We got Jasper from the shelter last week. He is 6.9 lbs. and is 8 mos. old. I have been feeding him three 3.5 oz. cans food a day with a little extra dry, but he stills seems hungry. My vet said to take the feeding recommendations and cut them by 25%, and that is what I am doing. I don't want to over or under feed him. Thanks. It's been a long time since I had a cat this age. Also, she said I could feed kitten or cat food...my choice.
Still missing my boys, Junior and Chester. Jasper is helping, but this feeling of mourning is still awful. I think when I lost Junior, my last one, I started to mourn all of them, even Muffin who died two years ago.
Thanks for any help with the feeding for my cute little boy.
Amount to feed my new kitten
Re: Amount to feed my new kitten
What is the name and brand of food you're feeding Jasper?
Do you have a pic of him?
Has he been properly dewormed by the vet?
If he's pretty energetic and active, he is burning energy and that could be why he seems so hungry and is generally normal for kittens (but could also be worms so make sure that is addressed by the vet). Also, I generally don't feed canned food to kittens of this age - in my experience, feeding canned so early seems to cause early excess weight gain at or before they reach adulthood (at 1 year of age). Feeding canned to weaning kittens or those who need extra energy and calories is appropriate, but one they are past weaning stage, I generally recommend starting them on dry kitten food.
Feeding dry also helps keep them satiated, since canned doesn't stay in the digestive tract as long and has more moisture content. Not saying canned isn't good, but you want Jasper feeling satiated and not overeating because he remains hungry. You could feed dry and use the canned as a treat or mid-day or evening snack, for example.
Depending on the brand and type of food you're feeding, I would recommend feeding more of the dry and less of the canned. Your vet can help you calculate how much of each to feed, based on calories and energy requirement for Jasper's age and activity level. By feeding both canned and dry, it's important to calculate feeding amounts of each type to maintain recommended daily requirement (mainly caloric content) that is appropriate for his age, weight and energy level.
At 8 months of age, you can slowly transition Jasper to adult cat food, by using the following guide:
Day 1: Feed 100% Kitten Food only
Day 3: Feed 75% Kitten Food, 25% Adult Food, mixed together
Day 7: Feed 50% Kitten Food, 50% Adult Food, mixed together
Feed the latter (the formula for Day 7) for about a week so Jasper's digestive system can adjust.
Then feed:
Day 1: Feed 75% Adult Food, 25% Kitten Food, mixed together
Day 3 or 5: Feed 100% Adult Food only.
As for amounts to feed, again it depends on the type of food and making sure the caloric needs are being met properly. (vet can help with this if he looks at the ingredients and RDA's on the labeling).
I know you're hurting over Junior and Chester, my heart goes out to you ((((((((((((HUGS)))))))))))
Do you have a pic of him?
Has he been properly dewormed by the vet?
If he's pretty energetic and active, he is burning energy and that could be why he seems so hungry and is generally normal for kittens (but could also be worms so make sure that is addressed by the vet). Also, I generally don't feed canned food to kittens of this age - in my experience, feeding canned so early seems to cause early excess weight gain at or before they reach adulthood (at 1 year of age). Feeding canned to weaning kittens or those who need extra energy and calories is appropriate, but one they are past weaning stage, I generally recommend starting them on dry kitten food.
Feeding dry also helps keep them satiated, since canned doesn't stay in the digestive tract as long and has more moisture content. Not saying canned isn't good, but you want Jasper feeling satiated and not overeating because he remains hungry. You could feed dry and use the canned as a treat or mid-day or evening snack, for example.
Depending on the brand and type of food you're feeding, I would recommend feeding more of the dry and less of the canned. Your vet can help you calculate how much of each to feed, based on calories and energy requirement for Jasper's age and activity level. By feeding both canned and dry, it's important to calculate feeding amounts of each type to maintain recommended daily requirement (mainly caloric content) that is appropriate for his age, weight and energy level.
At 8 months of age, you can slowly transition Jasper to adult cat food, by using the following guide:
Day 1: Feed 100% Kitten Food only
Day 3: Feed 75% Kitten Food, 25% Adult Food, mixed together
Day 7: Feed 50% Kitten Food, 50% Adult Food, mixed together
Feed the latter (the formula for Day 7) for about a week so Jasper's digestive system can adjust.
Then feed:
Day 1: Feed 75% Adult Food, 25% Kitten Food, mixed together
Day 3 or 5: Feed 100% Adult Food only.
As for amounts to feed, again it depends on the type of food and making sure the caloric needs are being met properly. (vet can help with this if he looks at the ingredients and RDA's on the labeling).
I know you're hurting over Junior and Chester, my heart goes out to you ((((((((((((HUGS)))))))))))
..........Traci
Re: Amount to feed my new kitten
Thanks, Traci. I will switch to dry and feed him some canned as a snack. The vet recommended Science Diet, and I will get it asap...right now, we are having a blizzard here and I can't get out. I have Purina One and Fancy Feast in the house right now, and I will switch him over slowly once I get it. At the shelter they told me they fed a variety of food, mostly dry, whatever was donated, so I'll start with adult food. I also have to bring in a stool sample for worms...I'll do that as soon as the weather clears. He had ear mites, and they treated it, but I have to bring him back to have that checked. They also gave me medicine for what might be a little ringworm on his ear, although the dr. said nothing showed up using her light. It seemed to improve right away. Thanks for your response and support with my dear departed ones.