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My 9-week-old kitten won't eat dry food. Is this normal or a concern?

Updated on September 23rd, 2025

Pet's info: Cat | Mixed Breed | Female

My kitten doesnt eat the dry food at all, she's only 9 weeks old, is it normal? I've tried different food and she just doesnt

4 Answers

Most Helpful Answer

Answered By Dr. Melanie, BVSc MS

Veterinarian

Published on June 25th, 2016

Sounds like Diva might be living up to her name ;-) She might simply be a picky eater, some cats are picky eaters. I hope that she is at least eating wet food, and getting nutrition from there. If she isn't eating at all, then there may be something medically wrong, and she should see a vet. I can give you a few tips to maybe help with this problem. First, make sure the food is kitten specific. Kittens need more of certain nutrients to help them grow, and an adult food won't provide that. I would try mixing the wet food and the dry food. Make a 50:50 mixture, and as she eats that, slowly decrease the amount of wet food, and increase the amount of dry food. I would do this over the course of at least 2 weeks to get her more used to the dry food, and eventually, you should have her on dry food only. If that doesn't work, you can try wetting the dry food with a can of chicken broth, but make sure the chicken broth is unsalted. See if these tips work for getting Diva on a dry food, as dry food does help keep their teeth clean.

26Pet Parents found this answer helpful

Related Answers from Veterinarians

Answered By Ana M, DVM
Veterinarian
Published on March 9th, 2020
Thank you for submitting your question regarding your cat. I recommend that she sees a veterinarian today. She will need a large amount of calories to produce enough milk for the kittens. Feeding her kitten food will help. It is palatable and contains higher fat, protein and calories. The veterinarian will examine her. Sometimes x-rays are taken to ensure that she delivered all the kittens. She will be checked for an infection such as mastitis as well. I hope this information helps!
4Pet Parents found this answer helpful
Answered By Laura Johnson VMD
Veterinarian
Published on September 20th, 2017
HI, thanks for using Petco Pet Education Center, formerly Petcoach!

If all the kittens are growing then likely this method, be in strange, works. I would weigh the kittens daily and record their weights so you know. Sometimes kittens will choose a mammary gland they like the best. You can try to help the other 2 latch on after the first starts nursing.

I would try to feed Icy a kitten food, try canned food if she doesn't like dry. Lactating animals have higher energy and nutritional requirements. Chicken alone will not be enough for her.

I hope this helps and I wish you the best!
1Pet Parents found this answer helpful
Answered By Karly Macon, DVM, MS, CVA Certified Veterinary Acupuncturist
Veterinarian
Published on June 7th, 2017
Your kitten needs to be on a balanced kitten food, but it doesn't need to be canned food. Some cats don't like canned food. Treats however, if you are feeding these exclusively, are not a balanced diet. Choose something high-quality like Hills or Royal Canin kitten diet. Good luck!
1Pet Parents found this answer helpful

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My kitten won't eat dry food. Should I only feed him wet food?

Some cats prefer one type of food over another. I would just leave dry food out for him to nibble on and then feed him small amounts of canned food twice a day. He has plenty of teeth that he should be able to chew small kibble. He will begin to eat more dry as he continues to get older and gets hungrier. I hope this helps!

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What to do if my 4-week-old kitten won't eat for a couple of days?

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Why won't my 2-month-old kitten eat dry food? How to entice him?

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My 6-week-old kitten won't eat dry food and has bad breath. Should I worry?

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What can I feed my picky 4-month-old kitten besides dry food?

It is completely fine to feed you cat only dry food if that is all she likes. If you want to give her canned food as an occasional treat any brand should be fine. Some cats just prefer dry over wet food and this should not cause any health issues. I hope this helps. Thanks for using Petco Pet Education Center, formerly Petcoach. Best of luck.

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My 7-week kitten only eats chicken. How do I get her to eat cat food?

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Can my kitten eat only dry food and still get proper nutrition?

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Updated on September 23rd, 2025

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