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The Kitten's Eating Programme

You can offer your kitten either dry food, canned food, or both. Be sure to choose food which is designed for kittens. They require a diet which is especially rich in protein, calcium, and other nutrients. Cat food that is for adults is not sufficient. Your young cat will need the enhanced kitten food until he or she is a year old. Young kittens need to eat every few hours, because their tummies are so small. I like to feed them canned food several times a day but also have a bowl of dry food available for them to munch on whenever they wish.

From 4 to 5 weeks of age, a kitten can start on solid food. Beginning as a gruel prepared with a little warm water or milk formula, the quantity of liquid is then gradually reduced until the kitten is eating dry food only.
The kitten's nutritional needs are specific during the first weeks of her life and will change as she grows older.

Kittens under 3-4 months of age should be be fed four times a day, then gradually reduce the feeds to twice a day by twelve months of age. Adult cats are usually fed morning and night while some like to have lunchtime feed as well. Cats have a relatively small stomach and naturally prefer smaller meals more often.

Kittens under 4 months old	Kittens over 4 months old
From 4 to 5 weeks of age, a kitten can start on solid food. Beginning as a gruel prepared with a little warm water or milk formula, the quantity of liquid is then gradually reduced until the kitten is eating dry food only.	After her adult teeth have come through, the proportions of the different nutrients essential to the kitten's growth remain the same until she is 1 year old. Only the daily quantities of food needed for growth will vary and will increase until she reaches adulthood. This nutritional balance is also ideal for a pregnant or lactating queen, who can be given the growth food.

Milk

Do not give your kitten cow's milk - it can make them sick and give them diarrhea. You can obtain mother's milk replacer for young kittens at many of the pet stores in the area. When the kittens are 8 weeks or older, they no longer need the milk but may enjoy it anyway. Milk that has been specially processed for cats to consume safely is available from many local groceries.

Water

Keep clean, fresh water available to your kitten at all times. The bowl should be low enough for the kitten to able to drink from it easily. Some kittens enjoy playing in the water and even tipping over the bowl, so you may need a heavy bowl. Place the bowl when it won't get dirtied by litter etc. Whatever type of food you give your kitten, make sure she always has a bowl of fresh clean water.

Urinary stones Fresh water
Cats eating dry foods have no more cases of urinary stones or cystitis than other cats.

Your kitten will probably have been already weaned when he or she first arrives at your house, and, hopefully, will be eating a high-quality food designed for kittens. If so, it will probably be best to continue him on the food he is accustomed to, to avoid the inevitable tummy upsets of a quick food change. If not - if your kitten has been eating a lesser-quality (grocery store) food, you'll need to convert him over to a more appropriate kitten food gradually. Start by adding a small amount of premium kitten food to his existing food, then gradually increase the amount each day. You will likely find that once your kitten tastes the higher quality food, he will nose through the kibble to find those morsels. At that point, you can make the switch complete.