What Can a Kitten Eat?

What a kitten can eat depends on the age of the kitten. A very young kitten, 4 weeks old and under, requires either mother's milk or a milk replacement formula. A kitten 4 to 10 weeks old needs a mixture of formula and canned kitten food to wean it. You can feed a kitten older than 10 weeks either dry or canned food nutritionally balanced for kittens.

  1. Bottle-feeding Kittens

    • Leave a kitten under 4 weeks old with its mother to nurse off her milk. If you have an orphaned kitten, you can bottle-feed it a milk replacement formula for kittens, using a pet nursing bottle. You'll find these items in a pet supply store. Mix the formula according to the printed directions if using a powdered milk replacement product. Warm the formula in the nursing bottle by placing the bottle in a bowl of hot water. Test the temperature against your wrist; it should be lukewarm. Place the kitten onto its stomach on your lap, over a soft towel. Squeeze a drop of formula into the kitten's mouth, then place the nipple in the kitten's mouth until it suckles. Feed the kitten every two to three hours. The kitten needs 32 cc daily the first week, 50 cc the second week, 80 cc the third and 100 cc the fourth, divided up among the daily feedings.

    Weaning Kittens

    • A kitten between the ages of 4 to 10 weeks old needs a combination of kitten milk replacement formula mixed with canned food for kittens to wean it completely to solid food. Mix a small amount of canned food in with the formula and serve it in a shallow bowl for the kitten to eat. Increase the amount of canned food each week. During the first two to three weeks of weaning, give the kitten a combination of bottle feedings and feedings in the shallow bowl. The kitten may walk in the bowl to eat the food at first, so give it a gentle wipe with a damp washcloth after it finishes. Reduce the amount of formula in the feedings each week, while increasing the amount of canned food.

    Canned Kitten Food

    • When choosing a canned food diet for your kitten over 10 weeks old, or during the weaning phase, look for a food labeled "complete and balanced" and approved by the Association of American Feed Control Officials. AAFCO, a regulatory agency, works with pet food manufacturers to ensure their food meets minimum standards for safety and nutrition set by the agency. The food needs to contain meat as the first ingredient, added vitamins, essential fatty acids and taurine. Choose only canned foods labeled for kittens or a "growth formula," as these foods contain higher amounts of nutrients and calories than adult formulas. Feed kitten-formula food until your kitten reaches 1 year old.

    Dry Kitten Food

    • While canned kitten food is generally more palatable for kittens, you can also feed your kitten a diet of dry kitten food, or a mixture of the two. Unlike canned food, dry food will not spoil if left out during the day and allows your kitten to free-feed when it becomes hungry. Like canned food, purchase only dry foods formulated for kittens or all life stages, not adult cats. If your kitten does not like the dry food, you can tempt it to eat the food by moistening the nuggets with warm water or low-sodium chicken broth for the first few days. Feed the kitten 0.5 ounce of dry food per pound of your kitten's weight and 1 ounce of wet food per pound. If feeding only dry food, be sure to keep a bowl of fresh water available for your kitten to drink.