A Pet Care Guide for Kittens

A Pet Care Guide for Kittens

Information provided by Hill's Science Diet

Sure kittens are cute and cuddly, but cats less than one year old have special needs that require a little extra attention. Healthy growth and development starts with super-premium nutrition.

Hill's^® Science Diet^® Feline Growth^® brand food was formulated just for this important stage, from weaning to about 12 months, and for adult cats who are pregnant or nursing. It provides all the nutrients kittens need for optimal health, including precise levels of taurine to help maintain a healthy heart, good vision and proper development. And Science Diet^® Feline Growth^® contains proper levels of calcium and phosphorus to help build strong bones and teeth.

Science Diet^® Feline Growth^® formula is available in canned and dry.

The Unique Needs of Kittens

You may have already recognized your kitten's unique personality, but you may not realize that your kitten has unique nutritional needs, too.

We tend to think of the early years as the "healthy years" and therefore may not give enough consideration to feeding practices. But because of factors like size, breed, age, environment, exercise, heredity and many others, a "one size fits all" approach to nutrition is not appropriate. Improper feeding can not only increase your kitten's risk of obesity, but also lead to poor muscle and bone development and poor immune response.

Kittens (from weaning to about 12 months of age) must be fed a food specially formulated to meet their needs for growth and development. This is also true for adult cats during pregnancy and nursing to ensure their kittens are receiving the optimal amounts of nutrients. Kittens need precise levels of taurine to help support a healthy heart, good vision, and reproduction and development needs. Additionally, they require the proper levels of calcium and phosphorus to help build strong bones and teeth.

How Much and How Often to Feed Your Kitten

It's important to feed your kitten the right amount of food at the right time, but that can be tricky because feeding requirements vary from one kitten to another. Feeding guides on the food can or bag are just a starting point. You'll need to monitor your kitten's physical condition regularly, and adjust the feeding amount as needed.

Ask your veterinarian which of these three feeding methods is best for your kitten:

Free Choice: Food is available to your kitten at all times
Time-Limited Feeding: Food is available to your kitten for a limited time
Food-Limited Feeding: A measured amount of food is available to your kitten each day

To help your kitten grow up healthy, veterinarians recommend following these simple steps:

Weigh your kitten
Feed based on the feeding guide and your vet's recommendations
Evaluate your kitten's weight every two weeks for the first six months
Adjust the amount you feed accordingly
Repeat the cycle

We suggest that you and your veterinarian evaluate your kitten's physical condition every few months. For some kittens, your veterinarian may suggest more frequent evaluations.

Hill's has been the leader in pet nutrition for more than 50 years, so when you select a Hill's cat food, you can be sure you've made a healthy decision.