How to Know If Your Kitten’s Diet Is Actually Working (Signs of Real Health)

<h1>🔍 How to Know If Your Kitten’s Diet Is Actually Working (Signs of Real Health)</h1>

<p>You’ve upgraded your kitten’s food — air-dried, raw, or high-meat wet. 👏 Now comes the big question:  
<strong>How do you know it’s working?</strong></p>

<p>This article gives you <strong>clear, vet-approved signs</strong> that your kitten’s nutrition is truly supporting growth, digestion, immune strength, and long-term health — plus what to fix if it’s not.</p>

<hr>

<h2>✅ Signs Your Kitten’s Diet Is Working</h2>

<h3>1. 💩 Healthy, Consistent Stool</h3>
<ul>
  <li>Small, firm, dark brown stools (not runny or too dry)</li>
  <li>Once or twice daily is normal</li>
  <li>Low odor = highly digestible diet</li>
</ul>

<h3>2. 🧴 Soft, Shiny Coat</h3>
<ul>
  <li>Glossy fur with minimal dander</li>
  <li>No bald spots, flakes, or itching</li>
  <li>Good hydration = skin bounce-back</li>
</ul>

<h3>3. 🐾 Lean Muscle + Energy (But Not Zoom-Crazy)</h3>
<ul>
  <li>Kitten looks sturdy, not bloated or skinny</li>
  <li>Zoomies are normal, but they should also <em>rest well</em></li>
  <li>No overexcitement or sugar-crash behavior</li>
</ul>

<h3>4. 🧠 Focused Play + Confident Behavior</h3>
<ul>
  <li>Engages with toys and people</li>
  <li>Explores, adapts, doesn’t cry constantly</li>
  <li>Good diet = better serotonin, better resilience</li>
</ul>

<h3>5. 🩺 Great Breath, Eyes, Ears, and Teeth</h3>
<ul>
  <li>No fishy or sour breath</li>
  <li>Clear, bright eyes without gunk or tear stains</li>
  <li>Ears stay clean (wax is normal, buildup is not)</li>
</ul>

<hr>

<h2>🚩 Red Flags That Something’s Off</h2>

<ul>
  <li>Loose, sticky, or unpredictable stool</li>
  <li>Strong-smelling gas or breath</li>
  <li>Scratching, shedding, or flaky skin</li>
  <li>Low energy or long periods of hiding</li>
  <li>Bloated belly or "skinny but round" body shape</li>
</ul>

<p>If you see these signs, it may mean:
<ul>
  <li>❌ Too many carbs or fillers in the diet</li>
  <li>❌ Overfeeding or underfeeding</li>
  <li>❌ Protein source is too rich or reactive</li>
</ul></p>

<hr>

<h2>📏 What You Can Track Weekly</h2>

<ul>
  <li>🪙 Weight (should gain steadily — not fluctuate)</li>
  <li>📝 Stool quality (firm, shaped, consistent)</li>
  <li>📸 Photos for coat and growth tracking</li>
</ul>

<p>💡 Use a kitchen scale or pet scale — aim for slow, steady gain of 50–100g/week (depending on age and breed).</p>

<hr>

<h2>🛒 Best Foods for Visible Results</h2>

<ul>
  <li>🥇 <strong>Ziwi Air-Dried Raw</strong> – high protein, organ-rich, low carb</li>
  <li>🥇 <strong>Feline Natural Freeze-Dried or Canned</strong> – balanced and highly digestible</li>
  <li>🥇 <strong>Big Dog Raw (for kittens)</strong> – in AU/NZ markets</li>
</ul>

<p>Plus:
<ul>
  <li>🥛 <strong>Raw goat milk or kefir</strong> for probiotics + hydration</li>
  <li>🧠 <strong>Freeze-dried organ toppers</strong> for mental enrichment</li>
</ul></p>

<hr>

<h2>💬 From Dr. Duncan Houston</h2>
<blockquote>
“You don’t need a microscope or a degree to see if your kitten’s food is working.  
Trust what you can see: the coat, the poop, the energy, the sleep. Real health is visible — and natural food makes it obvious.”
</blockquote>

<hr>

<h2>📚 References</h2>
<ol>
  <li>Zoran, D. L. (2002). Feline metabolism and nutrition. *Journal of Feline Medicine and Surgery*, 221(11), 1559–1567.</li>
  <li>International Cat Care. (2023). What does a healthy kitten look like? https://icatcare.org</li>
</ol>

<p>🐾 Coming next:  
<strong><a href="/es/blog/why-your-kitten-needs-play-as-much-as-protein">Why Your Kitten Needs Play As Much As Protein</a></strong></p>