Kitten or Adult food?

[Joanne_]

I am in the process of adopting a kitten from the RSPCA. They estimate him between 6m and a year. From his tiny size I personally think he is much closer to the 6m mark. I went out and bought him Kitten food for when we get him home, but I have now been told that he is eating adult food:\ I feel he is too young for this? what should I do?

[Crewella]

As others of similarly advancing years will tell you, not so long ago there was no such thing as kitten food, there was just 'cat food' and they all ate the same and did fine. For young kittens, I would still feed kitten food, but if he's over 6 months and already on adult food then I'd stick to what he's used to as a sudden change could upset his system. If it's a decent quality (high meat/low cereal) complete food, it should be fine, if that's not what he's used to .... then I'd start with his usual and then upgrade it slowly.

It's almost impossible to judge a kitten/cat's age on size, you get 'big cats' and 'little cats' at all ages!

[meriad]

100% agree - years back there was no such thing as kitten or senior food and all cats managed just fine on whatever there was.

Find out what he's eating now and stick with that and then (if need be) move him over to something else if you prefer.

[Lilith]

And then the cheeky little devil will tuck into your bacon buttie lol.

My first Siamese came to me at 3 months with a detailed diet sheet (this was back in '84; there was definitely no kitten-food in those days.) Including cooked chicken ('but she doesn't like chicken much.') Unfortunately that's what I had ready for her - I gave her a cautious amount in case she was feeling strange and nervous; she scoffed it and followed me downstairs. I took my eyes off her for two minutes - and there she was in the dog's food! So she had a second helping of chicken. Cats eh?

A welcome home to your mew (typo intended) arrival in advance

[Joanne_]

I bought him a high quality kitten food applaws and another high brand but i forget name. Rspca are feeding him their own brand which looks like your average type of whiskers. They only feed dry too. So i thought id mainly feed his dry applaws biscuits and slowly add in a bit of wet?

[Crewella]

If you can get hold of some of what he's used to, it really would be best to start with that for a few days and then gradually introduce whatever it is you'd prefer him to eat. A sudden change in diet (even similar food but just a different brand) can really upset their systems, especially with all the other changes involved in a move, and especially for a yougster.

In the long term, I agree with your wanting to add wet food to his diet. I feed my gang both wet and dry food and, personally, I'm not keen on feeding cats dry food only.

Congrats, by the way, I hope you're very happy together.

[Joanne_]

Thanka for the reply. I will try and get ahold of some. He gets neutured today so i am debating if i should visit him tomorrow to see how he is or wait untill sat?