What food should kittens eat?

Why do kittens need different cat food to adult cats?

Kittens have different nutritional needs than adult cats because they are in a growth stage and require higher amounts of certain nutrients, such as protein and fat, to support their growth and development. They also have different caloric needs, as they require more energy per pound of body weight than adult cats. A diet specifically formulated for kittens can help ensure that they get the right balance of nutrients to support their growth and development.

Ingredients important in feline nutrition

• Made with high animal protein or meat content (such as chicken and white fish) as the first ingredient
• Adequate levels of essential fatty acids for skin and coat health
• Calcium and phosphorus for strong bones and teeth (you can usually see this in the constituents section of the ingredients)
• Antioxidants for a strong immune system (such as dried cranberry, yucca or Vitamin E)
• A balance of vitamins and minerals for overall health and development
• Taurine, an essential amino acid for heart, eye and reproductive health, as well as digestion
• Moisture

How much food should kittens eat?

The amount of food they need to eat depends on several factors, including their age, size, activity level, and overall health. On average, kittens should eat about 2-4 small meals a day, with a total daily intake of around 200-300 calories. Follow the feeding instructions on the back of the pack of food but remember these are guidelines; if you're kitten is on the skinny side, increase their food and if they are putting on weight then reduce it. International Cat Care have a great visual obesity guide to see if your cat is putting on weight. 

What human food can cats eat and what should they avoid?

Cats can safely eat small amounts of certain human foods, including cooked chicken or turkey, cooked fish, scrambled eggs, and small amounts of plain yogurt or cottage cheese. It's important to avoid foods that are toxic to cats, such as chocolate, grapes and raisins, onions and garlic, avocado, and alcohol. Always check with a vet before introducing new foods to your kitten's diet.

How often should they eat?

3-4 small meals a day until they are 6 months old, and then 2-3 times a day after that. It is important to monitor their weight and adjust their food intake as needed.

Can kittens eat too much?

Yes, they can eat too much and become overweight, leading to health issues. It's important to feed them the appropriate amount for their age and size and to monitor their weight regularly.

Finally, as always, please consult your vet if you get a new kitten to see if there are any individual considerations or health issues to take into account. 

The benefits of dry kitten food

It's good for their teeth

Kitten dry food is excellent for teeth. Feeding your cat wet food alone can contribute to them developing a dental disorder because wet food has no abrasive action on the teeth (especially something like chicken in jelly), however feeding a dry, crunchy kibble type food can help to prevent plaque build up as your cat will crunch the biscuits and this can help to scrape off the plaque, resulting in less tartar build up. Feeding a dry food, such as Tippaws, with a very crunchy texture is a great way of helping to prevent periodontal disease in a way that is non-invasive for your cat.

It provides complete nutrition / it is a complete dry cat food

All cats need complete nutrition and a complete dry cat food is a great way to provide this for them. Complete nutrition means the food contains all the required vitamins, minerals and other nutrients to help support healthy growth. This is especially important for young growing cats who need, for example, taurine for feline cognitive development and eye health. For this reason you must always give them complete dry kitten food. Ensure your cat always has access to fresh water too. 

It's budget friendly

Dry food does not need to be kept in the fridge, so this means you can bulk order your food or buy larger bags which is often more economical. If your cat is a grazer, you can leave it out to eat whenever they are hungry - just make sure you don’t leave it out too long as some dry foods can go off when oxidised. 

It comes in a variety of recipes like kitten grain-free chicken

From chicken dry kitten food, to ocean fish and other novel meats such as duck, there are many options for dry food recipes. Just make sure your food is full of high quality ingredients. For example, if you give them chicken cat food, ensure it is rich in chicken including at least some fresh chicken or other freshly prepared ingredients and is carefully prepared with minimal preservatives. 

Choosing the right dry cat food for kittens

What is grain-free kitten food?

Grain-free cat food is exactly that! It is food made without wheat, corn, oats, barley or rice. Some cats are sensitive to these ingredients and so owners feed them a diet that is free-from them or hypoallergenic. Grain free food can also be more digestible for cats. You can find kitten grain-free chicken recipes in most ranges such as Tippaws. 

Why are prebiotics added to cat food?

Prebiotics are non-digestible carbohydrates that stimulate the growth and activity of beneficial bacteria in the gut. Studies have shown that adding prebiotics such as Mannanoligosaccharides (MOS) and Fructooligosaccharides (FOS) to cat food has a number of health benefits for cats, including improving gut health and supporting the immune system. Foods such as Tippaws delicious dry cat food contains added prebiotics. 

What is hypoallergenic food?

Hypoallergenic cat food is made with ingredients that are less likely to trigger allergic reactions, making it ideal for cats with sensitivities. Sensitivities can be in the form of sensitive stomachs or skin rashes, for examples. Some cats are sensitive to common allergens such as wheat and others may be sensitive to more surprising ingredients such as a certain protein source!

Recipe options, from chicken to white fish and ocean fish!

The protein that should be in your cat food recipe is down to your their preferred choice. The most important thing is getting a recipe that is rich in a good animal protein source. If they like chicken, then something like Tippaws Turkey & Chicken Kitten is a great option. 

Most popular bag sizes

There are a variety of bag sizes on the market including sample packs. The most common sizes tend to be: 300g, 750g, 800g, 1.5kg, 2kg, 2.5kg, 4kg, 5kg, 7.5kg. Usually the bigger the bag, the more economical it is for you. Especially for food available online. 

A look at the meat content in kitten dry cat food brands you'll know

Royal Canin (inc. Royal Canin Maine Coon Kitten, Royal Canin Kitten Sterilised)

Royal Canin food generally has quite low animal protein (exact number not listed on recipes) and doesn't contain fresh meat. However, It's good for specialist diets or sick cats such as gastro diets. 

James Wellbeloved Kitten

James Wellbeloved is also owned by Mars Petcare and has 27% turkey content. It's also quite expensive given there is no fresh meat.

Whiskas Kitten

Whiskas is also owned by Mars and has incredibly low overall meat content - only 4% - with no fresh meat. 

Purina Kitten (inc. Purina Pro Plan and Purina One)

Purina One kitten has 17% meat and is owned by Nestle.

Perfect Fit Junior

Perfect fit is also owned by Mars and has a slightly higher meat content at 14%.

Tippaws Kitten

Tippaws kitten food has 70% chicken and turkey in it and is independently owned.

Iams Kitten

Iams is also owned by Mars and has a higher percentage of meat content at 43%. 

Lily's Kitchen Kitten

 

Lily's kitchen has a high meat content at 75% and is owned by Nestle. 

Applaws Kitten

Applaws kitten ahs 62% meat in it and it is owned by 

 

Should my kitten eat wet cat food too e.g. chicken in jelly?

Wet kitten food is absolutely fine to give your cat in addition to dry. Normally this is down to their preference. The most important things to remember are to give your kitten a complete food and to give them dry food for dental health. 

What is complete natural kitten food?

A natural recipe usually means the food is free from artificial additives. However, some recipes that have added vitamins and minerals are natural, but technically cannot call themselves this according to strict regulations because of the added vitamins and minerals.

Feeding your kitten when you have an adult cat

If you have more than one cat, feed them away from each other and you should have one more bowl of water than the number of cats in the house. 

The importance of fresh meat content in kitten dry food e.g. fresh chicken 

Fresh meat makes food much more appealing for cats, this is because, in the wild, they liked to eat 'warm' meat i.e. eat meat shortly after it was killed. This is very different to dogs, whose wolf ancestors stored meat and ate it 'cold'. The fresh meat content in cat food such as Tippaws stimulates instincts in cats and makes the food more appealing to them.

Do I really need grain free?

No, not necessarily. This depends on your cat and whether they have sensitivities. Having said that, feeding your cat a food that is free from grains if they don't have sensitivities is not bad for them nutritionally. 

Do specific breeds need different food? e.g. British Shorthair

Yes, many cats such as British Shorthairs and Maine Coons have different dietary requirements. Mainly relating to them being prone to putting on weight. There are various breed-specific guides and websites that can help you navigate this. 

Does high-protein mean rich in meat i.e. rich in chicken?

Not necessarily, companies don't always explicitly list the protein source, so check with them to make sure. They could be including other protein sources such as chickpeas etc.

Why is kitten chicken the most popular recipe?

Cats love chicken! Simple as that! There are of course a full range of kitten recipes out there.