Is kitten food necessary?

Wonder_Girl

Hi,

I'm just wondering if Kitten food is really necessary, I have an adult cat and a four month old kitten.

I've been feeding adult cat on the work surface and kitten on the floor. However, the little one can now jump on the surface and has started to eat the adult cats food.

I'm trying to keep them each to their own (big cat also now prefers kitten food too!) but it's getting really difficult, especially when I'm out as I can't shut them apart. Also they like to snuggle so i don't think that would make them happy

So I've been thinking that one the kitten food I have has run out I may as well just buy normal food for both of them, would this be ok? or should I endeavour to keep them each to their own for now?

Any advice would be gratefully received as I've only ever adopted cats that are 12 months plus before.

Thanks
WG x

sarah*a

I think it is necessary but I'm not sure for how long IYKWIM. In the same way that you wouldn't give a newborn a sunday roast you can't give a baby animal adult food (IMO)

I think both cats and dogs are considered adults at about 1 year old and I think that is the generally recommended age to stop feeding kitten/puupy food - but like human babies I reckon they are all different and nothing is in stone

I haven't helped have I

ETA: I think it's got something to do with nutrients - kitten food has more nutrients in a smaller amount of food - to get the right amount of nutrients a kitten would have to eat 4 times as much adult food as an adult cat - therefore kittn food is recommended

I knew it was in there somewhere :rotfl:

chivers1977

Pets at Home told me 1 year for kitten food but the RSPCA just laughed at me and said that cats in their care always get cat not kitten food unless they have some donated. Therefore as my kitten pouches have now run out, I have bought cat food - if they have been on it for 4-5 months they might as well stay on in IMHO!

Sagz_2

When I first had cats there was no such thing as 'kitten food'....... so I guess it's not necessary, but it is formulated to give a kitten the nutriants it needs.

My most recent kittens moved on to adult food after they were speyed at 4 months and have always been as fit as fleas (!).

Yolina

Kitten food is a fairly recent addition... and kittens managed fine before that I'm sure it's good for them but I certainly wouldn't say you have to. I've never really bothered with it as my kitten, like yours, always ended up swapping bowls with the adult cat (well, she didn't give him much choice to be honest, she'd just barge in and stick her head in his bowl, leaving him slightly miffed to say the least).

Edit: when I was a kid, we had 2 dogs and a cat - none of which ever got fed puppy or kitten food (it didn't exist). The dogs made it to 14 and 16, the cat to 19...

dizziblonde

When we had kittens we dutifully bought kitten food... after finding the tiny nose repeatedly troughing up big cat's food... we didn't bother any longer. Kittens are now cracking on for 5 or 6, last trip they needed to the vet was being parted with their little boy-kitty "assets" - they've never been ill a day in their life, are solid muscle and pretty crackingly healthy cats.

KxMx

Kitten food is fine as long as it keeps them satisifed. Once it doesn't it's time to start thinking about Adult food.

peachyprice

It's a relatively new marketing gimmick (much the same as follow-on milk for babies), and not at all necessary. Pet food manufaturers really do think pet owners are dumb.

dizziblonde

peachyprice wrote: »

It's a relatively new marketing gimmick (much the same as follow-on milk for babies), and not at all necessary. Pet food manufaturers really do think pet owners are dumb.

....but it has cute photos of kittens on the labels!

paddypaws101

In theory kitten formulas are slightly higher in nutritional value than adult food....calories, fat, protein. In practice there is very often little difference! They are a total gimmick and waste of money. Choose a good quality high meat content food, preferably grain free and they will do just fine.
http://www.petforums.co.uk/cat-health-nutrition/112132-z-wet-food-cats.html

soupdragon10

Wild cats don't get kitten milk - it's straight from mum to best bits of whatever has been hunted that day (most of my cats are rescued farm kittens). Kiten food may be slightly higher in protein than adult food, but none of mine have suffered from not being fed this as youngsters