Editing Kitten (section)

=== Post-weaning nutrition ===

==== Fat ====
Until approximately one year of age, the kitten is undergoing a growth phase where energy requirements are up to 2.5 times higher than [[Maintenance of an organism|maintenance]].<ref>Hand, M. S. L., & Lon, D. (2000). Small animal clinical nutrition (No. SF 992. N88. L49 2000).</ref> Pet nutritionists often suggest that a [[Cat food|commercial cat food]] designed specifically for kittens should be offered beginning at four weeks of age.<ref name=":1">Case, L. P., Daristotle, L., Hayek, M. G., Raasch, M. F. (2011) Nutritional care of neonatal puppied and kittens. Canine and Feline Nutrition, 21, 209-219.</ref> [[Fat]] has a higher caloric value than [[carbohydrate]]s and [[protein]], supplying 9 kcal/g.<ref>The heats of combustion for glucose, sucrose, and starch are 15.57, 16.48 and 17.48 kJ/g respectively, or 3.72, 3.94 and 4.18 kcal/g.</ref> The growing kitten requires [[Arachidonic acid|arachidonic]] and [[linoleic acid]] which can be provided in [[omega-3 fatty acid]]s.<ref name=":0" /> Docosahexaenoic acid (DHA) is another vital nutrient that can be supplied through omega 3 fatty acid. Addition of DHA to the diet benefits the cognition, brain and visual development of kittens.<ref name=":1" />

==== Protein ====
Cats are natural [[carnivore]]s and require high amounts of protein in the diet. Kittens are undergoing growth and require high amounts of protein to provide essential amino acids that enable the growth of tissues and muscles.<ref name="petnutritiontext" /> It is recommended that kittens consume a diet containing approximately 30% protein, on a dry matter basis, for proper growth.<ref>{{Cite journal |author1-last=Rogers |author1-first=Quinton |author2-last=Morris |author2-first=James |date=April 1979 |title=Essentiality of Amino Acids for the Growing Kitten |journal=Journal of Nutrition |volume=109 |issue=4 |pages=718–723 |doi=10.1093/jn/109.4.718 |pmid=430271}}</ref>

[[Taurine]] is an essential amino acid found only in animal tissue; the mother cat cannot produce enough of it for her kittens.<ref name=":3">Sturman, J. A., Moretz, R. C., French, J. H., & Wisniewski, H. M. (1985). Postnatal taurine deficiency in the kitten results in a persistence of the cerebellar external granule cell layer: correction by taurine feeding. ''Journal of Neuroscience Research'', ''13''(4), 521-528.</ref> As it is an indispensable amino acid, it must be provided exogenously through the diet at 10&nbsp;mg per kg of bodyweight, each day.<ref>Burger, I. H., & Barnett, K. C. (1982). The taurine requirement of the adult cat. Journal of Small Animal Practice, 23(9), 533-537.</ref> Kittens deprived of taurine can experience poor growth<ref name=":3" /> and can result in retinal degeneration in cats.<ref>Markwell, P. J., & Earle, K. E. (1995). Taurine: an essential nutrient for the cat. A brief review of the biochemistry of its requirement and the clinical consequences of deficiency. ''Nutrition research'', ''15''(1), 53-58.</ref>

==== Carbohydrates ====
Felines are natural carnivores and do not intentionally consume large quantities of carbohydrates. The domestic cat's liver has adapted to the lack of carbohydrates in the diet by using amino acids to produce glucose to fuel the brain and other tissues.<ref>Schermerhorn, T. (2013). Normal glucose metabolism in carnivores overlaps with [[diabetes]] pathology in non-carnivores. ''Frontiers in endocrinology'', ''4''.</ref>   Studies have shown that carbohydrate digestion in young kittens is much less effective than that of a mature feline with a developed gastrointestinal tract.<ref>Harper, E. J., & Turner, C. L. (2000). Age-related changes in apparent digestibility in growing kittens. ''Reproduction, Nutrition, Development'', ''40''(3), 249-260</ref> Highly digestible carbohydrates can be found in commercial kitten food as a source of additional energy as well as a source of fiber to stimulate the immature gut tissue. Soluble fibre such as beet pulp is a common ingredient used as a fibrous stool hardener and has been proven to strengthen intestinal muscles and to thicken the gut mucosal layer to prevent diarrhea.<ref>Fukunaga, T., Sasaki, M., Araki, Y., Okamoto, T., Yasuoka, T., Tsujikawa, T., ... & Bamba, T. (2003). Effects of the soluble fibre pectin on intestinal cell proliferation, fecal short chain fatty acid production and microbial population. ''Digestion'', ''67''(1-2), 42-49.</ref>