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When feeding kittens, their diet does not vary from that of the adult cat. Once 3 or 4 weeks old, start feeding kittens some solid food in the form of our fresh meat diet.
It appears that the vast majority of people believe that cats should be fed in accordance with different life stages, one nutritional profile for feeding kittens, one for adults, and another for seniors. This concept has been popularized by commercial pet food companies, who provide these specialized foods in the form of dry kibble or canned concoctions. The reasons behind this concept are based on varying nutritional levels of protein, carbohydrates and vitamins at differing life stages. This concept is a complete mystery, and appears to be based on marketing, rather than on the nutritional needs of the feline.
To learn more about a raw meat diet for kittens.
The weaning process can be started at 3–4 weeks of age. Initially, the mother cat will continue to nurse the kittens, but limit her visits and gradually decrease her milk production. Gradually increase the amount of solids while decreasing the amount of formula until they are eating only solid food.
At 3–4 weeks, begin offering moistened kitten food four times per day. After that, they will gradually transition to solids. This process should be complete by the time the kittens reach 8 weeks of age.
If your kitten is older and new to a raw meat diet, transitioning your kitten to solid food can sometimes be a tricky task that requires a lot of patience. Every cat is different and some may take to raw cat food right away. If this is the case, remove all other foods (dry & canned) and start feeding the balanced raw meal. If your cat is not interested in raw meat, it may take a few weeks or months to fully make the switch. Our transition tips can also apply to cats that are switched to a homemade cooked diet.
Cats have evolved in their natural environment to eat the same prey diet for an entire lifetime. They do not eat a different diet when they are kittens than they do by the time they reach old age. Once feral kittens are weaned, they eat exactly the same diet as their adult counterparts. This includes rodents and small mammals, lizards, birds and insects. This diet does not vary, except to the degree of availability in the natural environment. The only difference between the wild kitten diet and the wild adult cat diet is that the kitten requires more calories per unit of body weight, due to the fact that the kitten is growing at a fairly rapid pace.
Studies done on nutritional profiling of typical prey animals, show that the average approximate dry matter protein is 55%, fat is about 35% and carbohydrates are less than 2%. The typical commercial kibble diet, on the other hand runs at about 33 – 37% protein and 28 – 36% carbohydrate (dry matter). Commercial canned diets weigh in at about 49% protein and 15% carbohydrate. Obviously, canned cat food is preferable to dry kibble, but it is still a very heavily processed protein source, and in most cases the meat source is of very questionable quality.
Feeding your kitten the best kitten food can provide them with all the nutrients they need for healthy growth, balanced nutrition, and provides a valuable source of energy.
By the time a kitten is 3 or 4 weeks old and still nursing, it is time to introduce some solid food in the form of a fresh raw meat diet. It may be necessary to take a small amount of this new food and finger feed, in order to induce it to eat, but once the kitty has tasted this delicious new food, it should devour it with no hesitation. Transitioning kittens to their new diet should not pose a great challenge, as kittens tend to identify with raw meat as a natural choice. Adults, on the other hand, may show some reluctance with transitioning, because they do not necessarily recognize raw meat as food. They may have been programmed to eating only canned or dry foods. This reluctance is just a survival mechanism. It is important to keep in mind that kittens do not usually wean until at least 6 weeks of age and should not be parted from their mother until they are about 12 weeks old.
A growing kitten can be fed about as much as they choose to eat, when feeding a balanced raw meat diet. A kitten of 3 – 4 weeks should be fed this diet several times per day, in small quantities. By the time it is six months of age, these meals can be reduced to 2-3 per day. An adult cat of average size will eat about 4.5 ounces of raw meat mix per day, divided into two servings. When feeding kittens, it is a good idea to freeze the prepared food in ice cube trays – this reduces waste, and makes it easy to measure.
| Age | Meal size (approx.) | Meals per day |
| 4 - 12 weeks | 1 - 2 Tablespoons | 4 - 6 times |
| 3 - 6 months | 3 - 5 Tablespoons | 3 - 4 times |
| 6 - 12 months | 1/4 cup (65g) | 3 times |
| 1 year + | 1/4 cup (65g) | 2 times |
Make it a habit to feed your furry little kitten friend in a quiet space, away from kitchen or dining room. This will help to avoid future problems with begging for food, as they should not identify with human eating areas as their own dining territory! It is a good idea to make a habit of feeding at about the same times every day. Feed a kitten in a very shallow dish, not a deep bowl, and be sure to warm the food to at least room temperature. Do not leave the raw meat mix out at room temperature for longer than ½ hour or so, to avoid bacterial growth. Always make fresh, clean water available. Filtered water is preferable to chlorinated tap water. Cats do not require much water when fed on this species-appropriate diet, but fresh water should be available nonetheless.
Some good meat choices for introducing your kitten to this optimum diet are fresh, ground chicken or turkey, rabbit or game. Beef and lamb tend to have a strong odor and should be left to a future time. Leaner meats are preferable, however some fat in the diet is essential. Fat should not exceed 20% of the total diet (10-15% is ideal). It is best to avoid the temptation of cooking the meat, as many essential nutrients will be destroyed, and this can lead to nutritional deficiencies and health challenges in the future.
Know Better for Cats is designed to provide your cat with proper nutrition and protein for health and longevity. Our high-quality kitten food makes balancing a homemade meat diet at home, easy and convenient. Easy to use, you just need to add raw or cooked meat and water.
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