Cat & Kitten Feeding Guide

Cats must eat meat or fish in their daily diet. Vegetarianism is generally not considered an option for cats.

Life stages of cats

Understanding the key life stages your cat goes through is key to helping them be happy and healthy. As your cat grows and matures you are likely to see changes in their behaviour and habits. It’s also important to consider the different nutritional needs cats have when they go through these key stages.
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Feeding through the stages

Feeding a healthy kitten starts even before they are born! Start to feed the pregnant mother on kitten food about 4 weeks before they are due to give birth. We recommend Burgess Complete Kitten. This will help the litter to be born at a healthy weight. It also helps to reduce the risk of health conditions. When the litter has been born, continue to feed the mother the same kitten food while she is providing milk. This helps to make sure the kittens are being provided with the extra nutrients they need.

From the age of four weeks, you can gradually introduce and encourage your kitten onto solid cat food, supplementing their mother’s milk. Try very small amounts at first, softening any hard cat food with water and mashing it up.

Gradually increase the amount they eat as they grow. Follow the on-pack guidelines to ensure you are feeding the correct amount for the weight of your kitten. A kitten food should typically be fed up to the age of 12 months. There should always be plenty of fresh clean water available to drink.

A complete kitten food should have:

 Smaller kibble for kitten-sized mouths and to make eating and digestion easier.
 A high level of digestible proteins (around 32%) to assist growth and muscle development.
 Extra calcium for strong bones and teeth.

Quick tip

Vaccinations can prevent illness in your pet so regular visits to the vet are crucial.
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Neutered Cat

from £9.98£37.99
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What is neutering?

Neutering is another term for sterilising or spaying. Cats reach reproductive age as early as 4 months which is why neutering is so important. Neutering helps to prevent your cat getting some serious illness, and stops any unwanted litters. Neutered cats are generally expected to live longer too!

Transitioning to Burgess cat food

Transition your cat’s diet over a period of 7-10 days by gradually reducing the old food and replacing with Burgess.
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Foods to avoid

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Macadamia Nuts
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Chocolate, Coffee & Tea
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Onions & Garlic
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Grapes & Raisins
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Milk & Other Dairy Products
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Raw Fish
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Mushrooms
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Raw Eggs

Other foods to avoid include

Alcoholic beverages
Bones from fish, poultry or other meat sources
Chocolate, coffee, tea or other caffeine
Fat trimmings
Grapes and raisins
Large amounts of liver
Macadamia nuts
Milk and other dairy products
Mouldy or spoiled food
Mushrooms
Onions and garlic (raw, cooked and powder)
Pits from peaches and plums
Potato, rhubarb and tomato leaves
Potato and tomato steams
Raw eggs
Raw fish
Salt
Sugary foods
Table scraps (in large amounts)
Antifreeze
Amaryllis
Azalea
Cactus
Caladium
Creeping Charlie
Easter Lily
Dieffenbachia
Ivy
Mistletoe

Do you need more advice?

To help you find the right food for your pet have a look at our product range.

You can get in touch with our customer care team who will respond in 3-5 working days. Our dedicated team of pet experts will help you make the right choice.

If you should have any concerns about the health of your pet, always consult a vet.