How much is too much?

Question
I have a ten week old kitten who wants to eat all the time! If I walk into the kitchen she is at my feet crying, begging for food. My concern is that she eats so much that her belly is always swollen, like a little pot belly. I give her wet food most of the time, she eats 3oz a day, and then dry in between, about a 1/4 cup.  Is that to much? There is so much conflicting information out there about when to feed and how much to give, I just want to make sure that I keep her healthy and happy!

Answer
Sarah,

You can talk to 5 'experts' and get 5 different opinions!

I would give her kitten chow for the first year. It has the vitamins, protein, and stuff that kittens need in the first year while they are growing. I have always fed "free-choice", which is leaving a bowl of dry food available all the time. Cats have a tendency to nibble when it's always there rather than gulp it down even when they might not be that hungry just because it's feeding time. And none of my cats have ever been overweight. With kittens, you can see their tummys pooch out every time they eat. They will grow out of it. Wet food is fine too beside the dry. A kitten can only eat so much and they will stop.

You may also want to have the vet check for worms. That causes "pooching" tummies and hunger all the time because the worms eat what the cat eats and, although they are eating a lot they are not getting the nourishment.

She may not be begging only for food by her actions. She is getting your attention when she does that so she will keep doing it. She's probably bored and lonely. She may need a kitten friend to keep her company, to play with, and to snuggle with. She is still very young and probably misses her littermates. Cats, especially kittens, should not depend too much on humans for companionship. Having two kittens is easier than having one because it takes some of the pressure off you to keep the kitten amused.

I hope this helped.