Kitten Food

A growing kitten needs considerably more energy and protein relative to its size than an adult cat, along with specific nutrients supporting bone and organ development. Kitten-specific wet and dry foods, such as Applaws kitten tuna fillet or Iams Delights kitten in gravy, are formulated with this higher demand in mind.

Feeding an adult food to a kitten, even a good quality one, does not provide the same balance of nutrients for the growth stage they are in, which is why the kitten and adult ranges are formulated differently rather than just portioned differently.

Both wet and dry kitten food can provide complete nutrition; the choice often comes down to preference, cost, and how much moisture you want in the diet. Wet food adds hydration, which some kittens benefit from, while dry food is convenient and helps with dental wear as kittens start to chew more.

Many owners feed a mix of both, offering wet food as part of the daily routine alongside a dry food left down for grazing, which suits how many kittens naturally like to eat little and often.

Kittens generally need more frequent, smaller meals than an adult cat, particularly in the first few months, since their stomachs are small relative to their energy needs. Following the feeding guide on the specific product, adjusted for your kitten's actual weight and age, is a better starting point than a fixed idea of portion size.

As a kitten grows, meal frequency is usually reduced gradually, moving from several small meals a day down towards the two meals typical of an adult cat by around a year old.

Most kittens move onto adult food around twelve months, though larger or slower-maturing breeds sometimes stay on kitten food a little longer. Make the switch gradually over a week or so, mixing increasing amounts of adult food into the kitten food rather than swapping in one go.

If you are unsure when to switch, your vet can advise based on your kitten's individual growth and breed, rather than relying on age alone.