Why a kitten cannot live on adult food
A kitten spends its first months doubling its weight several times, building bone and developing its vision, brain and immune system. That growth requires more protein and more energy per gram of food than an adult cat needs. That is why kitten food is more nutrient-dense: a small stomach needs to be able to hold the day's requirement, even though it can only take in a little at a time.
If you feed a growing kitten adult food exclusively, you risk it not getting its energy and nutrient needs met at exactly the time when its body needs it most. The food here on this page is composed for the kitten's growth phase, so you don't have to guess at the balance yourself. If, on the other hand, the cat has finished growing, it belongs with meals for adult cats.
What good kitten food should contain
If you look at the ingredients, there are some nutrients that are especially important for a kitten. A high content of animal protein provides the building blocks for muscles and tissue. Fat gives the energy density that a small stomach needs, and contributes essential fatty acids.
Taurine is an amino acid that cats cannot produce in sufficient amounts themselves. It is necessary for both vision and heart function, and it must come from the food. DHA, an omega-3 fatty acid, is associated with the development of the brain and vision. In addition come calcium and phosphorus in the right balance for bone building, as well as vitamins that support the immune system.
If you want to understand what to look for on the label, you can read more about what cat food should contain. We emphasise a high animal content and avoid unnecessary fillers in our good cat food.
How much should a kitten eat per day?
How much a kitten should have depends on its age, weight and breed, so a single number does not fit everyone. The feeding guide on the packaging is your starting point, and it should be adjusted according to how the kitten develops. A kitten in good condition is neither chubby nor thin: you should be able to feel the ribs without them sticking out.
Because the stomach is small, the kitten cannot take the whole daily ration in one meal. So divide the portion over several meals, ideally three to four a day at the start, and gradually reduce towards two daily meals as the kitten grows. We have put together a more detailed overview in the article on how much food a kitten should have per day.
When can kittens have dry food and wet food?
After weaning, the kitten can begin to eat solid food. Dry food for kittens can be softened with a little warm water at the beginning, so it is easier to chew and digest for the small teeth and stomach. Gradually you can move to giving it dry.
Wet food and pâté are easy to eat and appetising, and many kittens take well to it. A combination of dry and wet provides both chewing resistance and extra moisture. If you are in doubt about the timing, we go through it in the article on when kittens can have wet food. New tastes and textures in this phase also make it easier to avoid a picky adult cat later.
How long should a kitten have kitten food?
A cat is typically considered fully grown around one year of age, and this is often when it can switch from kitten food to adult food. Large breeds develop more slowly and can benefit from kitten food for longer, while smaller cats may be ready earlier. Follow the cat rather than the calendar.
The switch itself should happen gradually over about a week, where you mix increasing amounts of adult food into the familiar kitten food. This gives the stomach time to get used to it and reduces the risk of loose stools. If you are unsure of the signs, you can read more about when a cat is fully grown, and about how long a kitten should have kitten food.
Get off to a good start with the Kitten Love Package
If you are about to bring home a new kitten, or you just want everything gathered in one place, the KITTEN LOVE PACKAGE is composed for exactly that phase. It makes it easy to get started without having to put meals together from scratch yourself.
If you want to expand the range as the kitten grows, you will find our entire selection under kitten and for the rest of life under cat food.
