When to stop kitten food

When To Stop Feeding Kitten Food

Good quality protein and other nutrients are vital to your kittys development since their body is undergoing significant transformations. Kittens will double in size several times in a short periodjust mere months. Kitten food is designed to support this rapid growth and development. It generally has more calories, docosahexaenoic acid (DHA) fatty acid for brain and vision development, and vitamins and minerals in optimal ratios to support a growing kitty.

While there are considerable benefits to buying kitten-specific food, its also essential to eventually switch to an adult formula. Weight gain is the most significant risk associated with feeding kitten recipes to an adult cat. VCA Animal Hospitals estimates that almost 60 percent of domestic cats in North America are overweight. While we love a chonky cat, feline obesity increases the risk of developing other health problems, including diabetes mellitus, kidney disease, heart disease, and osteoarthritis.

Transitioning to a new food can be difficultespecially for picky eaters. Slowly transition to adult food over one to two weeks to avoid digestive upset. We share additional tips for transitioning from kitten to adult food from a veterinarian, including advice for larger cat breeds.

The Importance Of Kitten Food (A Vets Expert Opinion)

A good quality, complete kitten food is crucial for healthy development, says Dr. Sarah-Jane Molier, BSc, BVM&S, MRCVS. After all, kittens have very different nutritional needs from adults! Kitten food contains higher levels of protein and fat for energy to support their growth. The higher levels of protein also support healthy muscle growth, so they grow up big and strong. Kittens also need specific levels of vitamins and minerals, such as calcium and phosphorous. This helps their organs, bones, and teeth to develop properly.

When Can Kittens Eat Dry & Wet Food?

Kittens typically take four to six weeks to be weaned from their mother or a bottle (if orphaned). Your kitty can begin eating wet food and kibble at four weeks. At six to eight weeks, kitties are fully weaned and should be eating kitten food.

Kittens should eat four to five meals daily until they are three to four months old. At that time, you can reduce it to three meals a day. Solid and wet food can be reduced to two meals a day at six months old.

A popular method of feeding is free-feeding or free-choicewhen you leave dry food in a bowl at all times so your furbaby can nibble whenever theyre hungry. This works well for people who are gone for long hours and cant provide food throughout the day. It doesnt work well for wet recipes because the food dries out too quickly and becomes unappetizing. If youre practicing free-feeding, provide access to growth-formula food at all times during this period.

When To Switch From Kitten To Cat Food

Most kittens will be ready to transition to adult food at around one year of age when they are fully grown, says Molier. Continue feeding at least two meals per day with an adult recipe. If youve been using free-choice feeding, ensure your cat is eating successfully without any problems and is gaining the appropriate amount of weight.

I usually advise that larger breed cats will benefit from staying on kitten food for a bit longer until they are around 18-24 months, adds Molier. This is because large breed cats, such as Main Coons, take longer to fully develop.

Free Feeding Vs Scheduled Feeding

Although free-feeding is a popular method, cats can quickly gain weight gain on this diet if not provided enough environmental enrichment and mental engagement. If your cat is the correct weight and is thriving on free-choice feeding, then by all means, continue with this approach. If you have an overweight kitty, consider switching to scheduled feeding.

Scheduled feeding works best for wet-recipe eaters, cats who tend to overeat, and multi-cat households where one feline requires a special diet. Scheduled meals offer bonding opportunities for you and your cat since you will be identified as the food provider. It also works better for training purposes. If food isnt readily available 24/7, you can better use it as a reinforcer. It can be a valuable tool to prevent or fix behavioral problems.

How To Transition From Kitten To Adult Food

Around your felines first birthday, youll switch to an adult formula (this timeline varies for larger breeds).

When your kitten is ready to transition onto adult food, the most important thing is to take it slowly, otherwise, your kitten may well suffer with diarrhea, says Molier. I recommend spending 1 to 2 weeks mixing in the new food in gradually increasing amounts.

Here is an example of a 10-day transition schedule to avoid causing digestive upset:

• Days 1-2: Mix 3/4 kitten food with 1/4 adult cat food.
• Days 3-4: Use half kitten food and half adult food.
• Days 5-7: Serve 1/4 kitten food with 3/4 adult cat food.
• Days 8-10: Switch to adult cat food only.

If your cat hesitates to eat adult food, consult your veterinarian.

Frequently Asked Questions

How Long Are Cats Considered Kittens?

Most kittens are considered adults when they reach their first birthday. This is when they reach their full size and can transition to adult food. For larger breeds, like Maine Coons, it could take up to two years to reach maturity. (View our top picks for best kitten and adult cat food for Maine Coons.)

Can Kittens Eat Adult Cat Food?

Yes, kittens can eat adult cat food. Look for a recipe that says its formulated for all life stages. This means its safe for both kittens and adult cats. You may also wish to supplement with additional fish oil (DHA omega-3 fatty acid).

Is It Bad For An Adult Cat To Eat Kitten Food?

Eating kitten food wont harm your adult feline besides consuming extra calories. If your cat is gaining weight, you must reduce portion size or switch to an adult formula. If your cat needs to lose weight, consult with your veterinarian. Rapid weight loss can be dangerous for felines, so a veterinarian should monitor any diet.

Final Thoughts

One of the very best ways to care for our companions is by feeding them quality food that provides all the nutrients they need. This includes buying food specific to your cats age and lifestyle (such as an indoor cat formula). Curious about other ways to care for your new kitten? We share our top picks for brushes, nail clippers, slow feeders, and hammocks. Or, view some of the top cat food brands, including Open Farm, Smalls, and Acana. Finally, dont forget to cat-proof your home and familiarize yourself with human foods that are safe for cats.

How long should cats eat kitten food for? Vet explains why it may be longer than you think

How long should cats eat kitten food for? Its a question you may be asking if youve recently welcomed a new little fur friend into your family. And while wed love to be able to give you an exact age, it turns out the answer is slightly more complex!

When kittens are weaned off their mother's milk at around four to six weeks of age, they start to transition over to the best kitten food in wet format. Once their bodies have adjusted to that, many parents choose to move them over to a dry food formula.

Whether theyre eating wet or dry, the most important thing is that theyre being nourished with food thats been specifically designed to meet their needs. Kittens require more protein and calories to fuel their development, but eventually, their nutritional needs change. At this point, kittens need to swap to an adult diet either the best dry cat food or a wet food alternative.

However, when to do this will vary depending on your kittens breed. To help guide you through the process, we spoke to Dr. Joanna Woodnutt to get her thoughts on when you can move your kitten over to an adult diet and how to make the switch safely.

Dr Joanna Woodnutt MRCVS

Dr Joanna Woodnutt qualified as a veterinarian from the University of Nottingham where she then went on to practice companion animal medicine in the Midlands. She really took to the consulting side of things and helping clients with medical problems such as dermatology, behaviour and nutrition - anything that involved helping clients understand their pets better.

At what age does a kitten become a cat?

The answer to this question largely depends on the type of kitten you have. "Deciding when a kitten becomes a cat isnt simple like humans there are many ways to look at maturity, and they dont necessarily give the same age as a result," explains Woodnutt.

That said, there are some generalisations. Most people consider the one year mark to be around the point a kitten turns into a cat. In some cases, cats aged six to 12 months could be considered adult, as in most breeds theyre almost fully grown and sexually mature. However, a year tends to be the established age when a kitten turns into a cat."

Of course, as with all animals, there are some exceptions large breeds like the Maine Coon, for example, tends to reach maturity between 18 months and two years of age.

When can kittens eat dry food only?

Most vets recommend feeding your kitten both a dry and wet food diet because cats tend to under-consume water so wet food can help keep them hydrated.

If you want to switch them to the best dry cat food then you should speak to your vet to ensure it will be appropriate for your kitty. Generally, kittens can start to eat dry food at around three to four weeks. They are fully weaned from their mother's milk by six to eight weeks and can eat just kitten food from that time.

When to switch from kitten to cat food

During their time as kittens, cats often feed on small amounts of food frequently throughout the day so its a good idea to get to grips with how often you should feed your kitten? As they grow older and mature into full-grown cats, this tends to change to eating just two meals a day.

"Most cats can be safely transitioned to adult cat food once their growth has stopped. In most breeds this will be around 9-12 months of age," advises Woodnutt. "In giant breeds, you may need to leave them eating kitten food until 18 months to ensure they reach their full potential your veterinarian will be able to advise for your individual cat. Your veterinarian may also advise feeding adult cat food to your kitten once he or she has been neutered, as neutered cats are prone to excessive weight gain and dont need the extra calories the kitten food provides."

To avoid intestinal upset, such as diarrhea in cats, it's best to slowly swap over from the kitten food to the adult food over a few days. Consult your veterinarian for the best way to portion out the food, but it's usually a ratio of 75/25 kitten to cat food, then 50/50, then 25/75, then 100% adult formulation. Dont suddenly change a kittens food. It can trigger stomach upsets.

Choosing the right food for your adult cat

Once your kitten is making the switch to the best cat food, youll be looking for meals that offer high-quality nutrition.

There are many questions youll need to ask such as whether high-quality ingredients have been used to make the food and whether the meal provides a complete and balanced diet with appropriate levels of protein, fat, fibre, vitamins, and minerals.

When switching, you also need to keep a careful eye on your cat looking for signs of bright eyes and clean teeth, small, firm, stools, a shiny, luxurious coat, healthy skin and exceptional muscle tone. That way you know youre on the right track.

"There are lots of things to consider when choosing cat food," explains Woodnutt. "The majority of cats will do fine on the majority of diets, as long as they are complete and balanced and designed for the right life stage that is, for adult cats.

There are, of course, some cats who will benefit from a more specialized diet. For instance, you might want to choose a diet without certain ingredients due to allergies and intolerances, or a diet designed for cats with medical conditions like kidney disease. Your vet will always be willing to talk about your cats diet options and help you find a diet thats right for your feline family."

Foods to avoid giving your feline

There are some foods you should avoid, too, including onions, garlic, chocolate, any foods containing the ingredient Xylitol and five human foods that are poisonous to cats. You may also want to consider the question, is homemade cat food better than store bought? and take precautions when feeding raw meat or liver which can contain harmful bacteria and raw eggs which can lead to problems with their skin and coat.

Similarly, raw fish can trigger a vitamin B deficiency, cause seizures, or be fatal, and milk can cause diarrhea. "Its not a good idea to feed cats human food in general. More than half of cats are overweight, and human food is often more calorific than we realise," Woodnutt advises. "What is a tiny cube of cheese to us is actually a large portion of our cats daily calorie allowance. As always, ask your veterinarian for advice if youre not sure.

Enjoyed this piece and looking for more great kitty content? Then be sure to check out this vet's top six kitten care tips.