We've decided to change our kitten's diet over the next few days now that they've settled in (they're 5 months old and we got them a few weeks ago). They're on Whiskas kitten at the moment (what they were on before) and I bought a bag of Applaws dry food to slowly replace their wet food along with some Applaws kitten tins for the odd wet food treat a few times a week.

They have been getting 3 pouches each of whiskas kitten a day and my question is - once they're fully on applaws, should I split the daily allowance by 3 or just leave it all out?

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Basil & Sybil

Why are you intending to move your kittens from a wet diet to a dry diet with just a little bit of wet as treat. Given the benefits of feeding a predominantly wet diet it seems an odd choice. Personally, I would look into feeding better wet foods than Whiskas.

I will probably end up feeding them each a tin of the wet applaws kitten food a day as I know they love wet food. The dry food - I know it keeps better during the day while we're at work, I was jut wondering if people put the daily allowance down in one go. They have a water fountain as well which I know they use and vet assured me Applaws dry is a good complete dry food.

I know that the wet/dry debate divides people - just trying to figure everything out

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Basil & Sybil

When it comes to cats there isn't much of a division - wet is best. Dogs are perhaps a different story because unlike cats they drink until they are rehydrated. Cats don't have that thirst drive and even though you have a fountain, which is very commendable, and even though your cats drink from it, they will not take in enough moisture to make up for the lack of moisture in the dry food.

Applaws dry IS one of the better dry foods but even better imo is orijen and acana.

Re the Applaws wet - you know that is only complementary food, right? You really are much better off finding a good quality complete wet food and feed them that.

There is no reason why you cannot feed multiple meals of wet food even if you work. Loads of people with kittens and grown cats manage - so really no need to resort to dry food.

Thanks for the advice

I know the Applaws wet is complementary so I was going to feed this in addition to the dry (I just saw that the package says 1 can a day in addition to the dry is fine).

They don't serve Orijen near me (shame, it looks like a good food!), I'm not around during the day to have it delivered and can't get it delivered to work, so Applaws it is! They gobbled up their wet/applaws mixture even quicker today, so they seem to like it so far

If someone who feeds dry food could let me know if they stagger it throughout the day or leave it all out in one go, that would be great

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Basil & Sybil

I don't like advice given on the Applaws dry bag - it actually states that you can feed dry "all day" and give them a tin of Applaws in the morning and evening

To my mind that's way too much of a complimentary food - I know you are planning to give the wet less than this but it makes me dubious about all the info on the packet.

I have two male cats and, due to the high ash content in Applaws, have switched them to a mostly wet diet (complete) with a very small amount of Orijen.

Be careful with the Applaws wet - it's very, very palatable which could mean clever cats might refuse to eat anything else!

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Harry: Ginger & White b. September 2002
Oscar: Black b. 7th May 2011
Kitty: Grey Tabby b. 7th May 2011

Our lovely cat family

If you live in Orpington surely this is close by. They stock orijen

Albany Pet Stop

Afraid not - I don't have a car and pets at home is just down the road!

Does anyone know whether you're supposed to split up the recommended daily allowance for dry food or whether you're meant to put the whole lot out at once?

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Basil & Sybil

so in other words you have no intention of trying your cat on any other food. Fair enough but why don't you just say that. It's much cheaper to buy dried food in bulk anyway so it's not like you'd have to make regular trips. A big bag of dried lasts my two at least 3 months.

Some people do but, I wouldn't leave a whole lot of dried food out at once personally because my boys would eat it all in one go then expect more food.

You can use a timed feeder if you are out during the day to give them a lunch time helping.

Naturally cats eat often throughout the day so I don't like feeding mine in one go. Mine get fed 4 times a day.

Thanks cloudygirl - If they don't take to the Applaws or I/the vet sees that their health is deteriorating, I will will of course try them on other food. I was just trying to bring it back to what my original question was

A timed feeder seems like the way to go, I have been considering getting one!

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Basil & Sybil