It isn’t easy to Feed a cat. It is important to consider his age and the degree of weaning. From birth to 6 to 8 weeks, a cat is breastfed by its mom. Then he slowly changes to strong food, making a few dinners per day. This progress period requires your complete focus. Here are the keys to effectively weaning your feline yet additionally the 10 slip-ups not to make while taking care of a cat.
Weaning a cat bit by bit
Present strong food
Upon entering the world, a cat has selective admittance to bosom milk. Mother’s milk is great for the primary long stretches of life, it permits the creature to develop well and particularly to foster its regular safeguards. Breastfeeding endures 6-10 weeks. It should be select for somewhere around a month. Then, at that point, presenting strong food is conceivable. For the initial not many times, it is to the point of dropping food on the cat’s lips so he can find new flavors.
On the menu, you can offer your little catlike croquettes or a wet recipe (pate, jam chomps or sauce, and so on.). During the weaning stage, youthful felines will normally nurse, the bosom milk that was fundamental turns into a food supplement. The lactating feline likewise knows how to decide whether her little one has had sufficient milk! Whenever the little cat arrives at the age of 10 weeks, it tends to be totally weaned. This is likewise the age at which it very well may be taken on.
Propose the right number of meals
Withdrawal is now a given. Your kitten needs to eat throughout the day. Between 2 months and 6 months, it is necessary to offer 3 to 4 meals a day. At this age, it is not necessary to make kibble available throughout the day.
As soon as he reaches the age of 6 months, you can offer him 2 meals a day and make kibble available to him during the day. Don’t be afraid of industrial food! If it is of high quality, it is perfectly adapted to the nutritional needs of the kitten. Just check that the ingredients of animal origin are present in the majority. If there is too much cereal, the kibble will be indigestible.
10 mistakes to avoid when feeding a kitten
1 – Separating a kitten from its mother too early
Adopting a kitten is cute. And the smaller the kitten, the more it seduces its new masters. But be careful! A kitten should not be separated from its mother too early. It is necessary to wait at least 10 weeks for a separation. If it is possible to wait 12 weeks, it’s better! A kitten who joins his new home too quickly has not acquired certain reflexes instilled by his mom. He is lost and especially ill-being is at the rendezvous. Cats who suffer from emotional dependence have often been separated too quickly from their mother and siblings.
2 – Giving milk to a kitten
Quite naturally, when we have a kitten, we offer him milk. Why? Because we believe that it is indispensable for its growth. This is not the case! Once weaned, a kitten no longer needs milk. All the nutrients necessary for its development are present in the marketed “junior” formulas. There is industrial milk for kittens. These formulas are well thought out and can be offered to young cats. It should nevertheless be borne in mind that kitten milk is a food and that it does not replace water.
If a kitten has been abandoned or he has lost his mother, it may be imperative to give him milk. If this is the case, you should bet on a specific formula available from the veterinarian. It must be offered in a bottle. For these cats, weaning can be done between 4 and 6 weeks.
3 – Offer kibble for adult cats
If you go to supermarkets or pet stores, you will find that there are 1001 formulas of kibble. There is a good reason for this. Cats are all different, like their needs. A neutered cat should not have the same diet as an outdoor cat or a cat that has digestive disorders. The same applies to growing cats. It is necessary to give them kibble for kittens, in other words “junior” formulas. They are enriched with vitamins and minerals. The instruction is the same for the so-called wet food. You should give preference to recipes that are developed for kittens.
4 – Serve a pate that is too cold
Because the pate is started, you have chosen to keep the portion not consumed by your cat in the refrigerator. You’re right! So it does not deteriorate. On the other hand, it is not recommended to offer your kitten food that is too cold. You need to leave the bowl at room temperature for a few minutes. It is also possible to warm it up a little.
5 – Offer only one meal a day
Cats are not dogs. By the way, unlike canids, it is impossible for them to make only one meal a day. They would not have enough energy for the day. It is necessary to offer them at least two daily meals and make sure that they have kibble available throughout the day.
6 – Accelerate weaning
Sometimes, in order to adopt or have a kitten adopted more quickly, one is tempted to speed up weaning. This is a mistake! Weaning takes time and the steps must be respected. If it is too fast, your cat may have growth and digestion disorders. Indeed, if he consumes solid food too early, a cat may suffer from stomach pain.
7 – Ignore the kitten’s malaise
It is quite possible that during the weaning phase a kitten will not feel very well. This malaise is caused by difficulties in digestion. It is to avoid these digestive disorders that a cat alternates between kibble and breast milk during the diversification period. If you notice that your kitten is not feeling very well after meals, you need to change kibble. It is possible that he will not digest the ones you have selected correctly.
8 – Opt for unsuitable bowls
Making the right choice of bowls is essential. The containers must be wide enough so that the cat’s vibrissae, in other words its whiskers, are not attacked by the walls. A kitten’s bowl should be non-slip. Avoid stainless steel bowls, cats can see themselves in them and it can disturb them.
9 – Do not moisten the kibble
Kibble is difficult for a kitten to chew. To help him switch to solid food, you can moisten the kibble. The latter are softer and therefore easier to eat. In addition, by moistening the kibble, they give off a more enticing smell for the cat. This encourages him in his withdrawal.
10 – Do not adapt portions
It is important to observe your cat after meals. Sometimes the portions are too large. The croquettes remain and lose their taste. The same is true with pate. If it is not eaten, it dries up. To reduce waste, it is necessary to reduce quantities. If your kitten is devouring his bowl and he is still meowing, he has not eaten enough. In this case, it is necessary to offer him larger portions.
If you are having difficulty feeding your kitten, you can discuss this with your veterinarian. This will help you find solutions before, during and after weaning.
