What should I feed my Persian kitten?
For various reasons, Persian cats require extra care when it comes to feeding. They are a lower energy cat, so it’ll be important to keep a close eye on your pet’s weight. In order for your new kitten to grow healthy and live a long life, you will need to feed them an animal protein-based diet. Here are a few more tips that are sure to help:
Choose high quality food for kittens:
Kittens needs extra fat content and protein to help with their rapid growth. That is why you should get some kitten specific food. You should also get the best quality food you can afford. The cheaper food tends to contain more grain-based fillers which will cause your Kitten to not feel as full and therefore will want to eat more because they’re not getting the kind of nutrients they need in those cheaper types of food.
One thing you should never feed your feline friend is people food including cow’s milk. IIt can cause alot of health issues for a kitten. There are also certain foods like onions and garlic which are very toxic for cats.
Choosing between wet or dry cat food:
Next, you might be wondering if it’s best to feed your kitten dry or wet food. It is recommended that you feed a combination of both.
The benefits of eating wet food for cats is that it helps your pet stay well hydrated because of its high-water content. This plays a crucial role in keeping your Persian friend at a healthy weight.
As for the dry food, there are brands out there that have created Persian cats specific food. Make sure to look at the carb amount in the food staying away from the ones with really high carb content. One of the benefits of dry food is that it does help with dental care.
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Choosing the feeding schedule:
Kittens are more high energy then older cats so it’s good to feed them more and often to help with their development.
Up until they’re 6 months old, you should feed them at least four small meals throughout the day. Their stomach is so small, they can’t eat as much. After six months and up to a year old, you can decrease to 3 meals a day.
Although I do feed my cat two meals of wet and dry food and 2 snacks of dry food only. My vet says it’s fine so long as I stick to the 1/3 cup of dry food per day. Your vet will tell you what’s best.
Choosing the right food bowl:
I feel the need to mention the kind of bowl you use because it can really affect your little friend.
Persians are known to have respiratory issue because of their flat face. Respiratory issues could cause your pet to not be able to smell their food and it may lead to them not wanting to eat their food. A stronger smelling food could help with that.
As for the bowl, you should get a bowl that is not very deep so the sides of the bowl don’t hurt your cat’s whiskers. If you see your new friend digging their food out of the bowl to eat it from the floor, it could be a good indication that their bowl is too deep and hurting them.
Choosing the perfect source of water:
Hydration is instrumental in maintaining good health. Cats by nature tend to not drink as much as they should which can lead to many issues later on. Kitties can be very picky about their water source. They do not like still water, so a water fountain is ideal. I have one for my Kitty and she drinks a lot and often which is great. Also, you should put their water away from where they eat. By instinct, cats don’t drink water that’s close to their food source as they fear the water could get contaminated.
In conclusion, if you follow these tips, you should have a healthy, happy kitten. One last thing to do is always make sure to visit your vet. As a kitten, they may need to see the vet a couple of times until they reach adulthood. Your vet should always be your number one source of information. By providing a balanced diet, plenty of fresh water, and regular vet care, you can help ensure that your Persian kitten grows up to be healthy and happy.
Check out this article for more tips as your cat grows older