What Is Safe for a Kitten to Eat?

Kittens have different nutritional needs than adult cats and must receive a high-protein food to support their development. Cats are obligate carnivores, which means they do not need fruits or vegetables and must eat protein to be healthy. In the wild, parents teach their kittens how to hunt. In captivity, kittens must slowly be transitioned from their mother's milk to kitten food to an adult cat diet. High-protein cat foods and homemade diets are healthy foods for cats when they contain appropriate ingredients.

  1. Cat Food

    • The easiest food to feed kittens is a prepackaged kitten food. Kitten food contains higher quantities of protein than food intended for adult cats, which helps kittens grow and develop normally. Pet food ingredients are listed in order of their proportions in the food, so the first items listed are present in the highest quantities. The first ingredients in kitten food should always be meat. The best kitten foods do not contain fillers like corn and gluten.

    Raw Diets

    • Some pet owners feed their cats a homemade raw diet. Cat owners are often surprised to hear that feeding bones is safe. Bones must be raw or else they will splinter and choke the cat. Many vets endorse raw diets because they are most similar to what cats eat in the wild. Kittens should not be fed raw bones until they have their permanent teeth, usually sometime between 4 and 6 months. Prior to getting their adult teeth, kittens can eat ground beef and turkey, chicken hearts and gizzards, small quantities of liver and fish. See Resources for a more complete guide to raw feeding.

    Cooked Diets

    • Concerned about the potential health effects of a raw diet, some kitten owners opt to give their kittens a homemade cooked diet. Cooked foods are healthiest when they are boiled instead of fried or baked. Kittens should not be given cooked or boiled bones. Instead, feed ground beef and turkey, chicken, duck, lamb and venison. Kittens can eat boiled vegetables in small quantities. Though these foods are not necessary for cats, the process of boiling breaks down cellulose walls and makes vegetables easier for kittens to digest. Carrots, squash and greens are good vegetable choices for kittens. If you choose to give your kitten boiled vegetables, they should not be more than 10 percent of your pet's diet.

    Dangerous Foods

    • Several human foods are dangerous for kittens. Kittens should not be given raisins, grapes, tomatoes and potatoes. In large doses these foods can be toxic, and in smaller doses they may cause intestinal upset. Onions and garlic destroy kittens' red blood cells and should never be given. Though a mother's milk is healthy for kittens, kittens should not be given milk after weaning. There is little nutritional value to milk at that stage in development, and many cats are lactose intolerant. Chocolate contains a dangerous chemical called theobromine that is lethal to cats in large doses. Because the quantity of theobromine varies depending on the chocolate, kittens should never eat chocolate.