Should I change the way I feed my kitten?

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.

Should I give in and give him more meat? Surely he would eat the dry food if he was hungry? But he just doesn't seem to be eating that much...

What should I do?

Answer 1

You should be feeding him 3 times a day for the next few months. I'd feed him about 1/2-3/4 cup of food divided into 3 meals per day, and 1/2 pouch (or small can) wet food in the am and 1/2 in the pm. Do not allow him to "free feed" or graze on the food all day, offer more or less food depending on if he's gaining too much or not enough weight. The feeding instructions on the packaging seems to always say to feed more than necessary. Good luck!

Answer 2

just give him the pouch everyday, and keep the Royal Canin down for him at all times, HE WILL eat it, he is just playing you right now, to see if you will give in and give him more canned food, mine do the exact same thing from time to time, I give canned in the morning and dry all day, just keep him on this schedule, he will adjust, he is just being stubborn, that's normal for a cat, that's why the old saying is the cats own us, we don't own them