A kitten should have additional deposits of fat so as to be able to keep warm. However if you have an overly fat kitten you should consider dieting.
Is My Kitten Fat?
By the age of 8 weeks your kitten should weigh 2 to 3 pounds. By the time he is 4 months old, his weight should be around 6 pounds. However, these are only guidelines, and the kitten's weight depends on the breed. You can evaluate your kitten's condition: if you can feel his ribs, your pet is not fat.
If your cat is overweight, avoid any diet pills. Instead, try a sensible diet.
Kitten Wet Food
Feeding your kitten wet food can help him lose weight. Wet food contains a lot of water and fills your kitten's stomach. This means fewer calories. The wet food is also poor in carbohydrates opposed to the dry food. Carbs make your cat fat.
Frequent Meals
Feed your kitten 5 times a day: 4 times - wet food, one time - dry food. The dry food serving may contain whole grains, dry fruit or vegetables. These help to speed up your kitten's metabolism, and are also a great source of vitamins and minerals.
Frequent meals will keep your kitten full.
Fewer Treats
Too many treats may have caused your kitten's obesity. Try to reduce the frequency of treats and replace these with affection.
Out of Sight, Out of Mind
After serving the food for your kitten, don't leave the food tray with the leftovers out. This will prevent your cat from snacking whenever he sees the food bowl.
Necessary Nutrients
Even if your kitten is on a diet, you must keep in mind that he needs some essential nutrients to develop harmoniously. Cats need a lot of protein and fat; meat is one ingredient that shouldn't be missing from your kitten's diet.
The kitten food you choose must have at least 30% protein and 18% fat contents.
Choose kitten food that is lower in carbohydrates, because cats don't need these. Dry food is rich in carbs due to the manufacturing process, so opt for wet food.
Antioxidants such as selenium of vitamin E are beneficial for your kitten.
Fatty acids are needed in a slimming diet to keep the kitten's skin hydrated and his coat healthy. Choose the omega 6 and omega 3 fatty acids.
Light Food
You also have the option to choose the light version of pet food, which has fewer calories. However, make sure it contains all the vitamins and minerals your pet needs.
If your kitten is obese, dieting is recommended. An obese cat can develop multiple diseases such as heart conditions, bladder diseases or diabetes.
Remember that playing and exercising are great means to keep your kitten fit.