How to choose cat food according to your cat's age
The most important thing when choosing cat food is to match your cat's life stage. A kitten, an adult cat and a senior cat do not have the same needs, and this determines which food is right.
A cat is a carnivore. It gets the vast majority of its nutrition from animal protein, and that is why the meat content is the first thing you should look for on the label. In addition, needs change with age: kittens are growing rapidly and need more energy and protein per meal, adult cats need to maintain a stable weight and muscle mass, and senior cats often benefit from a food that is easier to digest.
With us, the dry food for adult and senior cats is divided into three varieties you can choose between according to your cat's taste and needs: The Jaguar, the Panther and the little lion. If you are unsure which one your cat likes best, you can start with a sample bag instead of buying a large bag at random.
Kitten food and when to switch to adult food
A kitten grows quickly in its first months and therefore needs a food with a higher energy density than an adult cat. Kitten food is formulated for exactly that growth, and you should keep giving it until the cat is close to fully grown.
When a cat is fully grown depends on the breed, but most house cats are close to adult size around one year of age, while larger breeds can take longer. If you want to read more about when the transition makes sense, we have gathered it in the article when is a cat fully grown.
The switch itself from kitten food to adult food should happen gradually over about a week, where you mix in a little more of the new food each day. This gives the stomach peace to get used to it. If you want to start feeding a brand new kitten, you will find food and accessories gathered under kitten.
Dry food or wet food for your cat
Both dry food and wet food can provide your cat with complete nutrition, and the difference lies primarily in texture, water content and how they fit into everyday life.
Dry food is practical: it can be left out during the day without going bad, it takes up little space, and it is easy to portion. Wet food, that is pâté, has a high water content, which is an advantage for cats that do not drink much on their own. Many also find that wet food is more tempting for picky cats.
You do not have to rule one out completely. Many cat owners combine dry food as a base with pâté as part of the day's meals. Our pâté comes in the same three flavour varieties as the dry food, so you can stick to the kind of meat your cat already knows: The Little Lion PÂTÉ, 12 PCS, The Jaguar PÂTÉ, 12 PCS and The Panther PÂTÉ, 12 PCS.
Food for the senior cat
A senior cat is often less active, may lose muscle mass and sometimes has a more sensitive digestion. That is why it makes sense to look for a food that is easy to absorb and still delivers plenty of quality protein.
If you have a senior at home, you can start by looking at meals for senior cats, which are gathered with exactly that age group in mind. If your cat prefers wet food, you will find the soft meals under pâté for seniors.
If your cat has started eating less, or weighs too little, it is worth keeping an eye on whether it loses weight over time, and possibly talking to the vet. Sometimes it is not about the amount of food, but about making the meal more appetising, for example by adding a little pâté to the dry food.
How much should the cat have per day
The amount of food depends on the cat's weight, age and activity level, and the best guideline is the feeding guide on the bag, which you adjust according to how the cat maintains its weight.
A kitten typically eats little and often, because it cannot hold large portions at a time, while an adult cat manages with fewer, larger meals. Free access to food all day suits some cats, but others eat more than they need if the bowl is always full. Here, fixed portions are an advantage.
The most reliable way to assess whether the amount is right is to follow the cat's body condition: if you can feel the ribs without being able to see them clearly, and the cat has a visible waist seen from above, you are roughly on target. If you increase or decrease, do it in small steps over weeks, not from day to day.
What a good cat food should contain
Because the cat is a distinctly carnivorous animal, animal protein should be the main ingredient in the food. Look for a high and named meat content on the label rather than undefined by-products.
Beyond the meat, there are a number of things worth having an opinion about when comparing: the amount of filler, whether there are unnecessary additives, and whether the food is grain-free. We have gathered a review of what you should look for in the article what should cat food contain, which is a good place to learn more before you decide.
If your cat has a sensitive stomach or reacts to certain ingredients, a simpler food with fewer components may be the way forward. If you want to approach treats in the same way, you can look at cat delights, so the rewards match what the cat otherwise eats.
