FAQs on kitten food
What is the best food to feed a kitten?
There is no one right food for any kitten or cat because individual kittens may have special dietary needs and personal tastes and texture preferences. According to Zoran, the best nutritional profile for a healthy kitten is usually a diet that is high in protein, low in carbohydrates, and high in moisture. Whatever food you choose, it must meet AAFCO’s nutritional requirements for complete and balanced growth for a kitten. While there’s nothing wrong with feeding kitten kibble, Zoran strongly encourages rotating different brands of kitten food, textures, and proteins. Just remember that cats and kittens prefer to get most of their water from their food.
Is wet or dry food better for kittens?
Both wet and dry foods will meet your kitten’s nutritional needs when labeled with the AAFCO statement for kittens (growing) or all life stages. But one type of food has more moisture than others. Wet foods contain 75% to 80% moisture compared to the 10% to 12% found in dry foods. Zoran says that rotating textures, proteins, and brands of food is recommended for kittens to prevent picky palates and food boredom.
Do kittens need special wet food?
Kitten food must have the AAFCO statement for growth or all life stages on its label to ensure that it is complete and balanced for kittens. Complete and balanced dry or wet food for kittens should have at least 30% protein, 9% fat, and the presence of essential nutrients, including amino acids such as taurine, fatty acids, minerals, and vitamins.
What is the best dry food for kittens?
According to Zoran, the best food you can feed your kitten is one that is nutritionally complete, agrees with their skin and digestive tract, and that your kitten likes. Quality kitten foods come from well-known brands with dedicated nutrition experts on staff who follow strict quality control measures.
What is the best cat food for indoor kittens?
Indoor kittens should eat a well-rounded, complete and balanced diet full of different textures and tastes, says Zoran. Dry kibbles, canned pâté, shreds, chunks in gravy, and flaked kitten food are fine to rotate into your kitten’s diet, as long as the label states that the food meets the nutritional requirements set forth by AAFCO for in growth or all stages of life.
Is it okay to give kittens regular cat food?
Kitten food formulas should be AAFCO complete and balanced for growth or all life stages. This ensures that the food has the appropriate balance of protein (30% minimum), fat (9% minimum), and essential vitamins and minerals for growth, such as calcium and phosphorus. If a food says “for intermittent feeding” instead of specifying a life stage, Kornreich says it’s not a complete and balanced diet for a cat of any age and should only be offered as a treat. If a food is labeled as adult or maintenance, it will not meet the nutritional requirements of a growing kitten but is suitable for an adult cat.
