As the kitten’s growth rate is very fast, he must receive food adapted to the specific nutritional requirements of this delicate stage of his life. Proper food will contain ingredients with a high degree of digestibility that promote good absorption of nutrients, will support the strengthening of the immune system, will contribute to proper neuro-sensory development and will facilitate the development of the skeletal system and muscles.
Choose the right food for your kitten under the age of 4 months
From birth to weaning
From birth, when the kitten feeds on its mother’s colostrum, until about the 5th week of life, the food The kitten is liquid and consists of breast milk or milk replacement, as appropriate. Breastmilk Substitute for Kittens, ROYAL CANIN® BABYCAT MILK is enriched with DHA, an unsaturated fatty acid that contributes to development of cognitive function. It can be taken from the first day of life until weaning. (Find out more HERE ) The weaning should gradually bring it, in the 7th week of life, to a solid food, which will have to provide all the essential nutrients for proper development. Nutrition is even more important now because this stage marks the beginning of a period called the “immune window” when the baby no longer receives antibodies transmitted by breast milk, and its defense system is still immature and tested by the kitten’s desire to explore the environment. and contact with various pathogens. That’s why I created the nutritional formula ROYAL CANIN® Mother & Babycat, which has the role of supports the body of the pregnant and lactating female, and then of chicks making the transition to solid food. The first meals should be similar in texture to porridge and should be prepared with a little warm water or a breast milk substitute. The amount of liquid should then be gradually reduced until the chicken can eat dry food. Another possibility is to mix dry food with wet food. Crochetele ROYAL CANIN® Mother & Babycat they are very small and light in size rehidratabile (up to a pasty consistency) to facilitate the transition from sucking to licking reflex. The unique recipe supports the development of the chicken’s immune system in the first stage of life with the help patented antioxidant complex which includes vitamin E, and it is enriched with DHA, Omega-3 fatty acid, which contributes to the development of the kitten’s brain during pregnancy and lactation. (Find out more HERE). And to encourage the chick to feed and make the transition to solid food as smooth as possible, we created ROYAL CANIN® Mother & Babycat Ultra Soft Mousse, an extra fine paste with high palatability, which favors the choice of food instinctively by the kitten. (Find out more HERE )
Post-weaning stage
After weaning, the kitten’s digestive system remains immature and fragile. Therefore, it is not advisable to make sudden changes in his diet, especially if it coincides with his arrival in the new home. Its food must meet specific nutritional requirements and contain a high calorie concentration in each miniature croquette, being at the same time very easy to digest. A 10 week old kitten needs a lot more calories per kg of weight than an adult! That’s why his food has to be a Calorie-rich, complete and carefully balanced nutritional formula in terms of essential nutrient intake its development. Protein, lipids, carbohydrates, minerals, vitamins, trace elements and the intake of EPA and DHA are necessary for the harmonious development of the kitten’s body, central nervous system, bone system, muscles and immune system. All this in the conditions of an immature digestive tract, which needs nutrients with a high degree of digestibility.
Is the grain content needed in the kitten feed?
In the wild, cats eat their entire prey, including the contents of the intestines, often consisting of plants or grains. Therefore, even if the cat is a carnivorous animal, its food may include high quality cereals, such as rice, wheat, corn, oats or barley. These are easy to digest and nutritious. The ability to digest starch from cereals develops progressively in kittens and is a important source of energy. Cereals are also an important source of many essential nutrients for kitten development, such as protein, fat, carbohydrates, fiber and fatty acids, vitamins and minerals.