Cat food for kittens
Kittens need a complete food specifically formulated for growth, not simply a smaller portion of an adult recipe. Growth foods carry more protein, fat and energy per gram than adult maintenance food, along with the balance of calcium and phosphorus a kitten's developing skeleton needs — feeding an adult food to a growing kitten can leave real gaps even if the kitten seems to be doing fine on it.
What 'complete' and 'kitten' actually mean on a label
A complete food is legally required to provide everything a cat needs from that food alone, without extra supplementation, and this applies separately to kitten and adult life stages because their nutritional needs are genuinely different. A recipe labelled for kittens should state the life stage clearly on the front or back of the pack.
Look for the words 'complete' and 'kitten' or 'growth' together — a 'complementary' food, often a treat or a topper, is not meant to be fed as a kitten's whole diet. If a pack does not say complete anywhere, treat it as something to feed alongside a proper kitten food rather than instead of one.
When to move off kitten food
Most cats are ready to move onto an adult food somewhere around twelve months old, though larger breeds can take a little longer to finish growing. There is no need to switch on an exact date — moving gradually around that age, and watching how your cat settles, works better than a hard cut-off.
If you are unsure whether your particular kitten is ready, or they have any health condition that affects feeding, that is a conversation worth having with your vet rather than guessing from an age chart alone.
Wet, dry, and how much to feed
Kitten food comes in both wet and dry formats, and there is nothing wrong with feeding a mix of the two, as long as the total keeps the kitten on a complete diet rather than diluting it with treats or table scraps. Small, frequent meals suit a kitten's smaller stomach better than one or two large ones.
Every kitten food pack carries feeding guidelines from the manufacturer based on your kitten's current weight, and these are a sensible starting point rather than something to override with a fixed daily amount worked out elsewhere. If your kitten seems consistently too hungry or is gaining weight faster than expected, that is worth raising with your vet rather than adjusting portions by guesswork.
What we stock for kittens
Our kitten food range covers both wet and dry complete foods from the everyday brands most UK owners recognise, and every order is picked, packed and posted by hand. Stock moves as the shop trades, so what is listed is genuinely what is available to order.
Alongside dedicated kitten food, our wider food-treats range includes some options suitable for kittens once they are a little older — always check the pack for a minimum age or weight before offering anything new.
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
Calm the Eff Down Treats Chicken Flavour 90 Tablets
Chicken-flavoured calming tablets from Pets Calm Down, made in the UK, ninety to a pack and given as a treat for dogs who find fireworks, travel or being alone difficult.
£22.99
Stop Bloody Scratching Treats Chicken Flavour 90 Tablets
Chicken-flavoured tablets from Pets Calm Down, made in the UK, ninety to a pack, given daily as a treat to support skin and coat condition in itchy dogs.
£22.99
Forthglade Grain Free Soft Bites Fresh Breath Treats 8pk
Chicken soft dog treats with parsley and peppermint oil for fresh breath
£2.45
James Wellbeloved Adult Dry Cat Food Turkey
A single-source turkey dry food for adult cats, without the grain-free or joint-support extras
From£21.79
Catit Nibbly Jerky Chicken & Fish Treats
Soft chicken and fish jerky treats for cats, two named meats high on the list, grain free
£1.89
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
Catit Creamy Tuna Treats 4 Pk
Lickable 26% tuna purée tubes for cats, 4 x 10g, up to 3 a day in place of main meal
£1.89
Common questions
- How long should kittens stay on kitten food?
- Most kittens are ready to move to an adult food at around twelve months old, though larger breeds can take a bit longer to finish growing. Moving gradually around that age, rather than switching on an exact date, tends to work best.
- Can kittens eat regular adult cat food?
- It is not ideal as their main diet, because adult food carries less protein, fat and energy than a growing kitten needs, along with a different calcium and phosphorus balance for bone development. A dedicated kitten or growth food is the safer choice while they are still developing.
- How much should I feed a kitten?
- Follow the feeding guidelines printed on the specific food you are using, based on your kitten's current weight, and adjust gradually as they grow rather than sticking to one fixed amount. If you are unsure whether your kitten is eating enough or too much, ask your vet.
- Is wet or dry food better for kittens?
- Both can form part of a healthy diet, and many owners feed a mix of the two. What matters most is that whatever you choose is labelled complete for the kitten or growth life stage, rather than whether it is wet or dry.
- When can kittens start eating treats?
- Most kitten treats state a minimum age or weight on the pack, and it is worth checking this before offering anything new. Treats should stay a small part of a kitten's diet, since their main food is already balanced to cover what they need to grow.
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.