Wondering at what age kittens are weaned, when to feed kittens adult food, or what is the best cat food for all ages? When it comes to cat food, one size does not fit all, and selecting the best cat food or specialized diet for a feline companion can seem a bit overwhelming with so many options available. a basic place to start is with a life stage formula. From there, keep your cat’s vet involved so he can make recommendations based on any specific health needs, if necessary.
“try to buy a food labeled for your cat’s appropriate age range,” says zay satchu, dvm, co-founder and veterinary director of bond vet in brooklyn, new york. “after that, look for a feeding guide on the bag or can of food. that gives you a good starting point, and then you’ll need to adjust the amount to maintain a healthy body weight; your vet can help guide you through this process.”
To get started, check out this guide on cat foods for all ages and how to maintain optimal nutrition for cats from kittenhood through adulthood.
kittens (4 weeks—1 year)
At what age are kittens weaned and can they start eating commercial kitten food? kittens usually become interested in solid food around 3-4 weeks of age.
“you would start by offering small amounts of canned food mixed with water to make it very soft, and then gradually add less water as the kitten gets older,” says suzy gray, bvetmed, dacvim (saim), a veterinary specialist with the center of vca referral and emergency hospital for animals in san diego california and author of the book “my patients and other animals: a veterinarian’s stories of love, loss and hope”.
“once they are eating solid food, you can add something dry, again in small amounts initially, and soaking it in water can help them eat it.”
Once the kittens are fully weaned off their mother’s milk, the correct amount to feed them becomes the responsibility of the humans in the home. it’s easy to overfeed or underfeed, but vets can help provide a structure to prepare the kitten for healthy adulthood.
“Kittens should eat between a half cup and a cup of dry kitten food or six to nine ounces of wet kitten food daily, divided into at least three meals,” says megan teiber, dvm, associate veterinarian at indian prairie animal. hospital in aurora, illinois, and a tuft + paw consultant in traverse city, michigan.
feeding instructions are designed to meet specific dietary needs during the developmental stage of kittens.
“Kittens need extra calories, protein, healthy fats, and minerals like calcium and phosphorus to support healthy growth and musculoskeletal development,” says dr. teiber says. “Kitten diets are carefully formulated to meet these requirements. they should not be fed diets labeled for adult cats. these foods will not meet the energy requirements that are vital for proper growth.”
pay attention to ingredient labels and nutritional information, and look for formulas specific to kittens, such as wellness core grain-free kitten formula dry cat food, which provides the recommended caloric, fat, and protein intake that the little ones need.
adult (1 year—7 years)
When to feed kittens adult food depends on when they reach maturity; usually around 1 year of age, estimates dr. gray, although some larger cat breeds (such as maine coons) have a longer growth spurt and may still need to eat kitten food until they are 18-23 months old. therefore, you should consult your own veterinarian when determining your cat’s maturity.
Once cats reach maturity, their dietary needs change from kittenhood as their metabolisms begin to slow, bodies mature, and activity levels change.
Look for options labeled cat food for all ages, cat food for all life stages, or specific adult foods, such as tiny tiger pate, beef and poultry, canned cat food without grain or grain-free turkey and chicken american journey dry cat food.
the amount of food for an adult cat depends on many factors, all of which influence caloric requirements, dr. gray says, including:
- activity level
- metabolism
- body size
“Feeding kittens several times a day is a good idea, but as cats mature, I typically recommend feeding adult cats food twice a day,” she says. “Kittens normally need more calories due to their activity level and all the energy they have to grow, but this is only for the first year of their lives, and continuing to feed a higher calorie count beyond this period may result in obesity. ”
dr. gray does not recommend free feeding, that is, leaving food for your cat to eat when he wants.
“The notion that cats self-regulate their food intake is fiction, which my cats will attest to if they ever get into a cat food container that was accidentally left out,” says dr. says grey. “Feeding cats food from an early age means you can closely regulate their food intake, make adjustments if health issues such as obesity arise, and determine if changes in food intake are a sign of poor health. one of the first signs that a cat is not feeling well is decreased appetite, and this is difficult to assess if a cat is free-feeding.”
It is also around adulthood when diets can begin to address specific needs, such as weight management formulas for overweight or underweight cats. Not all cats need special formulas, but some do.
“As pet owners, we are fortunate that today there are many different diets available to help with certain health conditions,” says dr. satchu says. “Often the right diet can eliminate the need for medication and even save you money on vet visits.”
dr. satchu recommends that pet owners speak with their veterinarian, as a specialized diet for your cat will be based on its age, gender, medical history, and lifestyle in the home.
“Some cats may benefit from a change in diet (for example, from dry food to wet food), using a food that contains certain supplements, or even a special prescribed diet,” says dr. satchu says. “It is best to seek personalized guidance from your veterinarian when choosing a food for a specific health condition.”
