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Kitten Food 101

Feeding Your Kitten for Optimum Growth & Development

By , About.com Guide

Picture of kitten Joey eating his kitten food

Joey Got into His Food in a Big Way

Photo Credit: © Franny Syufy

Kitten Food for Kittens

Kittens are not just miniature cats. Kittens' growth and development need extra protein, fat, vitamins, and minerals to get the right start in life. The extra protein is needed for growth and development of strong muscles and supporting tissue; fat is essential for fatty acids, as a carrier for fat-soluble vitamins, and for the additional calories for energy. As a rule, only foods specifically formulated to meet kittens' needs should be fed to kittens

Top Premium Canned Kitten Foods

Kittens need a premium canned food for the source of all the necessary nutrients needed to promote the development of strong bones and muscles, promote healthy teeth and gums, and to provide a source of protein and energy needed for the intense period of growth which occurs during the all-important first year. These foods were chosen with these qualities in mind.

Top Premium Dry Kitten Foods

Kittens have special nutritional needs to promote growth and development, such as extra protein for muscle development; fat for energy, fatty acids, and to carry fat-soluble vitamins; and extra vitamins and minerals for strong bones and teeth. These foods were ranked first, for protein source, and second, for nutritional analysis, giving weight to protein and fat, although other factors applied.

Emergency Kitten Formula

Popularly known as "Kitty Glop" among breeders, this kitten supplement is packed with nutrition for orphaned kittens, nursing mother cats and their babies. If you are trying to raise a very young kitten without its mother, this supplement will help until you can purchase commercially-produced kittens formulas.

How to Bottle Feed a Newborn Kitten

Nutrition in the first several days is critical to the survival of a newborn kitten. Follow these step-by-step instructions for bottle-feeding a newborn kitten, including precautions to take, helpful tips, and the follow-through "cleanup job," including stimulation of the bowels and urinary tract, and you will be a competent surrogate cat mother in no time.

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