Growing kittens need proper nutrition in order to thrive, and they are usually pretty voracious eaters! As cat lovers, we may feel tempted to give them as much as they want, because we figure if they\u2019re eating they must be hungry. But is it possible to overfeed your kitten, or will they self-regulate and simply stop when they are full?<\/p>\n
Adult cats can often free-feed, which means you can leave out food for them throughout the day and they will pick at it as they please. Unlike dogs, most cats seem to know when to stop eating and can be trusted to consume the calories they need.<\/p>\n
Kittens, however, often lack that little voice inside their head that tells them to stop eating, and overeating for kittens can be dangerous.<\/p>\n
Your veterinarian should be able to give you advice on what kind of food to give your kitten and how much to feed them. They can also answer questions you may have about if kittens can drink goat’s milk<\/a>. But knowing how much food is too much for kittens, and the signs that they\u2019ve overindulged, can be a lifesaver!<\/p>\n In this article, we\u2019ll cover the following;<\/p>\n Deciding what food to feed your kitten is one of the first and most important decisions you\u2019ll make as a cat owner. There are a variety of different kibbles, wet foods, and supplements on the market, and it\u2019s often difficult to decide. Kittens have different nutritional needs than adult cats,<\/a> and your kitten\u2019s age, activity level, and overall health are all factors in deciding which food to buy. Here are a few tips:<\/p>\n 1. Get the kitten used to eating both wet and dry food. Cats can be picky eaters later in life, so it\u2019s good to get them used to eating a variety of textures and foods. But once you choose a food, don\u2019t deviate from it! Changing your kittens diet frequently can upset their digestive system and make them sick.<\/p>\n Keep in mind, too, that kittens can develop bad breath<\/a> if they’re not getting enough hard food.<\/p>\n 2. Choose a food that lists protein as the first three or four ingredients (meat, barley, etc.) Foods with fillers listed as the first ingredient, such as corn, should be avoided. Be careful with meat such as turkey or pork<\/a>.<\/p>\n 3. Choose a food your kitten likes! These kittens certainly like the food their owner picked!<\/p>\n The short answer is: absolutely! Kittens will likely eat whatever amount of food you give them, and so it\u2019s up to you to make sure they aren\u2019t eating too much. Overeating in kittens can lead to diarrhea, which sounds benign but is actually quite dangerous for them, especially for very young kittens.<\/p>\n In addition, kittens can vomit from overeating as well. This is also a serious issue and in either case, you need to keep an eye on the kitten to make sure they are okay.<\/p>\n Here\u2019s a video of some kittens begging for food. They’re so cute as they cry for their dinner, so it’s easy to see why many kittens are overfed.<\/p>\n\n
Kitten Nutrition<\/h2>\n
Can Kittens Overeat?<\/h2>\n