How to Feed Little Kittens

Welcoming a kitten into your home and life can be a rewarding responsibility. Once kittens are weaned, their mother's job is done and your job begins. Proper nutrition is important for any animal, especially young ones. The responsibility for your kitten's nutrition falls to you. Advance preparation makes the job a lot easier.

Things You'll Need

  • Kitten food, either dry or canned
  • Water
  • Small, shallow dishes or bowls
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Instructions

    • 1

      Decide whether to feed your kitten dry or canned food. If you're going to give your kitten "free choice," meaning you plan to have food available at all times, feed your kitten dry food. If you're going to feed your kitten several times a day and then remove the food, dry or canned food will work. Use small, shallow dishes for your kitten's food and water. Leave water out at all times regardless of the feeding method you choose.

    • 2

      Feed your kitten the correct number of meals in the proper proportions. Kittens should eat three times a day until they are 7 months old. If your kitten eats canned food, mix two parts canned food to one part water or milk replacement. If your kitten eats dry food, mix one part dry food to three parts water or milk replacement. Continue this until the kitten is 7 to 8 weeks old. After that, kitten food is appropriate for the first year.

    • 3

      Limit table scraps and treats. If you feed your kitten table scraps, limit it to two to three times per week. Treats are OK, but they should make up no more than 5 percent of the kitten's daily nutritional intake.