FEEDING: By the time your new baby has reached his new home, he or she has probably already moved up to "adult formula" food. Young kittens when they begin to eat solid foods, usually around five weeks of age are offered dry "kitten formula". We try to encourage kittens to begin to eat as soon as they are able. Kitten food generally is of a smaller kibble and easier for them to master the task at hand. Once they are eating well on their own, they are offered the option of kitten or adult formula. Premium dry foods of any formula have adequate nutrition and quality of ingredients to more than meet the needs of growing youngsters.

Kotickee Cattery uses Iams Cat Food. Adults are feed 4 oz. of dry Adult Original formula daily. Kittens are allowed access to food at all times. Fresh water is always available. We feed no wet or canned foods. Canned foods are seventy-five percent water. It is an expensive method of obtaining adequate nutrition. If on the rare occasion a palatable soft food is in order, the dry kibble can be soaked in water. Hard kibble is also an aid in keeping teeth and gums in good condition.

Each morning we feed the amount that each cat will eat that day. We do not recommend bulk feeding. Feeding daily will allow you and your special kitty to have a few treasured moments together. They quickly fall into a routine of regular feeding and will anxiously await the ritual. Feeding time can a wonderful opportunity for interchange. Likewise, daily feeding will allow you the chance to monitor their food intake. If they should go off their regular consumption, you will be aware of it.

Many folks wish to give treats. Treats in whatever form, should be just that. They should be of small quantities and also not be given on a regular basis. Cats can quickly learn that a "treat" will be coming and hold-out for this rather than eating his normal kibble. Small amounts of canned foods, bits of chicken, beef, fish can all be acceptable treats. My Devon enjoy a lick of my finished ice cream bowl some evenings. Once kittens are weaned, they no longer have the ability to digest milk. Any large amounts of milk will cause diarrhea.

Proper nutrition is one of the most important aspects of your Devon's good health and long life. We feel that a premium commercial cat food is a requirement. Foods purchased in supermarkets do not meet these requirements. We recommend and feed Iams Cat Food. Hills Science Diet Formulas, Nutro Products, and Nature Recipes Formulas are all foods of excellent quality. These can be purchased at pet stores, pet supermarkets and from some veterinarians.

Premium food will not only keep your Devon in optimum condition, but will also provide a firm, dry stool, thereby making the job of litter pan cleaning easy. Non premium foods contain fillers used to reduce the cost of ingredients and increase palatability. These fillers require the cat to eat much more food. Check the recommended daily feeding amounts on the labels. It also means more indigestible waste in the litter pan. This will quickly negate any cost advantage in the purchase of the less expensive foods.

Your Devon has come to you with a good appetite for Iams Dry Cat Food. He has been feed this his entire life. If he should not show interest in it when he first arrives, do not be overly concerned. Once he is comfortable in his new surroundings, he will regain his appetite.

Once your cat is established on premium food, do not change. The old adage "if it's not broke, don't try to fix it..." applies. Your kitty does not need variety in his basic diet, quite the contrary. Constant change leads to the expectation of more change. They can anticipate the variety and become finicky eaters. If you wish to vary a part of his diet, do so with treats. But remember not to become over zealous with them.

Vitamin or other food supplements should be unnecessary when feeding a premium food. Much research, development and subsequently quality ingredients have gone into the premium food. Often additional supplementation will actually damage the proper balance which the food manufacturers have developed.

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