Is Your Kitten Ready for Adult Cat Food?

Everyone who has a pet can attest to just how quickly time flies between the time a kitten comes home and when they grow into an adult. Adult cats and kittens have different needs when it comes to nutrition, so it’s important to be aware of the transitions that take place as kittens mature into adult cats. If you’re curious about kitten-to-cat wellness, keep reading to learn about how to know when a kitten is ready for adult cat food.

When to give your kitten cat food

The transition from kitten to cat doesn’t happen all at once, and this can make it challenging for pet owners to know when it’s time for their kitten to start eating adult cat food. To help you navigate kitten-to-cat wellness, here is a breakdown of the major stages of cat development, along with some tips for feeding your cat properly during these different phases:

• Rapid growth stage: From the time your kitten is two to six months old, he grows and develops rapidly. At two months, kittens are weaned from their mothers, and milk must be replaced by a nutrient-rich diet of solid food to support the rapid growth during this stage. Select solid food made of primarily animal-based proteins that contains nutrient-dense ingredients to promote development and wellness.
• Adolescence: After your cat hits six months old, she transitions into the adolescent stage, which usually lasts until cats are a year old. Adolescent cats don’t grow as rapidly as younger cats, so they have different nutritional needs and dietary requirements. Even though adolescent cats begin to look more like adult cats, they still need the specialized formulas found in kitten food. While your cat might show interest in trying table scraps or other treats, it’s best to avoid feeding your cat anything other than the required daily serving of kitten food to prevent any digestive problems and promote healthy weight maintenance.
• Adult stage: After adolescence, cats officially enter the adult stage. At about 12 months, cats reach their full size and stop growing. During the adult stage, cats don’t need as many calories and don’t require the nutritional contents of kitten food, so this is a good time to transition a cat to adult food. For a smooth transition, start by giving your cat a mixture of kitten food and adult food. Over the course of several days, begin giving your cat more adult food and less kitten food until your cat is getting only adult food. A slow transition allows your cat to get used to a new food without causing any digestive problems.

Cat clinic

If you have more questions about kitten-to-cat wellness, reach out to Kingstowne Cat Clinic. For over 30 years, our dedicated team has been providing cats and kittens of all ages and stages of life with the highest quality of care. We are committed to making sure every cat we see receives the care that’s right for their particular needs. Schedule an appointment for your cat by giving us a call today.

Categorised in: Cat Tips

This post was written by Writer