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-   -   8 week old kittens - how often do I feed them? (http://www.pets.ca/forum/showthread.php?t=38105)

heather17021977 March 22nd, 2007 11:22 AM

8 week old kittens - how often do I feed them?
 
Hi everyone,

We're getting 2 8-week old kittens in a week or so and I wanted to know how often we should feed them. 3-4 times a day? Has anyone used those automatic timer feeders?

CyberKitten March 22nd, 2007 10:54 PM

Are you fostering them? Surely, the Rescue group will give you instructions - kittens that age need to be with their mom. I prefer that they leave at 12 wks -as do most purebred and most reputable breeders but so me rescues, inundated with kittens - will forgo 2 weeks which usually does not do too much harm - better to have a loving home than worry about those 2 wks I have come to believe.

This site will help:

[url]http://www.kittenrescue.org/handbook.htm[/url]

rainbow March 22nd, 2007 11:09 PM

I've always fed them 3 times a day with wet (canned) food and left out dry 24/7. I have never used the automatic feeders. :)

clm March 23rd, 2007 01:10 AM

I got 2 of mine as kittens from a rescue group at 6 weeks of age....way too young, but their mom wound't have anything to do with them anymore. Anyway, I left lots of dry food and water out for them all day and fed them small amounts of canned 3 or 4 times a day. They have always prefered the dry food, but I still give them a can of wet food every morning and evening....lots of fresh water, always.

Cindy

glitterless March 23rd, 2007 01:18 AM

..
 
If they're nursing up until the day that you get them, I would start them on wet food because it'll encourage them to eat. If they've already been started on solids, you could probably buy a good dry kitten food and get them going right on that.

I also don't like automatic feeders. It's nice to use a dish and know exactly what your pets are eating. That way if they go off of their food, you'll know immediately.

heather17021977 March 24th, 2007 02:09 PM

I am not fostering as I am getting them from a fosterer through the SPCA.

I didn't mean the gravity auto feeders, I meant the one you measure how much each meal is and set a timer for the compartment to open.

I just went and bought felidae cat and kitten formula and the lady there (who has 13 cats and 5 dogs) said I can just fill up the bowl and they will eat when they want. I only really have to measure out food when they are older and need to watch how many calories they are using. I'm sure there are many views on this topic however.

There will be two kittens so I'm sure they will use up alot of their energy on each other! I hope! :)

I did buy the Petmate water fountain...hopefully it was a worthwhile purchase.

rainbow March 24th, 2007 02:40 PM

Felidae is a good choice. :thumbs up I would also supplement with canned food (make sure you check the recall list) as cats usually don't drink enough water on their own which can lead to crystals in the urine.

Good luck and don't forget to post picks of your new kitties when you get them. :D


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