Kittens are like babies, needing our care and attention in every way. Kittens that have just left their mothers have weak immune systems, so their diet is very important. Before raising a kitten, you must know which foods are suitable for kittens and which are not, so as to ensure the kitten's healthy growth.
From 3-4 weeks of age, kittens begin to show interest in their mother's food. You can give them finely chopped soft food or dry food soaked in milk or water. The food can be the mother cat's or specially prepared for the kittens. Once the kittens start eating solid food, the weaning process begins. Kittens gradually eat more and more solid food, and are fully weaned by 7-8 weeks of age. 
Recently, the WCPN (Munday and Earle, 1991) began investigating the energy intake of kittens from solid food before complete weaning. At 4 weeks of age, kittens consume only about 10g of food per day (10-40 kJ/kg body weight), with the majority still supplied by their mother's milk. By 5 weeks of age (the 6th week of lactation), each kitten consumes 15-45g of food per day, equivalent to 250-350 kJ/kg body weight (depending on the energy density of the diet). The energy intake of kittens from solid food increases from zero at 2-3 weeks of lactation to over 800 kJ/kg body weight at 8 weeks of age. This indicates that food intake by kittens constitutes a significant proportion of the total energy expenditure of both the mother and kittens at the end of lactation. The proportion of energy intake by kittens in the total intake of both mother and kittens increases from 5% at 4 weeks of lactation to 20% and 30% at 6 and 7 weeks, respectively.
Once kittens are weaned, they no longer need milk. As kittens' digestive tracts develop, their ability to digest lactose gradually weakens, and adult cats cannot digest lactose at all. If you want to provide milk to kittens, you should offer specially formulated lactose-free milk and provide fresh drinking water at all times.
Because kittens' physiological functions are not yet fully developed, it is recommended to provide them with high-energy food and feed them frequently. Unlike puppies, kittens do not like to be overfed and should eat freely. Kittens weigh 600-1000 grams at weaning, with male kittens significantly heavier than females; this trend will continue throughout their lives. Their peak energy requirement (840 kJ/kg body weight) is around 10 weeks of age, gradually decreasing thereafter. However, during the first 6 months, due to rapid growth, their energy requirements remain relatively high.
Kitten food should not only be high in energy, but certain nutrients should also be increased. For example, the protein content in a kitten's diet should be higher than that of an adult cat (about 10%). Calcium and phosphorus levels must be strictly maintained at appropriate levels, as both excessive and insufficient levels can lead to abnormal bone development. It is also important to emphasize that adding calcium supplements to a balanced diet can cause just as many problems as feeding an unbalanced diet. The role of taurine in reproduction and growth has been proven, and this aminotaurine should be added to the diet of growing kittens.
By 6 months of age, most kittens have reached 75% of their maximum weight; further weight gain is not due to bone development. Therefore, kittens over 6 months old are suitable to be fed adult cat food. Adult male cats are significantly heavier than female cats and have a longer development period. Because both male and female cats are still growing slowly between 6 and 12 months of age, free access to food will continue for some time, with development reaching a stable state by one year old. Although many people practice multiple feedings throughout the day, the frequency of feedings can be reduced after 6 months of age.
Many people supplement their kittens with various nutrients when they are young. It is important to note that some nutrients are good to supplement, while others can have adverse effects. For example, it is okay to give kittens nutritional pastes, but it must be given in moderation.
