Welcoming a new kitten into your home is a wonderful and exciting experience. However, just like human babies, the responsibility and feeling that you have to get everything ‘right’ from the beginning can be quite overwhelming. As a long-time veterinarian, pet owner, and mother to two boys I have learned that if you just focus on the basics then most things fall into place. Now, one of the most basic necessities of life is food, so in the context of a new kitten, if we concentrate on providing an optimal diet from the beginning, we are giving them the best chance to grow and thrive.
Before we discuss the specifics, it is important to note kittens have unique nutritional requirements compared to adult cats. During their rapid growth and development phase, they need a diet rich in high-quality protein, essential fats, and a specific balance of vitamins and minerals. Like their adult counterparts, they are considered obligate carnivores, physiologically designed to harvest energy from protein and fats. Unfortunately, many commercial kitten foods are high in carbohydrates, fillers, and gelling agents which are not biologically ideal and convolute the choice for pet parents. Instead, an optimal kitten diet should mimic what nature intended and revolve around animal-based protein sources. Luckily, we have brands like Feline Natural leading the charge with their complete and balanced Feasts, an excellent example of starting your kitten off on the right foot… or paw!
Animal protein should serve as the cornerstone of a kitten’s diet. It is indispensable for tissue growth and repair, supporting muscle development and overall health. In addition, it provides essential amino acids like Taurine which are critical in a kitten’s diet for various physiological functions, including bolstering the immune system and supporting heart and eye health.
To meet the metabolic needs of growing kittens, Feline Natural stands out with their emphasis on sourcing high-quality, human-grade, wholefood ingredients from New Zealand. They have ensured that their products are rich in essential fatty acids like Omega-3 and Omega-6. These nutrients, derived from grass-fed meat, organs, and sustainably sourced fish, are instrumental in supporting vital aspects of cat development, including brain, vision, and skin & coat health. Comprised of 98%+ meat, fish, and organs, their Feasts are formulated to meet the AAFCO cat food nutrient profiles to be suitable as a complete and balanced meal for all cats - including kittens, and all life stages for that matter.
While all Feline Natural Feasts are suitable for all cat ages, their Beef & Hoki Feasts and Lamb & Salmon Feasts are particularly noteworthy for kittens as they have been formulated with fish ingredients and contain DHA & EPA which provide additional Omega-3 fatty acids that further support brain, eye, and cognitive development.
If that’s not enough, all Feline Natural Feasts also incorporate New Zealand Green Lipped Mussels as a key ingredient, yet another potent source of Omega-3, ensuring optimal development for our young felines!
Vitamins and minerals are elemental for various physiological functions in kittens. Vitamin A is necessary for vision and immune function, Vitamin D promotes calcium absorption and bone health, whilst calcium and phosphorous themselves are instrumental in proper skeletal development. A diet with a correct micronutrient balance is vital for a healthy kitten. Cleverly, the team at Feline Natural have created a product that is appropriate for your cat’s entire life albeit with some slight differences in recommended feeding quantities.
Now even the most optimised diet can fall short if the intended target turns up their notoriously fussy nose. I have many a client that gives me an itemised buffet menu when I ask what they are feeding their kitten, only to confess that most of it ends up in the garbage. Perhaps because they mimic what cats are intended to eat, Feline Natural Feasts are highly palatable and come in a range of flavours across their Freeze-Dried, Can, and Pouch formats to suit everyone.
As a new kitten owner, having a pet food that you know is optimising their health and more importantly that they love…. It doesn’t get much better! Now you can just sit back, relax, and enjoy all those purring snuggles.
Written by Veterinarian, Dr. Josie Gollan.