I have a 3 month old kitten almost 4 months. How old does she has to be before she can eat canned food?

Question

I have a 3 month old kitten almost 4 months. How old does she has to be before she can eat canned food?

Answer 1

She could/should have been started on kitten food at 3weeks of age.

Cats were never meant to eat dry food, also known as cereals or kibble. We, humans, make them eat it for convenience to us. It has nothing to do with them or their nutritional needs. It's completely species inappropriate.

All small domestic cats descended from desert cats. In the wild, desert cats derive their entire liquid intake from their prey. They do not have a thirst mechanism because they don't need it when eating a species appropriate diet. They get all they need from what they eat. Additionally water was usually not available to them in their desert climate. So they do not often drink water. Regular ol' house cats have descended from those same wild desert cats.

So in a home environment, your kitty does not get the moisture it needs from dry food and it’s almost always in a constant state of dehydration. Water fountains are encouraged to TRY to get your cat to drink more and your kitty may even enjoy it, but it will never meet its water intake needs drinking from a bowl.

Deadly feline illnesses such as diabetes, kidney failure, obesity, allergies, Irritable Bowel Disease (IBD), bladder stones, kidney stones,  urinary tract blockages and Urinary Tract Infections (FLUTD), with and without deadly crystals run rampant these days. Cats are not taking in enough water to stave them off. Proper water intake through a species appropriate diet alone can prevent most of these conditions.

Overall,  wet is all around better for any cats diet, be it canned or Raw and they should never be fed dry cereal kibble if we wish to most closely match their wild nutritional and dietary needs. Kibble meets our needs… not our cats.

I recommend varying the diet with a constant rotation of accepted canned foods that your cat enjoys. If you do this, and allow your cat the same assortment they would have in nature when eating mice, bugs, birds and rabbits, your cats’ digestive system won't be so sensitive and you won't have to run around looking for a specific brand when your store is out. You will have a nice variety to choose from instead.

Canned foods I recommend for your rotation:

Nature's Variety - http://www.naturesvariety.com/content.la...

Wellness Grain Free Formula’s - http://www.wellnesspetfood.com/cat_welln...

By Nature Organics - http://www.bynaturepetfoods.com/productp...

Organix -  http://www.castorpolluxpet.com/store/org...

Evanger's Holistic Pheasant - http://www.evangersdogfood.com/cat/20089...

Evanger's Organic Braised Chicken - http://www.evangersdogfood.com/cat/50103...

Evanger's Turkey & Butternut Squash - http://www.evangersdogfood.com/cat/50111...

Answer 2

You could feed it to her now, but it would be far better for you to feed her dry food--I recommend either Purina Kitten Chow or Purina One for Kittens--and save the canned food for treats.  The dry food is easier, less likely to spoil so you can feed on demand, and helps to keep her teeth cleaner.

On that note, you might check with your vet on the ways and means of brushing her teeth, to which you want to accustom her early; it'll make the necessity of planing her teeth much less a frequent occasion.

Answer 3

She is able to eat it now...just mush up it really well.

Answer 4

She can eat it now.  You may have to mix it with a bit of whatever you are feeding her now do 50-50 for a few days and gradually reduce it until she eats just the wet food.  Be sure to offer her a variety of flavors and brands so she doesn't become too used to any one.  That way she will have an easier time transitioning if it is ever necessary.

Answer 5

she can eat it now just give her half

Answer 6

as soon as a kitten is weaned from its mother's milk, it can eat canned food. Canned food will actually be easier for your kitten to eat than dry.

the only problems you may have is if its mother trained it to eat dry food, it will be confused by the wet food at first. But it should get the idea. most cats prefer it because it smells delicious. :)