Can a Kitten Eat Adult Cat Food? What to Know · Kinship Leave a comment

If you happen to’re a cat dad or mum, you’ve most likely, at one time or one other, been tempted to get a couple of cat. As soon as the inevitable occurs, and you’ve got a small zoo of cats, feeding time may get risky. What in case your curious new kitten actually needs in in your grumpy grownup cat’s meals (in the event that they’ll share). Can kittens eat grownup cat meals?

In brief, the reply isn’t any. Kittens can not eat grownup cat meals. Rising kittens and grownup cats have completely different diet wants. Don’t fear, it’s not too difficult. We talked to 2 veterinarians to get recommendation on the very best meals to feed kitten and how you can take care of feeding a number of cats who want completely different meals. 

Pet parenting offers, only for our kin

Get (completely free) offers for meals, treats, equipment, tech, and method extra pet parenting must-haves.

Get Offers

Understanding dietary necessities for kittens 

Kittens develop at a powerful price. To gas that extraordinary progress, they want extra energy than totally grown grownup cats. Kittens additionally want sure vitamins in several ratios than older cats. 

“Identical to in individuals, dietary necessities change all through the course of a cat’s life,” says Dr. Chris Konvalinka, a veterinarian at Bahama Highway Veterinary Hospital in Bahama, North Carolina. “Kitten meals is designed to offer extra protein, energy, fats, nutritional vitamins, and minerals to fulfill the wants of quickly rising our bodies. In maturity, these necessities change, and subsequently the meals ought to change as effectively.”

Protein, fats and caloric consumption

Kitten meals, generally referred to as “progress system” on the package deal label, supplies larger ranges of protein, fats, and energy in comparison with grownup cat meals (generally referred to as “upkeep system” within the label). 

The American Affiliation of Feed Management Officers (AAFCO), which maintains requirements for pet meals, recommends that kitten meals include not less than 30 % crude protein and 12 to 24 % fats. This share refers back to the meals’s “dry matter” content material, which accounts for the quantity of water within the meals. As compared, grownup cat meals has not less than 26 % protein and not less than 9 % fats. 

Because of its larger fats content material, kitten meals is extra vitality dense — accommodates extra energy per ounce. 

Omega-3 necessities 

Omega-3 fatty acids — particularly, EPA and DHA — are vital vitamins for kitten improvement. AAFCO recommends that kitten meals have 0.012 % mixed EPA and DHA. As compared, grownup cat meals has no AAFCO minimal advice for EPA/DHA. Not all grownup cat meals include omega-3 fatty acids, although grownup cats may nonetheless profit from these vitamins. DHA is very essential for kittens because it helps help wholesome mind and eye improvement. Omega-3 fatty acids are additionally useful for pores and skin, coat, and the immune system. 

What is the distinction between kitten meals vs grownup cat meals?

The three main variations between kitten meals and grownup cat meals embrace:

• Nutrient composition and caloric density: Kitten meals has extra protein and fats, and is extra calorie dense than grownup cat meals. It additionally accommodates completely different ranges of nutritional vitamins and minerals in comparison with grownup cat meals.

• Texture and dimension of kibble: Dry kitten meals tends to have smaller sized kibbles for small mouths.

• Dietary supplements and components: Kitten meals all the time accommodates omega-3 fatty acids, which aren’t all the time present in grownup cat meals.

Are you able to feed your kitten grownup cat meals?

No, you shouldn’t feed your kitten grownup cat meals. In keeping with Preston Turano, a veterinary spokesperson at Felix Cat Insurance coverage, grownup cat meals doesn’t have the diet profile wanted for progress and improvement. 

“If grownup meals solely is fed to a kitten, it may sluggish and even hurt their improvement,” he says. “If in case you have a number of cats and your kitten by accident will get into the grownup meals it won’t damage them, however their primary weight loss program must be formulated for a kitten.”

Tips on how to feed cats of various ages

If in case you have an grownup cat and a kitten, it’s potential to feed them the identical meals. You’ll simply have to decide on a meals labeled for “all life levels,” which suggests it meets the dietary wants of each kittens and grownup cats. 

Nevertheless, Dr. Turano recommends speaking along with your veterinarian about whether or not that’s the most suitable choice, relatively than simply an ample possibility, to your cats. “It’s typically higher to do separate feedings with probably the most acceptable weight loss program so your rising kitten can get the very best diet for improvement,” he says.

Diets formulated for all life levels are usually larger in fats and energy than grownup cat meals, so they won’t be a great possibility in case your grownup cat is obese. Moreover, Dr. Konvalinka factors out that some senior cats, particularly these with medical situations, may need particular dietary wants that wouldn’t be met by an “all life levels” weight loss program. 

When to modify a kitten to grownup cat meals

Dr. Turano confirms that the very best age to modify a kitten to grownup meals is someplace between eight months to 1 yr of age, as soon as they’ve accomplished nearly all of their progress. If you happen to’re unsure concerning the timing of the change, have a chat along with your veterinarian, who could make customized suggestions to your cat. 

Anytime you alter your cat’s meals, achieve this step by step, over a interval of days and even weeks. This can assist to keep away from abdomen upset. Slowly combine growing quantities of the brand new meals into the previous till the cat has transitioned utterly to the brand new meals.

FAQs (Folks additionally ask):

When can kittens eat dry meals?

Kittens can eat dry meals round 5 to 6 weeks of age. Initially, soften the dry meals with kitten milk replacer or water to make it simpler for younger kittens to chew. They nonetheless have to nurse or drink kitten milk replacer at this age.

When can kittens eat moist meals?

Kittens can eat moist meals after they start the weaning course of, round three to 4 weeks of age. They nonetheless have to nurse or drink kitten milk replacer at this age.

Is moist or dry kitten meals higher?

Each moist and dry kitten meals present correct diet for kittens so long as the meals is formulated in accordance with the American Affiliation of Feed Management Officers (AAFCO) for progress and copy. Moist kitten meals affords extra moisture, which is useful for conserving kittens hydrated. 

Are you able to feed a 10-month-old kitten grownup cat meals? 

A kitten can often transition to grownup cat meals as soon as it has completed most of its rising. If you happen to’re unsure when to modify your kitten over, verify along with your veterinarian. 

Can grownup cat meals give kittens diarrhea?

Grownup cat meals typically gained’t give kittens diarrhea, however this might occur if kittens eat some grownup cat meals that they aren’t used to having.

Can older cats eat kitten meals?

Grownup cats shouldn’t eat kitten meals because it doesn’t have the very best mixture of vitamins and energy for grown cats. Grownup cat meals (referred to as upkeep) is formulated to fulfill the wants of grownup cats. Grownup cats also can eat meals formulated to fulfill “all life levels” (you can even feed this to kittens). If in case you have a senior cat, discuss to your vet about the very best meals to fulfill their wants.

What are some indicators a kitten is not getting correct diet?

Kittens that aren’t getting correct diet may present indicators of slowed or halted progress, weight reduction, poor coat or hair loss, boring eyes, low vitality, bowed legs, pale gums, diarrhea, or vomiting.  

Are you able to combine grownup cat meals with kitten meals?

You possibly can combine grownup cat meals with kitten meals if you find yourself transitioning your kitten to an grownup weight loss program round one yr of age. In any other case, kittens ought to eat kitten meals and grownup cats ought to eat grownup cat meals.