Kittens are cute, cuddly, and oh-so-sweet. But if you’re a kitten owner, you know all too well how tough caring for one can be!
One major part of proper kitten care is ensuring they’re well-fed and have all their vitamins and nutrients so that they can grow big and strong. When you put it like that, they almost sound like a cute baby brother!
The difference is that unlike kids, you can’t just tell kittens to eat their greens. That’s where supplements come in.
Kitten supplements can help balance a healthy diet and help take proactive measures in their health so they develop properly.
The question is, what supplements should you be giving your fur babies? This guide will check out the types, benefits, and other need-to-know tidbits about your kitten’s supplements.
Before we jump right into which supplements to buy, let’s discuss what to look for. After all, it’s tough to go shopping if you’re not even clear about what you’re shopping for!
In general, there are five key pieces of information to keep your eyes peeled for when shopping for kitten supplements:
Let’s take a closer look at each of these factors and how to use them to pick the right supplements.
Most of us don’t think twice before consulting Dr. Google about our pet’s (or our own!) health. However, when it comes to choosing kitten supplements, it’s best to leave things in the hands of a professional.
Before purchasing supplements for your cats, always consult with your veterinarian. Your pets’ veterinarians know what’s best for your particular kitten, so they also know which brand or ingredients to look for in kitten supplements.
This reduces the risks of your furbabies developing unpleasant side effects. What’s more, it means that the vet can help you find supplements that don’t interfere with your kitty’s eating schedule.
Another thing to keep your eyes peeled for when hunting down kitten supplements is the supplement’s ingredients list.
When looking for kitten supplements, you don’t want options loaded with chemicals and artificial substances. Artificial ingredients can also provide side effects harmful to your kittens, and can prevent them from getting the nutrients they need.
Before purchasing any supplement, do a quick read-through of the ingredients. This should quickly tell you whether you’re getting supplements that avoid harmful additives and chemicals or have unnecessary fillers.
We know it’s a cliche, but you’ve got to look for a quality and trustworthy brand. This is because it’s pretty easy for brands to toot their own horn and give out misleading information. As a result, you could buy something that doesn’t do what it says it will.
To find good kitten supplements, do a bit of research on the company. Look at how they source their ingredients, what processes they use to produce the supplements, and past client testimonials.
This should give you a good idea of the company’s quality, ethics, and trustworthiness.
If you take daily vitamins yourself, then you already know these things come in multiple forms. You can find chewable or swallowable pills, liquids, and even gummies for kids.
Kitten supplements aren’t any different! You can generally find supplements in four different forms:
The type of supplement you choose will depend on how easy it is to administer to your kitten as well as your cat’s preferences. Plus, it can depend on what works best to deliver a particular nutrient.
As you look for kitten supplements, think about what will be easiest to give to your cat. This can help guide you on what type of supplements to purchase.
Although there are many reasons to look for kitten supplements, probably the most common reason is to help them gain weight. As kittens grow, they don’t always put on enough weight to continue developing healthily.
Sometimes this is because kittens aren’t hungry. Other times, it’s because of a medical issue. Either way, talking to your vet can help you identify what’s causing your kitten’s weight loss and how to fix it.
In most cases, a kitten supplement to gain weight can help put your cat back on track for meeting his milestones and developing properly. Moreover, giving your cat a kitten weight gain supplement can provide some other big benefits.
Let’s go over several key reasons to consider administering a kitten supplement to gain weight and help your kitty thrive.
For one thing, kitten supplements can provide your growing fur baby with a nutritional boost. Weight-gain supplements for kittens typically have concentrated calories. These calories will provide a nutritional boost for your pet!
Now, if you’re concerned about your cat putting on too many calories, don’t panic. The calories are concentrated largely because they contain additional nutrients such as fish oils. Despite being concentrated, these actually complement your kitten’s diet!
Better yet, these supplements contain key vitamins and minerals that your cat needs to keep growing. That way, you can curb weight loss and keep your kitten growing properly.
A few nutrients that your kitten needs to grow healthily can be seen below.
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Ingredient |
Benefits |
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Protein |
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Fat |
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Calcium |
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Cats are notoriously picky eaters, and if that’s the case with your kitten, you might have some trouble getting them to eat what you have on the menu. When your kittens don’t eat, they don’t reach their target weight.
Worse yet, you might notice some harmful side effects of picky eating:
These symptoms aren’t the same for all cats, but they are a few warning signs that show your cat’s picky eating is causing nutritional deficiencies.
The good news is that weight-gain supplements can help combat your cat’s picky eating. Since they’re packed with concentrated nutrients, your cat can get all the vitamins and minerals they need to grow healthily, even if they don’t always feel like eating their dinner.
Although most of us don’t realize it, our cat’s diets play a big role in how they feel. When your kitten gets the nutrients he needs, he becomes a happy kitten.
When he’s properly fed and nourished, he’s got the energy to romp around and explore his world. Plus, he’s not anxious, making him a healthy and happy kitten.
Just introducing supplements that ensure your kitty gets the nutrients he needs is a great way to ensure he’s a happy cat.
Now that we’ve got the benefits out of the way, it’s time to get down to business.
As mentioned earlier, low weight and weight loss in kittens is pretty common. By giving your cat kitten supplements to gain weight, you can help your furry friend get the nutrients he needs to grow big and strong.
Here are a few top kitten supplements to help your cat gain weight as he grows.
PetAg KMR Powder Milk Supplement contains casein, a protein also found in cat’s breast milk. The supplement also contains:
This milk supplement powder has to be mixed with water before use. It works particularly well for young cats who are still nursing to make sure they get all the ingredients they need!
* Priced at $14.99 CAD as of October 2022
Doc Roy’s Forti Cal Gel is a great pick for kitties who turn up their noses at their dinner.
As its name suggests, this product comes in gel form. The gel contains key ingredients for helping your kitten grow, including:
You can feed the gel formulation using your finger or a spoon, or you can mix it into your cat’s food.
* Priced at $20.99 CAD as of October 2022
Vetoquinol NutriCal is (supposedly) delicious, calorie-dense, and highly nutritious. Because this option tastes delish, you can feed it from the tube, mixed in your kitten’s meals, or as a treat.
Vetoquinol NutriCal contains three key ingredients that fuel your kitten and keep him growing properly:
* Priced at $17.23 CAD as of October 2022
Lexelium Weight Gainer is an all-natural powder that’s safe to include into your kitten’s diet daily. Beef muscle hydrolysate is the main ingredient, together with yeast extract and other nutrients.
Lexelium Weight Gainer has no artificial ingredients or flavorings. And it can work well for cats post-surgery and those recovering from illness. If you’re using this for appetite stimulation, vets recommend using it for 45 days with a two-week break in between the next use.
* Priced at $44.14 CAD as of October 2022
Tomlyn Nutri-Cal Gel Supplement is malt-flavored, has high protein, and is packed with fatty acids. The three key fatty acids in this blend are:
This is a gel supplement that raises your kitty’s blood sugar in a short amount of time to stimulate your kitten’s appetite. The idea is that this helps your kitty eat more, stocking up on much-needed calories.
* Priced at $16.99 as of October 2022
Administering vitamin supplements to your kittens is also a great way to ensure they have all the vitamins their bodies need. This also helps them grow healthier with enough protection from viruses and infections.
As mentioned earlier, kitten vitamin supplements often come in powders, liquids, tablets, and gels. However, you’ve also got to know about what types of vitamins to give your kitties.
In general, kittens need a wide range of vitamins and minerals. But, a few of the more common ingredients you’ll find in vitamin-based supplements include:
Each of these vitamins serves different important functions in your kitten’s development. As a result, it’s important to get a variety of these vitamins when hunting down supplements to help your kitten stay healthy.
Not all kitties need to gain weight. Some kittens just need nutrient boosts or take proactive measure to help them stay on track.
If you’re not looking for weight gain supplements, natural and chemical-free supplements can be a great addition for keeping your kitty healthy.
TRI-ACTA for Pets is a supplement that’s designed to help kittens and cats in general proactively have healthy joints and bones. With little kittens who love romping around, this is especially important!
The three key active ingredients are:
Those ingredients work together to support healthy bones, good ligament movement, and collagen production that keep your kitty healthy! An extra bonus is that this product doesn’t use any fillers so the servings are small and easy to administer. A kitten would only require about 1/4 of gram per day.
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*Priced at $23.99 CAD as of October 2022
If you’ve got a kitten that struggles with UTIs, you might want to look into Vet’s Preferred Cat Urinary Tract Chews.
These all-natural chewable tablets contain ingredients that help improve the health of your kitten’s kidneys and urinary tract. A few of these include:
* Priced at $27.55 CAD as of October 2022
Purina Pro Plan FortiFlora is a probiotic kitten supplement made out of hydrolyzed animal tissue. This is actually one of the main ingredients in the popular kitty treats, Temptation Treats.
As a result, this is a super flavor supplement that entices kittens to keep eating! What’s cool about this pet supplement is that it works well for kittens struggling with IBS or gut problems.
*Priced at $42.99 CAD as of October 2022
American Journey Wild Alaskan Oil is a natural supplement that comes in a handy squeeze tube. This supplement is mainly fish oil sourced from freshly caught Alaskan salmon. It contains all the ingredients found in most omega-3 fatty acid supplements.
What’s really convenient about this stuff, however, is its taste. Salmon is well-known for being popular among cats, making this a palatable pick for young kittens.
*Priced at $19.30 CAD as of October 2022
Tomlyn Felovite II Supplement is a multivitamin gel form formulated by veterinarians. It’s packed with amino acids, vitamins, and minerals. A few of those nutrients include:
This supplement is also high in sugar because its main ingredients are malt and corn syrup. As a result, it’s a good natural pick for kitties that can’t put on weight.
* Priced at $13.08 CAD as of October 2022
Your kittens deserve all the love and care you give them. And aside from giving them proper cat food, they also need the best vitamins, supplements, and minerals for their overall well-being. When your kittens are in optimal health, they have a better overall lifestyle.
We hope this guide has helped you discover the best supplements for your fur babies. At the end of the day, it’s still best that you consult with your pet’s veterinarians because they know your kitten’s medical history, personality, and food preferences.
Want to give your kitty a boost through healthy supplements? Try a joint supplement such as Integricare’s TRI-ACTA for your kitten, TRI-ACTA H.A for your senior cats, or go for one of the many other beneficial cat supplements out there to keep your kitty thriving as he grows.
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