When do kittens become adults? If your kitten is approaching 1 year of age, it will soon be an adult cat. Learn what to expect & how to care for an adult cat.
Can a Kitten Eat Adult Cat Food?
Generally, cats that are less than one year of age are considered kittens. It is important to feed your pet a kitten formula for up to one year to ensure that they get all of the nutrition they need while they grow. Read on to learn when to switch from kitten to cat food.
Can kittens eat adult cat food?
The answer is on the label of the bag of food you are choosing. If the label, or bag of food, has “for all life stages” written on it, then it is nutritionally sufficient for kittens and safe for them to eat.
When can kittens eat dry food?
Kittens can begin eating solid food at around four weeks old. Begin by feeding your kitten soft or wet canned food. As they grow used to eating solid food and their teeth continue to develop, begin to mix in dry food moistened with a bit of water. Gradually increase the amount of dry food over several days, paying attention to the feeding instructions on the back of the bag. To learn more about feeding your kitten, read our article on how much to feed your kitten.
When to switch to adult cat food
Kittens grow and develop every day. They require a food that meets the high-energy demands of their bodies. As your kitten becomes an adult cat, you may need to adjust her diet.
How do you know when to switch to adult cat food? Sometimes it’s hard to know when to stop feeding kitten food, but generally, you should begin slowly transitioning your kitten to adult food when she is one year old, or when your veterinarian recommends doing so. There is an exception with larger breed cats, such as the Maine Coon, which do not reach adult maturity until they are 18 months of age. Spread out the transition process over a seven to 10-day period, gradually increasing the amount of her new food each day.
