Hey all!

I was just wondering when is best to start feeding adult food to kittens. Our 18 week old kittens have just been neutered and the veterinary nurse said to start feeding adult food as their metabolism starts to slow down once they've been neutered, and cause kitten food has higher protein they will fill out more.

Is this true? (I realise they could be just trying to sell me science plans food for neutered cats).

They're currently on natures menu kitten food with james wellbeloved dried kitten food. We'll just switch to the adult version when the time's right.

They're still pretty small though, just concerned because they still have a lot of growing to do, that it's too early.

Thanks,

Toffee

I would have thought 18 weeks is too early. I understand it that they should move gredually on to adult food when they are 1 year old.
As they are still growing I think they still need the nutrients found in kitten food. Are they outside cats? The will definitely need food that gives them energy if they are.
I think what you are feeding them at the mo is fine. Mine are 8 months, have been neutered and are indoor cats. They are not fat at all but just filled out as they should for their age.

KK

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Karen
Slave to Tommy & Jessy born 13th Feb 2009

Kitten food is a gimick! I did a research mini personal project on this a while ago - and the kitten food for the W****** and F**** brands actually had LESS vitamins and protein content than the adult version and was pricier. The thread is on here somewhere. Only the senior versions were slightly better. DO the research and check the packets nutritional contents or go on the websites and check it out.

If you feed a good quality food 50%+ meat you will doing well by your cats. And dry is so not a good best food (imho) it is so dehydrating and cats don't have a thirst drive like dogs (they have evolved to get all their water from their food) and so getting them to drink enough is incredibly difficult. I do understand that dry is convenient though.

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http://finesthourbirmans.webs.com

thanks for the replies

My kittens are 4 and 5 months and they eat adult cat food as I have 2 adult cats and they all mix and match when it comes to food!

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My British Shorthair Boy

"Be who you are and say what you feel,
because those who mind don't matter
and those who matter don't mind."
Dr. Seuss

Having just doing a table to compare natures menu kitten VS Adult food in terms of protein, vitamins, moisture etc.

The only difference is that kitten food is 12% protein, compared to 11% with adult, and 7% oil rather than 6% in the adult. The vitamins are exactly the same!

I alternate the raw diet with canned food. I give them Wellness brand canned food. Anyway Wellness says on the can that isn't good for both kittens and adult cats. I would tend to agree with spid. Kitten food is just a gimmick.
Everything I have read says it is just a marketing ploy.

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Yeah, it really wouldn't surprise me!

Anyone else feed their cats natures menu? It says on their site that for an average 3-5kg cat (which one of mine is already) that they should have 3-4 pouches per day. That seems an awful lot, cause they've been eating 1 pouch each a day (half each, twice a day) with dried food (JWB). And usually have some left. As much as I want to feed them the best, that would be bloody expensive lol! We're talking doubling the price....and it ain't cheap!