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Best Dry Food For Kittens

What Kitten Foods Should Be Avoided

The Top 7 Best Dry Cat Foods of 2022 (We Tested Them All)

You are sitting there with your sweet little fur baby and they look at you with their sweet kitten face and you give the mightiest little meow urging you to share a nibble of that onion burger you are shoving into your face. The meow alone is enough to make you start to tear off a piece and give them a bite and then they start to purr! Stop! There are certain types of foods that kittens cannot have that can actually be life threatening to them if eaten in large quantities or at all.

Lets talk about that onion burger you were lovingly about to share with your little feline friend. Onions are toxic to kittens. The toxicity level to cats is 1 gram of onion per 5 pounds of cat. Ingestion of onion, in any form whether it be raw, dehydrated, or even powdered to a kitten could ultimately be fatal if proper veterinary attention is not sought immediately if you think or know that your kitten has eaten something containing onion.

This warning doesnt just come with onions either. Shallots, garlic, scallions, chives, and scallions, all have the same fatal effects on felines. When ingesting these types of vegetables it has a reaction between the red blood cells in your kitten and the oxidant levels in the vegetables causing a reaction in the red blood cells which can lead to anemia, onion poisoning, and fatal toxicity. It also causes severe gastrointestinal issues.

The Best Dry Food For Kittens

When youre choosing kibble for your kitten, check the label to make sure its formulated for kittens. Look for wording that indicates the food meets the nutritional levels established by the Association of American Feed Control Officials Profiles for growth or for all life stages.AAFCO members regulate pet food at the federal and state level.

Keep in mind that while giant bags of food may be a bargain, dry kitten food should be consumed within two months of opening the package. Store your kittens dry food in a cool, dry location away from sunlight to prevent spoiling. Keep the original bag or container tightly closed.

Our list below includes popular, high-quality dry foods from basic and premium brands, so theres something to fit every kitten parents budget. And all of these kitten foods have received rave reviews from buyers.

Why Dry Kitten Food

Kittens are like babies in many ways, but with a few key differences. Unlike human babies and even older cats, kittens have very sensitive stomachs and often have trouble digesting some of the ingredients in adult cat food, especially wet food.

Dry cat food is an excellent option for kittens because its good for their teeth and protein digestion. These days, it is clinically tested for the proper energy-dense formula necessary for optimum health.

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So My Cat Has Diarrhea Why Is This

What is Diarrhea?

Most people are familiar with diarrhea and it appears in cats much as it does in humans. Diarrhea is categorized by loose and sometimes runny or watery stools. Some cats with diarrhea may go to the litter box more than usual, as well.

Diarrhea is caused by fecal matter moving through your cats digestive system faster than normal while not absorbing as much water and nutrients in the process. This could be due to bacteria, viruses, worms, or even food.

Monitor Your Cat’s Litter Box

Some cats are more prone to diarrhea than others and most of the time, diarrhea will clear up on its own. However, it is important that you monitor your cats litter box trips and invetigate their cat litter so that you know when your cat has diarrhea, how long it lasts, and how frequently it is happening.

Is the Cat Diarrhea a One-Off or Regular?

Just like humans, cats bowels can change every so often. They could have a random day of diarrhea and be fine the next. You shouldnt be too terribly concerned if your cat has diarrhea, its a natural occurrence.

However, if they start having diarrhea regularly, you may need to help them get their bowels back to normal. Some cats just have sensitive stomachs and require a different diet to alleviate it. If this is a frequent occurrence with your cat, you should consider trying a new cat food.

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Kitten Vs Adult Cat Food: Whats The Difference

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Aside from kitten kibbles being smaller so those tiny kitty teeth can bite into them, food made for younger cats will also contain different nutrients.

For one, food formulated for kittens will be higher in calories. This is to keep them energized and full of life as they discover the world around them.

Kitten food will also contain more fat and protein, which is exactly what their little bodies need to grow.

Ultimately, adult cat food is designed to maintain your cats health and keep them happy and satisfied at mealtimes.

But kitten food has a much bigger purpose to ensure your young kitty gets everything he or she needs to become a fully grown, happy, healthy, adult cat.

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What Does Kitten Food Need To Include

When looking for the best kitten dry food, its always a good idea to chat to your vet about which food to choose. Some kittens may need a more specialized diet containing low-fiber food or other specific nutritional plans.

In general, good ingredients include fatty acids, antioxidants, and healthy vitamins. High protein is also great for kittens.

When it comes to taste, cats are driven by smell and texture much more than flavour. Indeed, cats have consideraly less taste buds than we humans do but a more acute sense of smell.

Note: Its also good to see if the food has been approved by the American Association of Feed Control Officials . This will ensure that it is high quality and contains all the nutrients that your kitten needs.

Hills Science Diet Dry Kitten

Hills Science Diet is the number one brand recommended by veterinarians with Hills, your kitten is in safe hands. Their cat food formulas are developed by a team of vets, food scientists, and Ph.D. level nutritionists.

There is natural DHA in this food, which is vital for both brain and eye development. The antioxidants and vitamins are clinically proven to promote a healthy immune system. During the first year of life, kittens are extra vulnerable, so any added protection is excellent.

The high-quality animal protein in this food is easy for your kitten to digest and put to use. You will also find plenty of vitamins, minerals, and amino acids packed into this food. What you will not find is any artificial flavors, preservatives, or coloring. The great taste of the food comes straight from the chicken. Vitamins C & E help your kittens immune system as well as act as a natural preservative.

Due to the high level of nutrition in this food, its also suitable for pregnant and nursing cats. If this food will work with your budget, it is worth serious consideration. In our opinion, its one of the best foods for kittens on the market.

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Purina Kitten Chow Nurture Dry Kitten Food Best Value

The best dry kitten food for the money is the Purina Kitten Chow Nurture Dry Cat Food. The food is made with chicken to provide the essential animal-based protein that your growing kitten needs to thrive and a 40% crude protein content overall. It also contains DHA essential fatty acid for optimum vision and brain development, essential vitamins and nutrients like vitamin E and taurine, and added antioxidants for vital immune support. The food is also free from artificial colors and flavors and is a great choice for owners on a budget.

Unfortunately, this food contains grains like corn, soy, and wheat, none of which are ideal for cats or kittens, as well as chicken by-products. The inclusion of these ingredients keeps this food from the top position, but it is our best value pick for best kitten dry food.

This food is difficult to fault, and the only significant downside that we could find is the high price, keeping it from the top two spots on this list. All in all, this is our top pick for premium best dry food for kittens.

This food contains grains, including corn and soy, which are not ideal for developing kittens, and several customers reported that the food caused nausea and vomiting in their kittens.

  • May cause nausea and vomiting in some kittens

Kitten Food Should Be Rich In Certain Vitamins And Minerals

Best dry cat food to get picky cats from kibble to wet or raw

Compared to adult cats, kittens have slightly different vitamin and mineral needs. According to the Merck Veterinary Manual, kittens should consume food with a calcium-to-phosphorus ratio of about 1.0 to 0.8, while adult cats should get a ratio of about 0.6 to 0.5. Kittens also have slightly higher requirements for vitamin A and require slightly greater amounts of the amino acids lysine and tryptophan.

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Best For People Allergic To Cats: Purina Pro Plan Liveclear From $23

Many people are allergic to cats, but according to Dr. Nelson, feeding these four-legged pals from the Purina Pro Plan LiveClear line lets cat lovers breathe easier. This is the first and only food proven to reduce allergens simply and safely, with a key protein sourced from eggs. This popular choice features probiotic high-protein salmon and rice.

Dry Vs Wet Kitten Food For Kittens

We touched on this a bit above in our kitten vs. cat section, but it does well to discuss a bit more thoroughly here.

Especially if your kitten is very young, you will need to start out with wet first, especially if you got her when she was still only 4-8 weeks old. This is partially due to her tiny teeth and mouth. But good canned kitten food has other benefits as well.

In general, wet feline food tends to be purer and less processed. This is naturally a healthier option. Wet will also help keep her hydrated. This is an extremely important benefit, as not all cats are good drinkers.

As your baby gets older, you can begin introducing dry pet food, and transition her fully if you choose. Admittedly, though, wet pet food is the most ideal and usually the best food choice. However, it is more expensive and less convenient, so many make the switch to dry foods.

As long as you keep in mind what we talked about regarding nutrition and kitten vs. adult food above, you can find plenty of dry kibble that will serve your kitty well.

If you are looking for some quick ways to identify healthy choices, an easy thing to keep an eye out for is the AAFCO on the label. If the label states that it at least meets the requirements, or better yet, that it offers complete and balanced nutrition based on AAFCO trials, you are in pretty good shape.

Finally, an important note to make here the other key thing you need to provide to ensure a happy and healthy kittie-cat is plenty of fresh water.

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A Few Notes On Kitten Nutrition

Cats have special nutritional needs that cant be met by human food or food intended for other pets. For one thing, cats are obligate carnivores, meaning they must have the amino acids found in meat to survive. A cats diet must be high in proteins from meat, and a kittens diet must be even higher in protein to support their rapid growth.

Kittens can be introduced to a specially formulated kitten food when they are as young as three weeks old. Once your kitten is weaned , you can begin feeding them kitten food exclusively. Many veterinarians recommend offering new kittens a mix of foods with different textures, including different recipes of dry and canned food, in an effort to broaden their palates and keep them from getting picky.

Dry food is convenient for everyone because you dont have to worry about food going bad in the bowl when youre out for the day.

But Dr. Gary Richter, author of The Ultimate Pet Health Guide, strongly recommends making wet food a significant part of your kittens diet to make sure they are getting plenty of water. Canned diets or fresh, whole food diets have a much higher moisture content than dry kibble, he says.

So go ahead and put some canned kitten food on top of the kibble to stimulate appetite and provide variety.

Iams Proactive Health Dry Kitten Food

Meow Mix Original Choice Dry Cat Food, 16 lb

Iams ProActive Health Dry Kitten Food features chicken as the first listed ingredient with a 33% crude protein content overall. The kibble is formulated with added vitamins E and B12 and omega-3 and -6 essential fatty acids for healthy skin and coat, as well as fish oil to aid in your growing kittens brain and vision development. It also includes taurine for cardiovascular support and essential amino acids for a healthy immune system.

This food contains grains, including ground cornmeal and sorghum, which are not ideal for growing felines. Several customers report that their kittens simply would not touch this food, and it caused vomiting in some kittens. We were also slightly disappointed by the comparatively low protein content.

  • Some kittens would not eat it

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Good For Dental Health

Since dry cat food is crunchy, biting into the pieces can help with your cats dental care between brushings and professional cleanings since the rough texture scrapes against his teeth while hes eating.

There is also an argument that eating dry kibble helps to mechanically clean a cats teeth as they chew, Dr. Bonk said. It may to some degree help remove/prevent plaque and tartar buildup, which can be a major plus for cats that wont allow their teeth to be brushed.

What Should I Look For When Buying Cat Food

Similar to dog food, cat food has its own set of parameters laid out by the Association of American Feed Control Officials that determine whether a brand or formulation is nutritionally complete. As SELF has previously reported, the AAFCO isnt a regulatory body. Rather, it sets industry guidelines for a healthy, balanced diet. A good first step in finding a high-quality cat food is looking for an AAFCO statement on the foods label, and to make sure the food contains an adequate amount of protein Dr. Simpson says, AAFCO recommends commercial cat food contain at least 30% protein on a dry matter basis for kittens and 26% for adults.

She adds that the amino acid taurine is another essential nutrient for cats, and some foods contain much higher levels of protein and other nutrients than is recommended, which can lead to illnesses: Excess levels of protein, phosphorus, and sodium can exacerbate chronic kidney disease, while too much calcium may lead to the formation of urinary tract crystals and stones.

In addition to the AAFCO, Dr. Simpson points to global nutritional guidelines from the World Small Animal Veterinary Association , which specifically concern the quality of pet food manufacturers. These guidelines include several key questions you should ask about your cats food:

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What To Look Out For

Its nearly impossible to find a food which satisfies all of your needs, but you dont need to spend hours in the grocery store debating cans and bags of food. When it comes to food, there are some things thatll tell you right away if its good or not.

Protein

Some sort of meat or poultry should be the first ingredient on the food you pick up. If its fit for human consumption and organic, thats even better.

No Grains

Grain-free food is really important. Lots of people buy grain free on account of digestive issues in their pets, but cats especially should eat grain free. No rice, barley, or grains should be in there. While theyre good for humans, cats dont have digestive systems designed for grains.

No Additives

There shouldnt be any by-products, corn, soy, or other fillers in your cat food. Those dont provide any nutritional value for your cat. If youre lucky, your food will be GMO-free too, but in the end, that depends on your preferences.

Avoid Fish

No fish-based foods? Cats love them, but a lot of fish in these foods isnt cleaned right and can contain bones and guts that shouldnt be there. Too much fish can also cause kidney issues, so if you do use fish, use it sparingly.

Ingredients To Avoid In Dry Cat Food

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You need to avoid food with a long list of fillers, by-products, or artificial flavors. Basically anything that isn’t natural, and this is often given away by a hard to pronounce scientific sounding name.

Its generally wise to avoid artificial flavors, colors and preservatives, since these are known to cause or increase inflammation or damage your cats overall health over time. It’s best to look for natural dry cat foods that are made from animal proteins and natural preservatives.

Make sure you look for a complete and balanced food according to the AAFCO guidelines. When examining the quality of the food, pay close attention to danger words like:

  • Cornmeal filler
  • Carbohydrate fillers

As you would expect, and as we’ve highlighted above, you should be looking to avoid dry cats foods that list artficial colors, artificial flavors and artificial preservatives in their ingredients.

As a general rule all artifical enhancements are going to be a negative, whereas the more natural and unprocessed ingredients you identify will be a positive. Much like what you’d exepct with human food, the best cat food is free from artificial ingredients.

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