Cat food for adult cats
An adult cat, roughly one to seven years old depending on the individual, needs a maintenance recipe rather than the higher-calorie formula built for growth — a kitten food fed for life leads to unnecessary weight gain, while an adult recipe fed to a growing kitten will not support that growth properly. Choosing the right life stage on the label matters more than any other single decision on the bag.
What changes at the adult stage
Kitten food is calorie-dense and higher in certain nutrients to support rapid growth, and continuing it once a cat reaches adulthood is a common, easy-to-miss cause of gradual weight gain. Adult maintenance food is calibrated for a cat that has stopped growing and needs to maintain a healthy weight rather than build one.
Most cats move from kitten to adult food at around twelve months, though this can vary slightly by individual and breed. Checking the specific product's guidance, or asking your vet at a routine check-up, is the more reliable approach than a single fixed date.
Choosing between dry and wet as an adult
Dry food is convenient, keeps well, and suits a cat who prefers to graze through the day, while wet food adds moisture to the diet and tends to be more palatable for a fussier cat. Neither is inherently better for a healthy adult cat, and plenty of owners feed a combination of both rather than choosing exclusively.
Weight and body condition matter more than the specific format — an adult cat carrying extra weight generally benefits from a controlled portion of either format rather than free access to a bowl topped up throughout the day.
What we stock
Our cat-dry-food and cat-wet-food ranges carry adult maintenance recipes across a range of proteins and price points, suitable for the healthy, active majority of adult cats without a specific medical need. If your cat has a known sensitivity or health condition, a targeted recipe rather than a standard adult formula may be more appropriate.
Around seven years old is generally when it is worth discussing a move to a senior-formulated food with your vet, since an older cat's needs begin to shift again from this point, and a routine blood or urine check at that stage can catch changes well before they show up as symptoms at home.
What we stock
Everything below is in stock with us, priced with delivery worked out, and packed and posted by hand in the UK.
Whiskas 1+ Salmon Adult Dry Cat Food
Complete salmon dry food for adult cats in a practical 1.9KG bag
£12.39
Whiskas 1+ Lamb Adult Dry Cat Food
Complete lamb dry food for adult cats in a practical 1.9KG bag
£12.39
Whiskas 1 Tuna Adult Dry Cat Food
Complete tuna dry food for adult cats, offered in several bag sizes
From£3.19
Whiskas Kitten Chicken Dry Cat Food
Complete chicken dry food for kittens, available in several bag sizes
From£3.19
Whiskas 1 Chicken Adult Dry Cat Food
A complete dry food for cats 1+, with chicken present only in the brown kibbles
From£3.19
Whiskas 7+ Senior Cat Complete Dry with Chicken
Complete chicken dry food for senior cats aged 7+ in a 1.9KG bag
£12.39
Whiskas 7+ Chicken Adult Dry Cat Food
Complete chicken dry food for senior cats aged 7+ in an 800G bag
£6.09
Whiskas 2-12 Months Kitten Complete Dry Food Chicken
Complete chicken dry food for kittens aged 2-12 months in a 7KG bag
£30.15
Whiskas 1+ Adult Cat Complete Dry Food Tuna
Complete tuna dry cat food for adults in a 7KG bag with 30% protein
£30.15
Whiskas 1+ Adult Cat Complete Dry with Chicken
Complete chicken dry cat food for adults in a 7KG bag with 30% protein
£30.15
Burns Adult/Senior Cat Sensitive Grain Free Duck & Potato
Grain-free duck and potato food for cats with digestive or food sensitivities
£16.49
James Wellbeloved Light Adult Dry Cat Food Fish
A lower-calorie fish dry food for adult cats managing their weight, with joint-support ingredients
£24.65
Common questions
- When should a kitten switch to adult cat food?
- Most kittens move onto adult food at around twelve months old, though this can vary by breed and individual. Your vet can advise on timing at a routine check-up if you are unsure whether your kitten is ready.
- Is wet or dry food better for an adult cat?
- Neither is automatically better for a healthy adult cat — dry is convenient and suits grazing, wet adds moisture and palatability. Many owners feed a mix of both, and the right choice often comes down to what your individual cat prefers and how they manage their weight on it.
- How do I know if my adult cat is overweight?
- You should be able to feel your cat's ribs with light pressure without them being visibly prominent, and see a waist when viewed from above. If you are unsure, ask your vet at a check-up rather than guessing, since a body condition check is quick and reliable.
- When should an adult cat move to senior food?
- Around seven years old is a common general guideline, but individual cats age differently, and some do not need a dietary change at that exact point. Discuss the right timing with your vet based on your own cat's health and activity level.
Related
Written by Matt Garnett, who runs Giddy Pets and is a lifelong pet owner — not a vet. This is general information, not veterinary advice, and it cannot replace an examination by the vet who knows your animal. How we write these guides.