Adult cats prefer cat foods as they have the necessary nutrients along with taste. We often see their babies mimic them and try to eat their mother’s food. That’s why many cat owners wonder, can kittens eat adult cat food?
Although adult cat food is not recommended for kittens, they can eat it in a moderate quantity. To stay on the safe side, you must allow your kitten to eat adult cat food if it has protein, and fats, and is labelled as “for cats and kittens”.
There is more to know about the period of eating adult cat foods for kittens, along with the quantity. Stay tuned.
Kitten Foods vs. Adult Cat Foods
The food that you give to your cat has a lot to do with their health, growth, and lifestyle. Kittens have smaller teeth, so they can hardly eat adult cat food. Besides, kittens are in the growing stage, whereas adult cats have crossed the growing stage. That’s why manufacturers focus on adding protein and fats to kitten foods as they help in growth. Also, these foods contain DHA, which promotes brain development and eye vision
Contrastingly, adult cat foods have lots of vitamins and minerals. It is because adult cats only require a better immune system and a healthy lifestyle, not growth.
Why Do Kittens Like To Eat Adult Cat Foods?
Kittens often seek adult food for several reasons. For instance, when they reach the teething phase, they crave food to chew. Meanwhile, cats need to chew adult cat foods which kittens can’t resist.
Another reason for kittens finding adult cat foods attractive is their tempting smell. These foods have artificial flavours and ingredients which create a beautiful smell. Cats and kittens find that smell attractive and tend to eat the food.
Most commonly, we see kittens imitate their mother. If their mother eats, they also eat. If their mother sleeps, they also sleep. In the same way, if the kitten sees her mother eating adult cat food, she will also try to eat that food just to copy her mother.
Can Cats Eat Adult Cat Foods?
It is true that adult cat foods and kitten foods are different and contain different nutrients. Besides, kittens need more nutrients than cats, as they are in a growing stage.
For instance, if an adult cat food has vitamins and minerals along with protein and fats, this can be a good option for kittens. Besides, some adult cat foods are labelled as “for both cats and kittens”. You can feed such cat foods to your kitten without any stress.
Remember not to use adult cat foods as a substitute for kittens’ meals. Also, you should not make them a frequent treat for your kittens. Feeding adult cat foods that have the necessary ingredients for kittens can be safe for them as an occasional treat.
When Do Kittens Start Eating Food And Water?
Kittens can’t eat food, especially cat food, just after giving birth. They don’t get teeth at that time. Usually, kittens get teeth when they become three or four weeks old. When they become five weeks old, they may decrease drinking mother’s milk. It is because at this time they are capable enough to chew food.
When kittens get their baby teeth, they can eat softer foods, like fish, cheese, etc. At this stage, they can also drink water. They wean off mothers’ milk completely only when they become 12 weeks old. At this stage, their milk teeth come out, which makes them able to eat hard foods as well.
When And How Can Kittens Eat Adult Cat Food?
The ideal stage for kittens to switch to adult cat food is 12 months to 2 years. It doesn’t mean that you can include all adult foods once your cat reaches the maturity stage. You must opt for the transition in a trial period.
Let’s say your cat is now 1-year-old, now you can start offering her adult cat food following a certain process. One day 1 of four portions, you can serve one portion of adult cat food and 3 portions of normal kitten food to your kitten.
On days 3 and 4, you can serve ½ of adult cat food and ½ of kitten food to your kitten. Again, one day 5 to day 7, you can serve ¾ of adult cat food and ¼ of kitten food. From day 8, you can continue giving only adult cat food to your kitten.
Frequently Asked Questions: Can Kittens Eat Adult Cat Food?
Can a 6-month-old kitten eat adult cat food?
Kittens can start eating adult cat food when they turn 12 months. But that doesn’t mean they can eat it like adult cats on a regular diet. A 6-month-old cat can’t eat adult fat food unless it is labelled as “safe for kittens”.
For how long does a kitten remain a kitten?
All kittens do not remain a kitten for the same period. For instance, medium-sized breeds take 12 to 24 months to get into their full size. Whereas, the larger breeds stay as kittens for up to 18 months to 24 months.
What happens if kittens eat adult cat foods?
Adult cat food is not harmful to kittens, especially when they have kitten-friendly ingredients. Therefore, your kitten won’t have any adverse effects after eating it. However, she may face digestive issues and stomach pain if she eats adult cat food more than required.
How many old kittens can eat adult cat foods?
Kittens around 10 to 12 months can eat cat foods by following a trial period. For larger breeds, they can eat adult cat foods when they become 18 to 24 months old.
Final Thoughts
Hopefully, you are now satisfied with the time and period of kittens eating adult cat foods. Yet, if you are wondering, can cats eat adult cat foods? The answer is yes.
Kittens that are more than 10 months old can opt for cat foods following a trial process. But if your kitten is less than 10 months in age, we can’t recommend giving them adult cat foods. It is because adult cat foods are harder than kitten foods when kittens may not chew if they don’t get their milk teeth.
