Feeding Growing Kittens

Kittens are typically fully weaned off their mother's milk at about 8 weeks of age. The goal of feeding growing kittens is to lay the foundation for a healthy adulthood. Proper nutrition is needed to:

• achieve healthy growth (neither too rapid nor too slow),
• provide essential nutrients, and
• minimize potential for obesity.

What does normal growth and development look like?

Kittens grow quickly, maturing to adulthood by the time they are 10–12 months of age. Their growth rate slows as they approach 80% of adult size at about 30 weeks of age, and they reach adult body size at about 40 weeks of age.

Growth rates for kittens vary by breed and involve complex interactions among genetics, nutrition, and the environment. Proper nutrition is critical to the health and development of kittens, regardless of breed, and it directly influences their immune system and body composition. The nutrient density of food and the amount of food fed can greatly affect the growth rate.

Should I aim for optimal growth or maximal growth?

An optimal growth rate in kittens is ideal: it is slow and steady growth that allows the kitten to achieve an ideal (optimal) adult body condition while avoiding excessive weight and obesity.

A maximal growth rate means the kitten grows as fast as possible, usually due to high-energy foods, overfeeding, and/or free-choice feeding. A maximal growth rate can increase a kitten's risk of becoming overweight or obese.

Regular weigh-ins and body condition assessments are practical strategies to help keep a growing kitten on track and growing at an optimal rate. Another tool to track your kitten’s growth is the Waltham Kitten Growth Charts. These charts allow you to track your kitten’s weight and age to ensure they stay on their correct percentile curve. Your veterinarian and veterinary healthcare team can explain how to use these tools and assess your kitten at home.

What are the nutritional requirements for a growing kitten?

• Protein: Protein requirements for growing kittens are high during the weaning stage, but the amount of protein they need will steadily decrease thereafter. Protein is important as a source of energy, but also to provide essential amino acids and to build and maintain lean tissue.
• Fat: Fat is a source of essential fatty acids. It is a concentrated source of energy and it facilitates the absorption of fat-soluble vitamins.
• Calcium: Kittens require more calcium than adult cats because they require calcium for growth and development of their skeletons. Excessive calcium can also be a problem and can contribute to growth abnormalities. These are just three of the several nutrients that are essential for growing kittens. To ensure you are feeding a food that meets the nutritional requirements for your kitten, check the label for a nutritional adequacy statement (AAFCO statement) that specifies the food has been formulated to meet the requirements for growth. A food formulated for all life stages is also appropriate for growth.

Once an appropriate food has been selected, give no additional vitamin or mineral supplements without first checking with your veterinarian. A purpose-formulated kitten food should have everything that your kitten needs.

Once an appropriate nutritional product has been chosen, no additional vitamin or mineral supplements should be given. You should also avoid foods that produce a urinary pH of less than 6.2. Your veterinarian can help you determine the pH levels for kitten foods you are considering.

How can I prevent maximal growth and obesity?

Growing kittens need higher amounts of all nutrients than adult cats, but excess energy can create serious problems. Consuming more calories than needed to maintain an optimal growth rate can lead to faster growth and accumulation of excess fat tissue. This excess fat can then lead to obesity by the time your kitten has reached adulthood. While obesity can be treated with an appropriate diet, calorie restriction, feeding management, and exercise, weight-loss plans are time consuming and come with challenges.

A better approach is to prevent obesity from occurring. Prevention of obesity begins during the weaning stage and continues through to adulthood and the senior years. Being overweight or obese increases the risk for many complications and diseases, including:

• hypertension
• heart disease
• diabetes mellitus
• osteoarthritis
• heat intolerance
• decreased immune function

Free-choice feeding can increase the risk of gaining more body fat and becoming overweight or obese. Portion feeding provides the greatest opportunity to prevent kittens from becoming overweight or obese, as a controlled amount of food is offered each day. Portions can be easily adjusted (increased or decreased) based on growth rate. Most kittens do best when their total daily portion of food is divided into 3-4 small meals or more each day, which reduces the volume of food consumed at one time.

With planning and attention to detail, you can lay the foundation for your kitten's optimal health and longevity. Together with your veterinarian and veterinary healthcare team, you can help your kitten grow into a healthy adult cat.