How Often Do Kittens Eat? A cat does not eat enough nutrients or ingesting some proper food for their age, physical activity, and health status may have trouble staying healthy. For its part, a feline you eat more calories than necessary is a serious risk of becoming overweight and, eventually, feline obesity (around 58% of urban cats outgrow their healthy weight, according to the Association for the Prevention of obesity in pets).
Leave the food always available to the cat is complicated gluttonous cats and houses more animals
The first step to ensuring the feline welfare is therefore to choose the right food: no food for puppies, adult cat food and even designed for cats with weight problems or diseases products.
But once you have selected the appropriate food for our four - legged companion, the question arises: how often times a day you have to feed the cat?
Food always available to the cat, a good idea?
The question looks simple, but the answer may not be so. "Many owners choose to leave cat food always available to the cat so that it is he who is given throughout the day, " says veterinary Patricia Gonzalez.
A cat remains healthy weight can have at your fingertips always the bowl with kibble. The cat food, however, must be kept in good condition, so you have to fill the furry bowl diner every day. Not forgetting to accompany it with a bowl of fresh, clean water for the cat.
But what happens when this option does not work? "Leave the food always available to the cat can not such a good idea at times, as it will be more difficult to control the amount of food you eat and be easy to overfeed," says González.
Additionally, if there is more than one cat at home, it is normal that you always eat more than others; so you'll risk of overweight. A cat that is fed above their needs requires control over the amount of meat which swallowed.
How often do newborn kittens eat
The age of the cat is important before deciding how often daily servings of food is offered to the feline. The kittens have a higher nutritional requirement per kilo of weight compared with an adult animal. The reason lies in the high nutritional requirements involving their growth.
A kitten needs three meals a day, and a specific food for babies, covering their high nutritional needs.
This explains why a baby cat sets eat more than once during the day. " kitties need to be feed at least 3 times a day, at least until they are six months, " says Kallfelz. The little cat needs more calories, fat, protein, vitamins and minerals to develop healthily. Poor nutrition (for lack of quality or quantity) will be felt soon in the puppy.
The number of meals that makes a cat puppy can, however, be reduced gradually as it grows. "But the specific food for babies should be kept until it reaches its maturity, that is, until age nine months or a year old," the vet John Bukowski, author of the manual 'Merck' animal health.
And what about adult cats? A cat from six months will have to eat food twice during the day, provided their daily food ration is respected. The same goes for older cats or senior, from seven years old. For them, it is also quite eat two servings of food.
However, it should be noted that " a glutton cat will feel less anxious if you eat several times a day, but in smaller amounts, " he warns, meanwhile, feline nutritionist Francis Kallfelz, Cornell University (USA .)
One last caution: before handing the cat food in different rations distributed throughout the day is important to know how much should eat the cat. This relevant information should be available on the label cat food, which is usually specified. The vet also is a reference and help, also, in this regard.
How many times do kittens should eat?
- A puppy needs cat food, at least three times a day (every eight hours). Their food also must be specific for cats under one year.
- An adult cat or senior (from seven years) has enough to eat twice a day, with a gap of eight to twelve hours. You have to watch the daily food ration recommended is distributed appropriately.
- The option to leave the cat food always available to the feline may be valid, but we must monitor the animal remains healthy weight and fill the bowl with kibble every day.
- The cat disease such as feline diabetes may involve feeding the animal required more frequently. The veterinarian is the best advisor in this case.
- A cat convalescing after an operation or illness may also require more frequent feedings, and you may need a specific meal.
- The most appropriate time to feed the cat can adapt to our family calendar: the morning is a good time and also at night when the home is quieter.
- The cat food should be offered in a quiet place free, the passage of the rest of the inhabitants of the home.
- Feline meal times should be respected: thus will be easier to stop your anxiety and help you feel more relaxed.
- In houses with more than one cat is important to establish a schedule of meals and respect. Also, it should be checked every feline see your bowl, to prevent one of the four - legged friends eat more than you need.
- The veterinarian will be a help to choose the food that best suits the cat (depending on your age, health, special requirements) and to control the amount and daily food rations accurate.