What To Feed Kittens 4 Weeks Old & Feeding Advice

4-week-old Persian kittens are stronger than when they were born but still quite immature; their teeth and digestive systems are incomplete. The requirement is to have a diet that provides adequate nutrition and is suitable for their physical condition.

What to feed kittens 4 weeks old? Learn in the next sections!

What To Feed Kittens 4 Weeks Old?

Milk is still the main source of nutrition for 4-week-old Persian cats. But now they have started teething and can practice weaning with thin porridge and pureed foods to supplement the necessary nutrients.

In addition to breast milk, you can use additional formulas specifically for Persian kittens from 1 month old to help them absorb maximum nutrition and grow faster.

These little furballs have started teething and can chew food, so you can start giving them solid food. However, their teeth are still quite weak, and they cannot chew foods that are too hard, such as seeds or meat, like adult cats.

Kittens’ resistance is still very immature, so it is necessary to choose foods suitable for their digestive system. You can alternate between weaning meals, but they must be cooked very soft and thin.

Weaning meals for Persian kittens are usually thin porridge with pureed fish, meat, and shrimp. Don’t forget to add calcium-rich foods such as broccoli, zucchini, and nutritional gel to the porridge to supplement vitamins, iron, and minerals so they can develop teeth, bones, and muscles. You can check Wet Foods for Kittens to find some suggestions.

How Often To Feed A Kitten 4 Weeks Old?

Your cat’s nutritional needs will change at a certain age, so determining feeding frequency is important. Kittens have small stomachs and high energy needs, so you should feed them frequently during the day.

Persians, like other kittens, love to have their meals divided into small portions throughout the day. 1-month-old cats need 4-5 meals daily, each about 4-5 hours apart.

Because milk is still the main source of nutrition, feed your Persian cat milk powder specified for kittens from 1 month old, such as goat milk, Premalac, and Nutrilac, 2-3 times a day. Alternate with weaning meals to prepare for weaning when they are older.

Whether your furry friend is full or hungry does not depend on how much or how little it eats but on how many calories are in the food. If it meets their daily calorie requirement, there is no need to force them to consume more.

Thus, pet parents should follow the feeding instructions on the packaging to determine the number of calories in the food. Build a reasonable diet because insufficient nutrients and calories can inhibit growth and cause health problems.

Instructions For Bottle-Feeding Kittens

If the mother cat dies or does not have enough milk to breastfeed, you should bottle-feed the Persian kittens. Tools to prepare include milk bottles and nipples, droppers, soft wipes, and kitten milk.

Note: human milk bottles are too big for kittens 

Just like newborn babies, you must feed your kitten with a sterilized bottle and warm the milk beforehand. Follow suit with the instructions:

• Sterilize bottles and nipples in boiling water for about five minutes.
• Take them out and leave them on a clean towel to drain.
• Place a large towel, washcloth, and a bowl of warm water on the table.
• Fill a bottle with kitten milk according to the instructions on the package (it should be just the right amount).
• Warm the milk by placing the bottle in the bowl of hot water.
• Put a few drops of milk on the back of your hand to test; the milk temperature should equal body temperature.
• Insert the nipple and turn the bottle upside down. 
• Keep it like that for pets to drink to ensure the milk always flows evenly into their mouths.

When Can Kittens Start Eating Cat Foods?

Persian kittens’ nutritional needs will change as their bodies develop. Providing the right nutrition for each growth stage helps kittens mature into large, healthy cats.

During the first 12 months of life, they are still kittens and need complete and balanced food. Once they reach adulthood, owners must slowly transition to a different formulated adult cat food.

Currently, cats no longer need as many nutrients in food as kittens. One thing to note is that when switching their diet, you need to change it gradually over about 4 days so that they can adapt and avoid intestinal disorders.

Feed the amount of kitten food and cat food according to the following ratio:

• First day: 3:1
• Day two: 1:1
• Day three: 1:3
• Day four: 100% cat foods

Notes When Feeding

Raising a 1-month-old Persian kitten is not easy. Because their digestive system is incomplete and sensitive, improper methods can greatly affect the baby’s digestive system and intestines. Please be careful with the following notes:

Feeding Posture

A correct feeding posture is very important so that the kitten does not choke or vomit milk/food out and the food does not run into the nose.

First, sit in a chair in a comfortable position, then fold a towel and place it on your lap. Place the kitten’s face on your lap and wrap a towel around it to keep its body warm while it eats.

You should avoid letting your Persian kitten drink a bottle with its head up because it is easy to choke. Just put them in a slightly elevated position and slowly place the nipple in the baby’s mouth.

According to inherent instinct, your “kids” will automatically suck on the nipple to bring milk into their mouth. 

Do not squeeze the bottle since putting too much milk in its mouth can cause the liquid to spill over its face, nose, and into the lungs, leading to choking and even death.

Continue feeding slowly until the milk runs out or you see your little furball pushing the bottle away.

If the kitten is having trouble getting milk, check the nipples. Try gently patting its back or stroking the head to initiate feeding reflexes.

Food Amount

Many think feeding them a lot will give them enough nutrients to grow, and fat cats look cuter. According to Animal Medicine professor Joe Bartges, this is a big mistake.

Obesity in pets can lead to many other problems, such as arthritis, diabetes, urinary tract disease, or metabolic syndrome, like in humans.

Most domestic cats are very inactive, especially kittens, so feeding them more than they need in a day is unnecessary.

So how much food per day is enough? Kittens need 25 – 35 calories per pound of body weight daily to maintain a normal weight.

For example, a 4- or 5-week-old cat weighing 1-1.8 pounds only needs a mixture of milk and wet food of about 18 – 22 ml daily to grow healthily.

Each type of food will have a different calorie content, so to be more accurate, you should carefully read the ingredient list on the packaging or consult a veterinarian to build the most scientific and reasonable diet. 

Do Not Use Human Milk

According to the Animal Care and Adoption Center, owners should not give their cats human milk because cats often cannot tolerate Lactose.

To process and absorb Lactose, all necessary enzymes are needed. These enzymes are available in the human stomach (except in a few special cases), but our loved four-legged friends can’t generate them. 

If you still let them drink, even accidentally, it will entail many dangerous consequences.

The severity is different. Some will exhibit symptoms immediately, and only a few cases will not be affected. Most will be subjected to digestive imbalance and other complications.

The first mild symptom is that your cat will experience bloating and sounds in their stomach. When struggling with flatulence, baby felines often stop eating until the condition disappears.

More severe symptoms include diarrhea and vomiting. When you notice these signs, stop feeding milk and rehydrate them by giving them Pedialyte (a form of dextrose).

If the condition persists or worsens, you must immediately contact a veterinarian for timely treatment.

What Foods Should Kittens Not Eat?

As mentioned above, 4-week-old Persian cats’ digestive systems and stomachs are incomplete, so choosing the right food is crucial. Cat owners should NOT select the following types:

• Food prepared for dogs: Each product is calculated with different nutritional content to suit the physical condition of each type of animal.
• Human milk, including infant milk: The Lactose content will wreak havoc on your kitten’s health.
• A limited ingredient diet: Your furry friend enjoys a diverse menu to avoid boredom and lack of nutrients.
• Raw fish: Thiaminase will destroy vitamin B1.
• Tea, chocolate, coffee, and caffeine: They affect the nervous and cardiovascular system, triggering diarrhea, vomiting, etc.
• Macadamia nuts: They contain ingredients that cause weakness, muscle tremors, and even death.
• Garlic and onions: They are packed with thiosulfate, leading to anemia and destroying red blood cells.
• Some fruits: Grapes and raisins can affect the kidneys, and the amount of persin in avocados causes shortness of breath and respiratory failure.

Even though they are carnivores, kittens should not be fed too much fresh meat or raw eggs because they often contain numerous bacteria, posing many dangerous risks.

The newborn period is the most important for kittens. Owners need to clearly understand what to feed kittens 4 weeks old to build a reasonable, nutritious diet. Milk meals mixed with wet food are a great starting point before these Persian babies enter the weaning stage.