Kitten food vs Cat food

roguebrogue

Ok so Alice is coming up to 6 months soon and I was wondering if I should be keeping her on kitten food till she's a year?

Part of me thinks I should, but then the other part thinks it's all just a gimmick anyway.

Was just interested in other cat owners opinions/experiences?

BeenieCat

You'll get differing opinions on this but personally i've always given my kittys adult wet food near enough straight away just to 'test the water' and they've always taken to it well. Probably could mash it up a bit more for them though.

Well actually i gave them the free samples of Whiskas kitten from their kitten care packs but once that was gone i went onto normal tinned stuff.

I don't know what implications, if any, there are nutritionally but my cats have always been very healthy and common sense (and the pong) will tell you if it's not doing them any good.

rita-rabbit

I personally would introduce adult food - mix it for starters so as to avoid upset tummy. Also start on quality dry food - cheaper, & better for teeth (will avoid dental bills in the long run) less smells out the other side too!

Kitten food makes more profit for manufacturers.

Buttonmoons

I used kitten food on my first till about 6months then swapped as she didn't seem keen on it, I've got a 6month kitten now and to start with I fed him on the kitten food, but he would eat the other cats adult food and the older cat would trough down the kitten stuff, so I just swapped to adult for everyone, as I think there is more protein in the kitten stuff? Or something that might make my older cat fatter!

robert_harper_2000

I thought there was more protein in Kitten food but over 6 months and it certainly won't do any harm. I would stick to wet and dry, cats don't really chew the way the dental biscuits work are that they make them over sized and force the cat to un-naturally chew when they don't really want too.

Wet helps keep your cat hydrated, they want to get about 90% of their moisture through their food not via a water bowl. Stick with anything that has a very high meat content
Wet; Almo Nature & Applaws
Dry; Applaws, Orijen

I usually give mine a can in the morning and dry in the evening.

Have you got any pics?

roguebrogue

Thanks for the replies so far guys. You've pretty much convinced me to do what I was going to do anyway, moved her onto adult around the 6 month mark.

robert_harper_2000 wrote: »

I thought there was more protein in Kitten food but over 6 months and it certainly won't do any harm. I would stick to wet and dry, cats don't really chew the way the dental biscuits work are that they make them over sized and force the cat to un-naturally chew when they don't really want too.

Wet helps keep your cat hydrated, they want to get about 90% of their moisture through their food not via a water bowl. Stick with anything that has a very high meat content
Wet; Almo Nature & Applaws
Dry; Applaws, Orijen

I usually give mine a can in the morning and dry in the evening.

Have you got any pics?

Here's the thread I started when I first got her:
http://forums.moneysavingexpert.com/showthread.html?t=1721053&highlight=

She's obviously alot bigger now!

robert_harper_2000

v.cute! lol

creased-leach

Cats have been thriving since waaay before kitten food was invented.

Hubby insisted our kitten had to have kitten food- he ignored it & nicked his mums adult food from the start. He's now a 5 month old strapping, healthy bruiser of a cat.

Spudette

I think that there is more protein in the Kitten food so I would stay on the kitten food until she is 1 just to make sure she gets the right level of protein.

h007

Spudette wrote: »

I think that there is more protein in the Kitten food so I would stay on the kitten food until she is 1 just to make sure she gets the right level of protein.

I was wondering about this too as my 7 montyh old kitten keeps finishing off the adult cats food.
after looking at the labels i realised ther is hardly any difference in the foods except the kitten food had something like 2% more protein.
so I have moved him onto adult wet but have kept the kitten dry - well at least until it is all use up!

Spudette

h007 wrote: »

I was wondering about this too as my 7 montyh old kitten keeps finishing off the adult cats food.
after looking at the labels i realised ther is hardly any difference in the foods except the kitten food had something like 2% more protein.
so I have moved him onto adult wet but have kept the kitten dry - well at least until it is all use up!

Same I feed almo wet adult cans and applaws dry kitten food. :beer: