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We include fish oil in IAMS™ dry kitten food to help promote healthy skin and a healthy coat in your kitten. Learn more about fish oil and meal, what it does, how it can help your kitten and why it is an important component in all IAMS dry kitten foods.
Fish oil is extracted from fish and is composed of special types of fats. Fish meal, which is used in IAMS dry kitten foods, is a good source of natural fish oil.
Fish oil from deep, cold-water fish contains omega-3 fatty acids. Fatty acids are a smaller component of fat, and omega-3 fatty acids are a type of fatty acid with important nutritional value. Fish oil has a unique fatty acid composition with high concentrations of long-chain omega-3 fatty acids, such as eicosapentaenoic acid (EPA) and docosahexaenoic acid (DHA).
The fatty acids in a kitten’s diet are incorporated into the body’s tissues and are critical for many body functions. For instance, animal cell membranes, including those in the skin, contain fatty acids. Omega-3 fatty acids are responsible for the production of substances that promote healthy skin conditions, especially when balanced with omega-6 fatty acids (found in common ingredients such as chicken fat and corn oil) in a ratio between 5:1 and 10:1.
All IAMS dry kitten foods, such as IAMS™ ProActive Health™ Healthy Kitten, contain fish oil as a high-quality source of omega-3 fatty acids.
Studies conducted by nutritionists at The IAMS Company found significant improvements in skin and coat when cats1 were fed a diet that contained omega-3 fatty acids in a balanced ratio with omega-6 fatty acids versus the same diet without the balanced ratio.
Feeding a complete and balanced diet with a balanced ratio of omega-6 and omega-3 fatty acids is proven to promote healthy skin and a shiny coat. When fed fish oil, cats showed:
1 Data on file, The IAMS Company, 2000.
Kittens are super adorable, and it is wonderful to have one as a pet. While it’s fun to have a kitten at home, it’s important to understand your kitten’s various needs during the different stages of its life and take care of it in the right way. ‘How to take care of kittens’ is a question that most first-time kitten owners ask. But taking care of newborn kittens can be quite a hassle-free process if you follow a routine and understand a few do’s and don’ts about kitten care. We, at IAMS, are here to help you with this process in every way we can.
Kitten care is extremely important to make sure your kitten grows up to be a healthy cat. While in the kitten stage, it is still trying to get used to the new surroundings. Therefore, we recommend that you be by its side and help the little kitten acclimatize to its new house.
A kitten becomes a part of your family right from day one. But raising a kitten might sound like a strenuous job if you’re a new pet parent, but it isn’t. The whole process can be quite fun and will help you bond with your kitten.
Some of the most important aspects of looking after a kitten are:
Hygiene: Maintaining good hygiene is always important. You must clean your kitten’s den regularly.
Feeding nutrition-rich food: Your kitten needs a nutritious, balanced diet for healthy growth and development. It is advisable that you buy IAMS Healthy Kitten food. IAMS is Developed with Veterinarians and Chicken is the 1st ingredient of this recipe. This premium kitten food promotes brain development and helps build a healthy immune system.
Regular health check-ups: Take your kitten to the vet regularly to understand its progress in terms of behaviour and health.
Grooming: It is advisable to start grooming your cat at an early age, especially if it has a furry coat or long hair.
As a first-time kitten owner, you might not be well aware of the growth stages your little feline friend will go through, but it’s very important to understand them. So, here’s a table that can help you with the same:
Growth stage | 0-2 weeks (Neonatal) | 2-7 weeks (Socialisation) | 7-14 weeks (Most Active Period) | 3-6 months (Ranking Period) | 6-18 months (Adolescence) |
Character traits | Learns to incline towards sounds | Learns to socialize | This is the most active play period of your kitten | In this stage, the kitten gets most influenced by other kittens in their litter or even other animals. | Asserts maximum dominance in this stage. |
Eyes start to open by this time | Senses of smell and hearing are fully developed by the 4th week | Starts expressing affection through hugging and licking | Starts understanding and asserting ranks on people it lives with. | Exhibits sexual behaviour if not spayed. | |
If the kitten is separated from its mother or siblings, it may tend to get aggressive towards people and other cats. | Sight is fully developed by the 5th week, and they can run and pounce without colliding with obstacles | Can paw, mouth, and hold objects as well | |||
Starts grooming itself | Also starts chasing its tail and starts pouncing and leaping around | ||||
Starts developing sleep patterns, motor abilities and interactions |
The major difference that occurs in taking care of kittens when they grow up is switching their food. Cats need more nutrition and vital elements that keep its body strong and healthy. It is advisable to switch to premium cat food while transitioning your kitten to adult cat food.
If your cat is neglected and does not receive proper care, attention, and nutrition, it may become depressed and weak. Your cat may also contract diseases if it is not kept clean.
While in the kitten stage, it is advisable to schedule frequent visits to the vet to check on the overall health of your kitten. It is advisable to keep a tab on their allergies while it is in the kitten stage.
Here are a few tips for first-time cat owners:
