Kittens can start to gain weight when they are as young as four weeks old. Over the course of the first year, a kitten’s weight can increase dramatically. This is because the kitten is growing and developing its body and its mind. The weight gain of a kitten is depended on several factors, including nutrition, genetics, and overall health. If a kitten is malnourished or suffers from a serious health issue, such as an infection or illness, then its weight will suffer.
A good rule of thumb for how much weight a kitten should be gaining per week is 3 to 4 ounces (85 to 110 grams) for each pound that the kitten weighs. For example, if your kitten weighs 2 pounds (0.9 kilograms), then it should be gaining 6 to 8 ounces (170 to 220 grams) per week.
Cats are pretty mysterious creatures. Even though there are certain, standard behaviors that your typical cat will display, there’s still a lot about them that we don’t know or understand.
One of these aspects is how much weight kittens gain per week. Since most people have only had one or two cats in their lives at best, it’s hard to tell whether your kitten is growing at a reasonable rate. We’ve done the research to help you figure out exactly how much weight your kitten should be gaining each week, and we’ll also answer all of your related questions, so that you can make sure your kitten is developing as it should be!
How much weight do kittens gain per week?
Your kitten’s average weight gain will vary depending on their age, and can range anywhere from 3-5 ounces per week. In general, younger kittens gain more weight than older ones, but this isn’t always the case. There are several factors that may influence the rate at which they grow, including when they were born (if they were premature) or what kind of food they’re being fed on a daily basis (if it contains artificial ingredients).
Appropriate Kitten Feeding
Daily weight gain is an indication that the diet is meeting the kittens’ nutritional needs. Weigh kittens at the same time daily, not only to ensure adequate weight gain but also to calculate the amount they should be eating with each feeding. Kittens should gain about ½ ounce (14 grams) per day or 4 ounces (113 grams) per week. Keep in mind that the younger the kittens are, the more accustomed they are to staying latched onto their mom’s nipple all the time and nursing small amounts periodically. Frequency is essential for digestion and allows the kitten’s digestive system to handle small amounts at any one time. Additionally, the act of nursing stimulates digestion. If you notice a kitten not eating enough in one feeding, increase the frequency of feedings or go back to that kitten after the others finish eating to give it another chance to take more food.
Growth Of A Kitten
On average, a kitten weighs about 100 grams at birth. Indeed, that is just as much (or little) as the ounce of meat at the butcher or the amount of chunks she can eat in 2 to 3 days as an adult. In the first 4 weeks, a kitten will only drink mother’s milk. As soon as the first baby teeth come through, you can switch to solid food for kittens.
Up to 4 months a kitten will gain weight quickly. About 100 grams per week. A 10-week kitten weighs an average of 1100 grams, a 20-week kitten about 2200 grams. After the 20 weeks the growth rate decreases considerably, although kittens continue to grow up to the age of 1 year. After that, most cats are full grown in height. The weight will still increase, due to the strengthening of bones and muscles.
In conclusion,
Kittens gain weight at different rates depending on their age and health. A healthy kitten will typically gain between 4 and 8 ounces per week. To ensure your kitten grows at a healthy rate, visit a vet regularly and monitor their weight to ensure they’re gaining (or losing) weight as expected.