
Practical feeding of kittens and kittens
From the third week the kitten can be offered solid food. Since they do not yet have teeth and the gastrointestinal tract is slowly getting used to, the food should still be offered in a very mushy form. Fine wet food mixed with warm water works well; rearing milk can be added to the porridge for the first few days to make the changeover easier. It is best to have the food available to the little cats around the clock, because the energy requirement fluctuates daily and the little ones can eat just as much and only when they need it. Dry food should only be fed at 6-8 weeks and moistened at the beginning. Fresh meat can be overcooked or finely diced to enrich the menu.
At the age of 12-14 weeks, the kittens move into their new home. This means a lot of stress for the little velvet paws, a change in food should therefore be started after a few days at the earliest. It is best to ask the breeder or animal shelter in good time about the food given there, maybe there is also the opportunity to get the food you are used to for the first few days. The new feed can then be gradually added to the feed.
The manufacturer’s information provides a rough overview of the required amount, but this is very individual and a restriction is usually not necessary during growth. The feed can be made available permanently or given in 4-5 meals. Small, frequent meals meet the needs of the cat, an automatic feeder can be used to support this if you cannot feed as often. Of course, water should always be available.