How much should an eight-week-old kitten eat?

Question

Before we got him on Saturday he was eating a quality dry food (Royal Canin's Babycat 34) which is supposed to be really good for him, and a little Whiskas wet food now and then. I got him the same foods.

On the Whiskas pouches it says an 8 week old should eat 2 pouches a day plus 30g dry food. On the dry food it says they should eat 40-50g dry food a day, which seems like a lot less altogether.

My kitty is eating 1 pouch, slowly, throughout the day. When he finishes it mid-afternoon I give him 30g dry food but he never eats much of it (though he keeps returning to his wet food bowl).

He ought to like the dry stuff since he's been on it from weaning, but he just seems to want more meat. But I still want him to eat the dry stuff because it's so good for him.

Sorry that's long. What should I do?

Answer 1

Allow him to eat as much as he likes throughout the day. Constantly offer him clean water.

Answer 2

3 meals a day, with plenty of clean cool water

Answer 3

As much as they want. If they're are losing weight, you need to offer them more food or take them to the vet.

Answer 4

A kitten is not totally independent until about 6 months old. In the wild it would remain with its mother until then, if not longer. A kitten can be fully weaned at about 8 weeks old. It should not leave its mother until then. Pedigree kittens suckle for two weeks longer than non-pedigrees and are not fully weaned until 12 weeks old.

Answer 5

i gave my kitten 3 meals a day which was 1/2 a pouch of MyCat Kitten food with MyCat Kitten biscuits mixed together

Answer 6

My vet recently told me to mix a little dry and a little wet together. This way she would eat the dry more easily. It works pretty good except if it is not eaten fairly soon it dries out.