On sale we find so much variety of cat food that it is not always easy to know which is the most suitable for our furry. Other times we take care of an abandoned kitten and we are not sure of its age or, simply, we get confused and run out of food for it in the middle of a long weekend or on a holiday.
To answer questions, in this article on our site we are going to answer the following question: Can a kitten eat adult cat food?Let's see it.
Feeding the kittens
As far as feeding is concerned, the most important aspect of the kitten stage is the rapid growth that our furry will undergo. It is not a minor issue, since it implies some specific and high needs, especially for certain nutrients, such as proteins. Giving him a food that can cover them all is a guarantee of good growth and contributes to the maintenance of good he alth at a stage in which his entire body is maturing. On the contrary, inadequate or poor quality food can end up manifesting in diseases or growth difficulties.
Thus, kittens, like the mammals they are, begin their lives feeding on mother's milk If we leave them with their mother, the they will consume for months, even if they already eat solid food. But, in general, around eight weeks of life is when they move into their new homes. It is not convenient to make the transfer before that age and the ideal is that they already know how to eat on their own. Thus, upon arrival at our home we will only have to look for a food that on its packaging indicates that it is suitable for kittens
Its composition will be ideal for this stage and, in addition, the texture or size of the croquette will be adapted to smaller mouths, making it easier to eat. We can choose dry feed or canned wet food, which are the most popular options. We could also give him homemade food, as long as the menu is prepared by a veterinarian specialized in nutrition to guarantee that his nutritional needs are met.
Therefore, special food for kittens is indicated in this period, unless it is very small, for which you will need formula milk, as we explain in this other article on What to feed a 1-month-old cat? But could a kitten eat adult cat food? We answer it in the following sections.
Feeding adult cats
Kittens typically reach their adult size by 6-8 months Therefore adult feeding can be started around this age, although many foods delay the change until the year. It is advisable to look at the label, consult the veterinarian and observe the evolution of the cat.
Adult life for the cat is a maintenance period in which the quality of the chosen food will contribute to its good he alth condition. There is a change in nutritional needs, since it has stopped growing rapidly, much more so if the cat has been neutered, since the intervention produces changes in metabolism.
Hence for sale we find specific ranges for sterilized, overweight, indoor cats, with a tendency to form hairballs or crystals in the urine, etc. The maintenance or specific diet for certain characteristics can be followed for years, at least until the senior stage in which, again, significant changes associated with age will occur and will have their nutritional consequences, hence the need to change food again.
Can kittens eat adult cat food?
The answer to the question about whether a kitten can eat adult cat food is that is not recommended, likewise It is not advisable for cats to eat dog food. A feed formulated for adult cats, in view of the differences between the two life stages, is not suitable for a growing kitten. However, it should be noted that some brands make feed that is suitable for any cat, regardless of breed or age. Logically, if it is the product we have, we can give it to you without any problem, even in the long term. However, as we say, the ideal is for it to be a feed according to its life stage.
As you can see, cat food, whether dry food or wet food, is marketed specifying whether it is suitable for kittens, adult or senior cats. In addition to the quality that should always guide us in the choice, we will have to look for the variety that best suits the conditions of our furry.
What if I feed my kitten adult food?
Now, just because it is not the most appropriate thing for a kitten to eat adult cat food does not mean that something serious is going to happen to it if one day or from time to time we are forced to feed it with it. If we run out of yours, we don't have another one at home, we make a mistake when buying it, etc. we can give it to you while we fix the problem.
However, prolonged use could end up causing alterations in he alth or development, although the quality with which they are formulated commercial diets for cats today make it very difficult for us to see serious problems.
On the other hand, if it presents any pathology, the veterinarian may decide to prescribe a specific food, even if it is not formulated for kittens, because in these cases the first thing is your recovery. For example, a five-month-old kitten with struvite crystals will need to eat a feed that breaks them down. Another very common example is castration, which can be done at 5-6 months, at the same time as the change to feed for sterilized cats.
