It's important that kittens are fed a well-balanced, nutritious diet that's specially designed for growing cats. Kittens have different nutrient requirements from adult cats, and growth or junior foods for kittens are formulated to supply them with all the essential nutrients required for normal growth and bone development.

A kitten is considered to be an adult at 1 year old and will then need to switch to a complete and balanced adult cat food.

How Often to Feed Kittens

Kittens need their rapid growth and development supported by a nutrient dense diet that provides twice as much energy than an adult cat diet. The food can be wet or dry as long as it has a high protein content that is animal-based. Kittens only have small tummies so will need to be fed small meals 3 or 4 times a day.

Overfeeding growing cats can lead to severe and permanent damage to their bones and joints. The aim should always be for steady, controlled growth. An over-fed young cat may remain overweight, with bone and joint problems later in life.

When to Transition to Adult Cat Food

Kittens go through a rapid growth which lasts until they’re around 6 months old. As they reach 6-12 months old, their nutrient requirements change. Their rate of growth slows, and they can eat fewer but larger meals.

When the kitten is 10 to 12 months old, they can make the switch to adult food which is less nutrient and calorie dense. This applies to most breeds apart from those that reach maturity later. Larger breeds may not reach maturity until they’re 18 months to 2 years of age. So, for breeds like the Maine Coon, kitten food is still fine until they’re at least 18 months old.

How to  Transition to Adult Cat Food

The best kitten food is higher in calories and more nutrient rich than adult cat food with a higher protein and fat content. This means you'll need to change the number of meals and portion sizes as well as making the transition from kitten to adult food.

The feeding guide on your cat’s food packaging will have information on how much you need to feed them to drive healthy kitten weight gain.

A sudden change in diet can cause tummy upsets so it’s best to make any changes gradually. To keep their digestive systems happy, gradually introduce any new food by mixing it in with the old diet. Do this by mixing one quarter of the new food to their usual diet, gradually increasing the amount over 7-10 days:

• Days 1-2: 75% old food, 25% new food
• Days 3-4: 50% kitten food, 50% new adult food
• Days 5-7: 25% kitten food, 75% new adult food
• Days 8-10: 100% new adult food

Making the transition slowly will also increase the chances that the new food will be accepted. Cats can be fussy about the food they like so you may have to try different foods before you find something they like.

If you've been using dry kitten food, try wet food instead. Wet kitten food contains a higher water content which they may enjoy more. Or you may have to try another brand. Always check that the food matches your cat’s lifestage.

Feeding Your Cat for Healthy Weight Gain

Cats generally are free-feeders – they'll only eat what they need. They also prefer to eat small meals and often. So if there’s food left in their bowl, don’t worry. Make sure their weight and body condition scores are monitored regularly to check they’re at the optimum weight for their age and breed.

As your cat gets older they're usually less likely to run around and use up a lot of energy so they can become overweight if overfed. If they’ve put on too much weight, you may need to cut down on their portion sizes.

To make sure your kitten is growing at a healthy rate, they should be weighed and have their body condition scored regularly. Their growth can be recorded on a chart to check that they’re putting on weight at the correct rate. Too fast a growth rate should be avoided to avoid bone and joint problems later on in life.

Avoid over-feeding and always feed a food from a reputable manufacturer that is appropriate for your cat’s age and breed to avoid weight gain. Your vet can help you select the best food for cats and kittens, and instruct you on what a healthy cat weight is.

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Content provided from Vetstream's Vetlexicon Felis – https://www.vetlexicon.com/treat/felis

Vetlexicon is the world’s largest peer-reviewed online clinical reference source. All our content is written and peer-reviewed by over 1,000 of the world’s leading veterinarians, ensuring relevance, accuracy and quality.