What and how to feed a kitten from 1 to 3 months?

When starting a pet, you need to clearly understand what exactly you will have to face. Taking care of any pet is not easy, especially when you have to deal with a very tiny pet. If a one-month-old kitten should appear in the house, it is necessary to prepare housing for it and read certain literature that will help to properly care for the baby and feed it with the food that is suitable for the period from 1 to 3 months.

When a small kitten appears at home, you need to make sure that he has a place to rest, play and eat. It is better to arrange the territory for the pet in advance or as soon as possible after its appearance, since further it is necessary to solve a much more important issue regarding the nutrition of a new family member. In the event that a pet is purchased and lives with new owners without a mother, it has nowhere to get milk that the cat gives to its kittens, therefore, it is necessary to decide on the regimen and composition of food in the first days of the baby's life in the new house.

A properly composed diet and diet will enable the pet to grow well, be active and not experience any discomfort in the new home. To give the kitten such an opportunity, first of all, you need to choose how the animal will be fed. There are 2 main options:

• using purchased feed;
• thanks to self-catering.

Each of the options is good in its own way, so you need to decide what is more convenient in a particular case.

Those owners who prefer to cook themselves will be more confident in the quality and freshness of the products that are given to the pet, this is a big plus of this option. On the other hand, when using ready-made food, the kitten receives a balanced diet, which contains all the necessary elements to grow and develop as it should.

If the owner tends to prepare food for the pet on his own, he must know exactly what can be eaten by the animal at such a young age, and which foods should be avoided. In no case should you give the kitten food from the table, since it is not at all suitable for a growing organism.

In the case of food preparation, the owner must additionally purchase food supplements, vitamins and mineralsto ensure the full development of the animal's body and protect it from health problems.

If we talk about ready-made food, then here you should also be careful in choosing, since a kitten needs only the highest quality food, which means that cheap and low-quality goods should not be purchased. For the smallest, it is better to buy premium food, for which only the highest quality products, enriched with vitamins and minerals, are used.

As you gain the appropriate knowledge, you can try your hand at cooking, but it is worth doing this only when the kitten grows up. The nutrition of an older pet will include dry food.

Homemade food is better for a kitten only if the owner knows well how to properly formulate a diet, how and what to feed the pet during the day. Among the permitted and healthy products, the following ingredients can be distinguished.

• Meat - these should be low-fat varieties such as beef, turkey, chicken. For a comfortable use of meat, it should be boiled.
• By-products - make it possible to diversify the diet. They must be given only in boiled form. Kittens' liver should be cooked no more than once a week.
• Fermented milk products - bought on the day of feeding, which ensures maximum food freshness. It is important to purchase foods with low fat content so that the kitten's stomach can easily cope with the food received.
• Various cereals - the kitten can be given rice, buckwheat or oatmeal, the main requirement is the high-quality preparation of the product so that it does not contain undercooked pieces that will complicate the digestion process.
• Vegetable food - for a variety of food, boiled carrots, beets, zucchini and greens can be added to the diet. It is best to mix vegetables with meat, because kittens are much more willing to eat in this combination.
• A fish - kittens can only cook sea fish, which has a low fat content. It is especially important to consider the size, type and number of bones, which can cause big problems in a small animal. Cod, hake, haddock are most suitable for such pets, but fish should not be given more often 2-3 times a month.
• Eggs - for kittens from 1 to 3 months, quail is best suited, since they contain the most vitamins and nutrients. In addition, this is the minimum risk of contracting something, as can be the case with chicken eggs. Quail eggs must be boiled, you can give both white and yolk, and over time, even allow the kitten to drink the contents of the shell.With regard to chicken eggs, it is allowed to use only the yolk, which will be beneficial in contrast to the protein. In this case, the yolk is given only boiled and no more than 1-2 times a week.
• Vegetable oil - to obtain additional nutrients, you can add olive, sea buckthorn and flaxseed oil to food. You can add it to food several times a week in an amount not exceeding one teaspoon.

By sprouting and giving it to the kitten periodically to eat, you can avoid many problems. The process of feeding a small pet has its own characteristics, without the knowledge of which it will be difficult to raise it while maintaining its health. The food for the crumbs should be warm, not overheated, and the heat treatment of the products should be of high quality. All other food preparation options will be unacceptable for the growing animal.

If the owner does not have much time to cook natural food for the kitten every day, then it is easier to use ready-made food in the diet. For adult cats, they can be dry or wet. It is better for very small kittens to acquire the second variety, but as the pet gets used to it and grows up, introduce it to more solid food. In addition to the type of feed, it is necessary to be puzzled by the selection of an appropriate brand that produces quality products that in no way threaten the health of pets.

Among the most famous are the following brands.

• 1 st Choice - These are premium foods that are recommended for feeding kittens from two months up to one year of age. All components are of high quality, so the pet will receive a full range of nutrients. Due to the combination of quality and affordable prices, this ready-made food option is considered the most suitable for feeding kittens.

• Hills Science Plan - the food of this brand has several options: two dry and one wet, so it will not be difficult to make the right choice. The product quality in this case is also very high.

• Royal Canin. The company offers food for pets under 4 months of age (canned food) and over 4 months of age (dry food). Thanks to the quality of the products, this brand has long established itself as a reliable and proven manufacturer of food for cats of any age category.

• Happy cat junior Is a specialized product designed for kittens from 5 weeks to one year old. The peculiarities of the development of the animal at each stage of growth were taken into account, the most suitable products of the highest quality were selected. All this allows you to safely trust this brand and use its products for your pets.

• Purina Pro Plan - the brand boasts a variety of kitten foods (dry and wet options). Good quality products, the ability to choose what exactly to feed a small pet, as well as an affordable price make this brand one of the most popular.

For feeding kittens, this option is considered ideal, but not everyone can afford it, since the cost of such food is quite high. The most famous manufacturers of such products are brands:

• Eukanuba;
• Orijen;
• Pro Nature;
• Innova Evo;
• Superpet.

Each owner can choose the most balanced version of the food, which will differ in product quality and correspond to the age of the pet.It is not always possible to purchase food that the kitten will like, so you should not buy large packages right away, it is better to let the pet try this or that option, and if you like it and will be well perceived by the animal's stomach, then you can stop at it for a certain time.

Knowledge about how to feed a kitten, what food to choose and what to give will not be enough, you need to have information about which foods are undesirable and even harmful for him. Among the most unfavorable products are the following.

• Cow's milk - growing up, the pet begins to experience problems with lactose tolerance, therefore, after drinking milk, its digestion will begin to malfunction.
• Bones - Small bones can get stuck in the throat or esophagus, causing certain problems. When the pet becomes an adult, it will be possible to give it large bones, with which it can brush its teeth.
• Smoked products and fried foods - no smoked or fried foods should be in the kitten's diet, they are harmful to both small and adult cats. Such food is very difficult to digest and can negatively affect the health of the pet, causing irreparable consequences.
• Certain vegetables and mushrooms - do not feed the kitten with potatoes, eggplants, onions and garlic, tomatoes, as well as legumes and mushrooms. Such food is difficult to digest and does not bring any benefit to the body.
• Baked goods and sweet food - all bakery products of a neutral taste, as well as sweet ones, should not be given to the kitten. The same applies to any sweets, including chocolate. This food will only harm the pet's body.
• Salt and spices - any food that is prepared for a kitten or an adult should not contain any salt or spices. These components have an extremely negative effect on the pet's health and become the cause of various diseases in the future.
• River fish species - unlike the marine species, fish in rivers are subject to a strong attack of parasites, which, even after heat treatment, do not disappear anywhere, but remain in the kitten's body, gradually destroying it.
• Fat meat - you cannot feed your pet with pork, bacon, fat, because he will have indigestion and liver problems will begin.
• Chicken skin - the kitten is not able to digest this product, so the body will work poorly, spend energy, and in the end will not receive either benefit or energy.
• Egg white - Chicken egg white contains an enzyme that breaks down biotin in the feline body.
• Medications - their consumption is necessary only in rare cases and only on the prescription of a veterinarian.

To determine which type of feeding to choose for your pet, you need to analyze the advantages and disadvantages of each of the options available. If the choice is made in favor of self-cooking, then it is worth considering what is good in this option, and what are the negative aspects. The following points can be attributed to the positive.

• Possibility of self-selection of the menu for a kitten. The owner himself can determine what to mix with what, when to give what and in what quantity. Having studied the predilections of the pet well, you can highlight what he likes and make up a diet based on the knowledge gained.
• Security. Freshly cooked food will be free of all the additives, preservatives, and colors found in some ready-to-eat kitten foods.
• Possibility to diversify food as much as possiblethat the kitten will receive. With ready-made feeds, this is rather difficult to do.
• Lack of addiction to self-prepared food. There are a number of foods that begin to cause dependence in the pet, and it becomes almost impossible to wean the animal from them. This does not happen with homemade food, so it is more suitable.

Of the shortcomings, only a few points can be distinguished:

• special attention when choosing ingredients for cooking, so as not to accidentally put unnecessary ones;
• the introduction of additional additives and vitamins that will compensate for their lack in regular food.

The advantages of this option for feeding a kitten are much more than disadvantages, but not every owner has free time to prepare varied and nutritious food, so many opt for dry and wet ready-made food.

Veterinarian advice in this case is as follows:

• ready-made feed should be of high quality, better than premium;
• do not feed the pet for too long with the same food, for full growth and development it is important to introduce a certain variety;
• when switching from one type of feed or brand to another, you need to carry out the process gradually, mixing the new product with the old one, and slightly increase its amount.

To decide whether to buy dry food for your pet, you need to consider its pros and cons. The positive ones include the following:

• quality products have a complete list of vitamins and minerals that a kitten needs;
• the diet is selected taking into account the age of the animal;
• when using dry food, kittens will actively work their jaws, which will only benefit the animals;
• there is no need to spend time and effort preparing food for your pet;
• the ability to feed the kitten anywhere, as well as take food with you on long trips;
• the volume of each serving is indicated by the manufacturer on the package.

In addition to the obvious advantages, this option for feeding domestic kittens also has certain disadvantages.

• When buying an inexpensive economy-class feed, there is a risk of harming the animal, since it contains a high concentration of mineral salts, which eventually become the cause of urolithiasis. In addition, such food can contain food waste that can harm the growing body of the kitten.
• Some foods may contain fats, flavors and preservatives.
• As mentioned above, an animal can develop dependence on some types of food, and it will be very difficult to wean a kitten from such food.

The choice of this or that option will depend on the owner and his pet. If you wish, you can delight your pet with tasty and healthy dishes without any harm, while cooking something new and unusual every time in order to develop the cat's gastronomic sensations.

Since the small kitten is still small, it is important to feed the correct amount of food for each meal. Age influences the frequency of feedings and portion sizes. It is recommended to give your pet food often, but in small quantities, otherwise you can provoke the development of diseases of the digestive tract.

Age-specific feeding options:

• a month-old kitten should be fed 6 to 8 times a day;
• two months - no more than 5 times a day;
• three months - 4 times;
• starting from 4-5 months and up to a year, the pet is fed no more than three times a day;
• when the cat is old enough, you can switch to two meals a day, it is recommended to do this no earlier than a year and a half.

A newborn kitten eats only mother's milk and does not need any other food. At 1 month, he already lacks such nutrition and needs to introduce new food. It is best to start with dairy products (fermented baked milk or kefir).Such products are poured into a bowl, which allows you to accustom your pet to eating independently in a designated place and from certain dishes.

At 2 months, the kitten's diet becomes wider and more varied, vegetables are introduced, which together with the meat they are no longer frayed, but finely chopped... Dairy products are still important and should make up a large part of the diet. At the age of three months, you can switch to full-fledged feeding, a quarter of which is dairy products (but not pure milk). The diet should also include cereals, meat and vegetables, which are cut into large pieces. If you wish, you can let your pet taste the vegetables raw.

As for the amount of food in one serving, then approximate calculations are made according to the scheme - 150 g of products per 1 kg of the kitten's weight. This data may change depending on the calorie content of the food. In the case of ready-made feeds, the packaging already contains the norms for each age group.

For information on how to feed a kitten, see the next video.