A young girl holding a kitten: When to switch from kitten to cat food?
A young girl holding a kitten: When to switch from kitten to cat food?
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Until 12 months of age, most cats are considered kittens. However, larger breeds such as the Maine Coon can take up to two years to mature.
Kittens need a comprehensive and balanced diet during this stage of growth and development. Switch to adult cat chow when they reach adulthood (based on their
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breed).
Can adult cat food be used by kittens.
Kittens need food to meet the unique nutritional needs of kittens compared to adult cats.
However, if a food's label says it's formulated "for all life stages," it can be safely consumed by both adult cats and kittens.
When are kittens allowed?
While it is not
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recommended for kittens to consume adult cat food prior to reaching adulthood, they can start consuming dry kibble and wet kitten food far earlier.
Kittens can start eating wet food or dry kibble that has been moistened by three to four weeks. Kittens can eat dry or wet food around six to eight weeks
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after they are completely weaned from their mother's milk.
The Significance of Transitioning to Adult Cat Food
In addition to their quick growth and development, kittens are energetic, lively, and playful animals. To support active, developing kittens, kitten food contains extra calories, protein, and fat.
It is
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also packed with vitamins and minerals required for their developing immune systems, as well as DHA to aid promote brain and vision development.
When cats reach adulthood,
Cats don't require the same amounts of those nutrients until they reach adulthood. Moreover, consuming a high-calorie kitten diet
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could cause weight gain because kittens are frequently less active.
When and How to Change Your Cat's Food from Kitten to Adult
It's recommended to convert to adult cat food around your kitten's first birthday, or between 18 months and 2 years for larger breeds.
To assist prevent any stomach distress, we
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advise a 7–10 day transition to adult meals. Here's how to do it:
Days 1-2: Add 1/4 of the new adult cat food and serve 3/4 of the typical kitten food.
Serve half kitten food and half adult cat food on days three and four.
Days 5-7: Give 3/4 adult cat food and 1/4 kitten food.
Days 8–10: Just the new adult cat food
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should be given.
Give your cat more time and a slower transition if she doesn't want to eat the new food before increasing the amount of adult food. For more advice on transitioning from kitten to adult cat food, speak with your veterinarian.
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