When Can A Kitten Be Given Dry Food: How To Teach And Translate, What To Do If You Don't Want To Eat, How To Force, Advice

2024 Author: Bailey Albertson | [email protected]. Last modified: 2023-12-17 12:53

Is it possible to give a kitten dry food

Dry food is a ready-made balanced meal that contains all the necessary vitamins and minerals, as well as enough proteins, fats and carbohydrates. In the case of kittens, such products help to avoid the occurrence of pathologies at the stage of the final formation of internal systems and organs due to a lack of nutrients. However, it is important to properly accustom animals to dry food and follow the rules of nutrition, so as not to provoke the development of gastrointestinal diseases.

Content

• 1 The benefits and harms of dry food for kittens
• 2 Basic rules for eating dry food
• 3 How to replace dry food if a kitten refuses it
• 4 Video: veterinarian about training kittens to dry food

The benefits and harms of dry food for kittens

Since the advantages and disadvantages will differ depending on the quality and class of feed, we first look at the pros and cons of super premium and holistic. Such diets contain useful substances in a form available to kittens: the composition includes meat and offal, as well as a small proportion of fruits, vegetables and herbs to meet the daily needs for vitamins and minerals. This ensures the harmonious development of the central nervous system, gastrointestinal tract and other internal organs and systems.

It is advisable to choose grain-free feed marked "Grain Free": they do not contain ballast ingredients that do not carry nutritional value

Eating dry food reduces the likelihood of bacterial contamination. The product contains preservatives and antioxidants to prevent spoilage. The use of quality raw materials avoids the development of helminthiasis. Only certified products enter the conveyor, but even if the manufacturer accidentally accepts the contaminated batch, viruses and bacteria will be destroyed during the heat treatment. The pet owner does not have to worry about the food spoiling right in the bowl. This can address the issue of meal frequency when it comes to adult kittens over 6 months of age who are able to independently control portion sizes.

Colored pellets indicate poor feed quality

Harmful factors are relevant when the wrong choice of dry food or non-observance of the rules of accustoming to it. Cheap economy or premium products can cause indigestion or even the development of chronic gastrointestinal diseases. In the future, the pathologies of the urinary system, diabetes mellitus, etc. progress. With a sudden transfer of the kitten to dry food, refusal of food and disturbances from the gastrointestinal tract are possible. Sometimes diarrhea and dehydration develop rapidly, which can be fatal.

Even the manufacturer himself warns that the food should not be given to kittens under 2 months old.

Inexpensive feeds have an unbalanced composition. Everything looks attractive on the packaging: there are enough fats and proteins, the proportions of nutrients are met, the manufacturers highlight the presence of vitamins and unsaturated fatty acids as an advantage. In reality, the situation is less rosy. Often, lipids are much lower than the company says. This can already cause abnormalities in the development of internal organs and weakness. Nutrients come in the form of supplements or herbal ingredients. Of these, only a small part of the vitamins and minerals is absorbed. In addition, low quality raw materials are used. My friend's cat developed pancreatitis after eating Friskis and Whiskas. I have personally come across many cases where animals are allergic to economy class foods. A neighbor's kitten was found to have ICD at 8 months And these are not the worst consequences. Cheap food should not be given even to healthy adult cats, especially kittens.

Basic rules for eating dry food

First of all, you need to choose a complete food that is able to provide the kitten with the necessary nutrients. Such a product does not need to be supplemented with a natural menu and vitamin and mineral complexes. The use of the latter without the appointment of a veterinarian can lead to an excess of substances and the appearance of uncharacteristic symptoms. If we are talking about a super-premium class, then the food must be suitable for kittens. This is evidenced by the corresponding mark. Kitten food is distinguished by a better quality composition and balance of nutrients, as well as a porous structure of granules. Holistic in most cases is suitable for animals of all ages and breeds, so you can ignore the presence or absence of marking.

The mark "Full" is usually found either on the front of the package or above the composition

Kittens are taught to dry food from 3–6 weeks. It is advisable to wait at least up to a month, because together with milk, babies receive maternal antibodies that protect them from bacteria and viruses. Dry food must be soaked before being offered to babies: kittens accustomed to milk and natural products are likely to give up hard granules. Even if pets eat a prepared diet, they will develop digestive upsets. The food is poured with warm water in a ratio of 8: 1.

The more the dry food granules swell, the more cereals in the product

First, the pellets are given as complementary foods. The main food of kittens is mother's milk. Pets become completely independent at 1.5–2.5 months, but this may happen earlier, depending on the circumstances and individual characteristics. Complementary foods are offered to babies up to 4 times a day. 1–2 pellets are enough for one month old kittens. The portions are increased later. The amount of milk consumed decreases. It is desirable to complete the translation by 2–2.5 months.

Gradually, the proportion of fluid is reduced. By the age of 3 months, kittens should completely switch to dry food in its original form. An early transfer is inappropriate, since the bite is actively forming in animals at 1–2 months. Hard granules can provoke abnormalities at this stage. Late transfer is possible, but it is during this period that dry food facilitates the growth of new teeth. In addition, the use of softened puree from granules for a long time will lead to improper adaptation of the gastrointestinal tract, the appearance of problems with the digestion of solid food and inflammation of the paraanal glands.

If kittens do not want to eat dry food, choose the largest one and lightly grease its palate or nose with the resulting gruel. The kid will reflexively lick the food and become interested in it. If he starts eating the pellet puree, the other kittens will follow suit. As a last resort, you can use the same technique, offering softened food to the mother-cat. She may be more accommodating, especially if you add some spider sauce for kittens from the same brand.

If pouches are included in complementary foods as an intermediate option or supplement, they must be of the same class as the main diet.

You need to accustom kittens to dry food if you expect to continue to adhere to the same diet. If you are planning to sell babies, it is best to give them natural products or pouches with pate, as the cat's GI tract quickly adapts to the stable chemical composition of the pellets. When switching to another food, the likelihood of digestive disorders is high. It is not even recommended to change the feed manufacturer. This is especially true for small kittens up to 6 months old. If necessary, you can combine dry food with spiders from the same company, if given separately. If special needs arise, it is allowed to change products within the line of one manufacturer. Dry food must not be combined with a natural menu.

Manufacturers leave recommendations for serving sizes on packages. It is impossible to give general norms for all feeds, since they have different calories. In addition, pets have personality traits to consider. If the kitten plays frequently and is active during the day, it needs more food. Passive babies are given less food. It is necessary to observe the physique and select an individual norm empirically: if the ribs of a kitten are difficult to feel, the portion should be reduced. The chest bones and hips should not stick out.

The frequency of feeding depends on the age of the kitten. At 1.5-2 months, babies are given food 6-8 times a day. By 3 months, the number of meals can be reduced to 4-6. At 4 months, a kitten can eat 3-4 times a day, and after 6 months - 2-3 times. At 8-12 months, animals are transferred to two meals a day. If the cat has no problem with appetite, free access to food can be arranged after 6 months.

Special sealed containers prevent feed with air, therefore slow down oxidation and spoilage of the product

Dry food must be fresh. Even with free access, it is unlikely to have time to deteriorate, since kittens regularly empty their supplies. However, after opening the package, babies must eat the food within 1 month, otherwise the oils in it will go rancid. Once spoiled, the pellets provide an ideal breeding ground for bacteria. This can lead to an intestinal infection. Kittens often refuse spoiled food because of the bitter taste. It is not recommended to purchase too large packages.

The kitten should always have access to clean, fresh water. In some cases, dry food provokes non-compliance with the drinking regime. This can lead to a general deterioration of the condition and the development of urolithiasis due to an increase in the saturation of urine with mineral trace elements. The amount of water you drink should be about 3 times the amount of food eaten. If the kitten does not consume enough liquid, you can place the bowls in those places where it happens most often: near the beds, on the windowsills, etc. Pets prefer wide dishes. It is strongly recommended not to offer your kitten tap water as it contains heavy metal salts, chlorine and bacteria.

How to replace dry food if the kitten refuses it

Sometimes kittens categorically refuse dry food. In such cases, if the translation should still take place, you can use pouches and pates as an intermediate option. It is advisable to choose products of the same company, so that in the future the kitten will not have digestive problems. In this way, I managed to transfer several kittens to dry food: at first I offered them full-rate pouches, then I began to add soaked granules and gradually increase their share. For 2 weeks the babies completely switched to "drying". There were no problems in the process.

Treats should be for kittens; treats for adult cats can trigger the disorder

If kittens do not want to eat pelleted food in any form, they will have to be temporarily or permanently switched to natural products. Until 6 months, it is advisable not to renew the attempts to teach. The kittens' menu should consist of 80% meat, 10% of animal by-products, and the rest is allocated to fermented milk products and vegetables. The meat should be lean. It is advisable to offer the kids beef or veal, rabbit and poultry. Fish can be given once a week. The most preferred by-products are hearts, liver and kidneys. They are given to grown up kittens over 2.5-3 months. It is allowed to include chicken or quail eggs in the menu.

Later, at an older age, kittens can again try to accustom to dry food using positive associations. For example, you can train your pet and offer pellets as rewards to add value to your pet. Some owners grind the food and add the powder to the main dish to gradually accustom it to smell and taste. You can give your little ones dehydrated treats (pieces of lung and fillets, dried meat, etc.) to help them associate texture with something appetizing.

Video: veterinarian on training kittens to dry food

Feeding kittens with dry food is easier than compiling a natural menu, but this is no less responsible business. It is necessary to choose the right diet, plan a meal schedule and gradually transfer the kids to a new meal. Any mistake threatens the development of chronic diseases and even death, so it is important to remain vigilant.