​Choosing an appropriate food for your kitten is an important decision that can maintain and improve your pet’s lifelong health. With so many options available, it may seem overwhelming to pick the best diet for your pet. Each pet’s nutritional requirements are unique based on their age, activity level, lifestyle, and any existing medical conditions. The veterinarians at City Paws Veterinary Clinic recommend completely balanced diets which are formulated by veterinary nutritionists, have undergone extensive food-trial safety testing, and verified by AAFCO (Association of Animal Feed Control Officials).
 
Proper nutrition is vital in supporting healthy development of growing kittens. During stages of growth, kittens require a different balance of vitamins and minerals in comparison to adult animals. In general, we recommend feeding kittens a diet made for growth for the first full year of life. However, a veterinarian can make specific suggestions based on the individual needs of your pet.
Below are a few suggestions of balanced diets formulated by nutritionists and have undergone extensive safety testing:

1.       Purina Pro-Plan kitten
2.       Hill’s Science Diet
3.       Royal Canin 

 
This list of recommendations does not encompass all the appropriate diets available for your pet. Each pet is unique and may require additional considerations. In some cases, home-made diets are desired. These diets should be formulated specifically for each individual pet by a certified veterinary nutritionist to ensure that they are completely balanced and meet the required standards of vitamin and mineral balance.
Dog and cat foods are constantly evolving and changing. New dietary options are available weekly and choosing the proper diet may feel like a difficult decision. The staff and veterinarians at City Paws Veterinary Clinic would be happy to assist you in making the proper choice for your pet. Please do not hesitate to contact us with your questions and concerns.

If your pet has diarrhea, blood in their stool, possible intestinal parasites, or if your pet is having accidents in the house, our veterinarians recommend a fecal sample examination. Your pet’s fecal sample will be centrifuged and analyzed for any intestinal parasites, protozoa or excessive bacteria.
 
Want to drop off your patient’s sample? Download our handy Fecal Collection Sheet for instructions, helpful tips and a brief questionnaire about your pet’s signs and symptoms to make this process…well, you know, less poopy!
 
Just remember, our veterinarians will have to have seen your patient within the last year in order to prescribe any medication, so if your pet’s feeling unwell, it’s best to have them seen!
 
Download the City Paws Fecal Collection Tips sheet here! 
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