How Important Are Supplements
Dietary supplements for cats are available over the counter. However, as with humans, overuse of supplements can lead to significant issues in a cats health.
If you think your cat needs a supplement, its worth spending a few bucks to take your pet to the vet and get a professionals opinion. They can also help you determine how much to give your feline friend.
Is Orijen Cat Food Raw
A. Orijen describes its food as being made using fresh or raw ingredients. While this is true, its also somewhat misleading. The ingredients might be raw to begin with, but the foods are cooked during processing, so the finished products arent raw. If youre looking for raw cat food, Orijen isnt the right option for you. However, it is a high quality food that contains premium ingredients.
How Do You Switch A Cats Diet To Orijen Food
A. You shouldnt simply switch one cat food for another overnight. This can lead to digestive issues and is why some pet parents end up thinking a new food doesnt agree with their cats. Instead, you should gradually introduce the new food over 12 to 15 days.
Start by feeding 75% of the old food and 25% of new food for four to five days. Next, feed 50% old food and 50% new food for four to five days, followed by 25% old food and 75% new food for another four to five days. At this point, you can start feeding just the new food, completely phasing out the old one.
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Your Furry Friend Will Be Healthy And Happy Eating These Quality Products
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Kittens are growing cats, so their nutritional needs are different than adult cats. Wet foods designed specifically for kittens will help them grow healthy and strong, allow for chewing and swallowing even if they dont have all their teeth, and are a great way to wean them off of nursing.
Overall, wet foods are great for kittens. “Cats should be introduced to wet food early,” says Dr. Kerri Blackburn of Rivers Edge Animal Hospital in Rock Hill, South Carolina. “Many common diseases/illnesses that cats can get as they progress through life can be managed well with increased moisture in canned diets.” Also, as creatures that evolved in the desert, she says cats are not programmed to drink a lot, so feeding them canned food helps increase water intake.
Wet food is something all kittens should eat, but not all wet foods are the same. Dr. Blackburn says “canned foods with gravy, i.e. the shreds, chunks, etc., are actually pretty heavy on carbohydrates, especially those that come in gravy. The best type of canned food is the old fashioned paté.Ingredient variations can also make it confusing for a kitten owner to choose the right wet food for their young cat.
Human Grade Ingredients You Can Trust
Domestic cats are fussy when it comes to food, and for a good reasontheir palates respond best to real meat. It is what their big cat cousins eat in the wild, after all. Thats why Untamed is packed with the freshest, human-grade whole meats, gently steam cooked to lock in the nutrients and flavour.
- No sugars
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King Wholesale Pet Supplies
King Wholesale Pet Supplies started out as a mail-order catalog, offering wholesale prices to groomers and other pet professionals. It now offers bulk and wholesale discounts to organizations including pet hospitals, retail stores, grooming salons, and potentially your business. As well as their website, the company still offers a mail-order service and their catalog is nearly 200 pages big.
Food Theyll Go Wild For
Untamed is the best way to give your cat the whole meats they need to thrive.
“The experts at Untamed are changing the future of cat food.”
“Keep cats healthy and happy.”
“Untamed makes it easy to serve mouth-watering, wholesome meals.”
“I had never heard the cats meow as loud as when a can of Untamed was opened.”
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Why You’ll Love It: An Affordable Choice That Offers High
Top-of-the-line kitten food can be expensive, but it is well worth the cost when it comes to the benefits for your kitten’s health. If premium kitten food is out of your price range, choose the highest quality product you can consistently afford. Though the quality of your kitten’s diet is important, it is also important to avoid frequent changes to his diet.
If you’re looking for an affordable kitten food that offers quality nutrition, we recommend Whole Earth Farms Grain-Free Healthy Kitten Recipe.
Available in both dry food and wet food form, this food is uniquely formulated for both indoor and outdoor kittens. It features both chicken meal and turkey meal as concentrated sources of protein with grain-free carbohydrates like potatoes and peas. Chicken fat provides a nutrient-rich source of energy while dried fermentation products offer probiotic support. Plus, the brand is created by Merrick Pet Care, one of the most trusted pet food brands in the industry.
Breedsy features the wet food version of this food in its top 11 picks for the best kitten food, noting its high protein content and low carbohydrate content. Kitty Catter reviews the Whole Earth Farms brand as a whole, giving it a 4.5-star rating for its high-quality and the fact that it is made in the US and has a very short list of product recalls .
Pros: Affordable price , concentrated source of animal protein as first ingredient, nutrient-rich chicken fat, plenty of omega-3 fatty acids, probiotics
How To Choose The Best Kitten Food
When choosing the best kitten food, there are several things you need to think about.
Firstly, nutrition. You want to make sure youre hitting the right protein to fat ratio, and getting enough of both. For dry food you want to be hitting more than 30% in protein content and 15-20% in fat. For wet foods you ideally want between 10-15% for protein and around 3-6% for fat.
You may want to be more aware of foods with high grain content, while the debate rages about exactly how bad grain are for cats, they can be an indicator that a food is full of filler or high in difficult to digest carbohydrates, rather than all the more preferable ingredients for a kittens development.
When it comes to intolerances and allergies, its actually fish, chicken beef and dairy products that are the most common in felines. So while you should expect to see a little bit of a digestive reaction to any new food, if it goes on too long you may want to investigate further.
Ideally, youll pick out a mix of dry and wet woods. While dry food can be more cost effective and easier to manage, it wont provide the moisture your cat needs to stay hydrated. If youre going dry only, make sure your house is full of water sources for your cat to find, though theyll need to be refreshed daily.
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Consider Mixing Canned And Dry Cat Food
Offer your kitten a mix of canned and dry food early on to get them used to the different textures. Medical conditions that they may develop later in life such as diabetes or kidney disease may use canned food as part of a treatment plan. If they have never been offered canned food before some cats refuse to switch from kibble.
Best Food For Adult Cats
Like grain-free, some vets say human-grade is more of a buzzy phrase than a statement of quality. But if youre looking to switch up your cats food, these two direct-to-consumer brands offer high-quality options that are nutritionally appropriate for cats. Lauten likes that both brands foods are high in moisture and meet AAFCO formulation standards, and Nom Noms food is formulated by a board-certified veterinary nutritionist. These are certainly good options Ive given my cat a sample of Nom Nom, and she was a big fan but vets like McKenzie and Bales stress that small brands arent necessarily any better than the big names youre used to seeing on the shelves of pet stores. In many cases, the testing of the ingredients, or the end product is not as thorough. You might see one of the big brand names of cat food have a recall, but they have a recall because they got tested. You cant have a recall for a product you didnt test, Bales says. Prices vary, as both companies offer customized portion sizes based on your cats age and weight.
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Best For Weaning Kittens: Royal Canin Mother & Babycat Canned Wet Cat Food
Ingredients: Water sufficient for processing, chicken, chicken liver, pork by-products, wheat gluten, powdered cellulose, modified corn starch | Calories: 133 kcal/can | Protein: 9% min.
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Come in different can and case sizes
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Higher calories per can
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Contains corn, wheat, yeast, and rice ingredients that may not be suitable for all kittens
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Usually over $1.50/can
Kittens who are weaning are new to the experience of chewing their food, so youll want to offer something that doesnt take much effort. Royal Canins Mother & Babycat formula is a mousse that is super soft and designed specifically for weaning kittens. Royal Canin has a long history of making high-quality pet foods, and this wet food is also well-accepted by tiny kittens. Since the only other experience they have with food is sucking milk from their mother or a bottle, kittens can be messy eaters when they start eating something else.
Because of this, Dr. Blackburn recommends feeding weaning kittens in a large, easily cleaned area and offering the canned food on a very large, shallow plate/flat surface. “They tend to be messy eaters and explore foods by walking in them and grooming said food off their paws, etc, she says.
Ingredients: Water sufficient for processing, chicken liver, chicken, chicken by-products, pork by-products, natural flavors, powdered cellulose, wheat gluten | Calories: 137 kcal/can | Protein: 10% min.
How Are Kittens Nutritional Needs Different From Those Of Adult Cats
Nutritionally speaking, the biggest difference between kittens and adults is the need for ultra-nutrient-dense food that will fuel early growth stages.
While all kitten foods are different, theyre generally calorie-dense with high concentrations of protein. Theyre rich in calcium, phosphorus, magnesium, vitamin A, and certain amino acids.
If youre committed to purchasing commercially available food, read the label to determine whether or not its appropriate for kittens. If the food is labeled complete and balanced for growth and reproduction OR all life stages, its been formulated according to the AAFCOs nutrient profiles for kitten health.
Avoid diets labeled simply for adult maintenance.
As the label suggests, adult cat food is intended to maintain a healthy adult weight and lack the nutritional gusto to fuel your kittens growth spurts.
While some insist that only commercially sold foods provide the nourishment a kitten requires, this isnt exactly true.
If correctly balanced, a homemade raw or home cooked diet can be an excellent choice for your growing kitten. These diets offer what a kitten needs, delivering more bioavailable protein and calorie density than almost anything youll buy in a bag or a can.
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We Looked For Species
We looked for foods that honor kittens nutritional needs, emphasizing meat ingredients over plants. All of the foods on the following list are rich in animal-sourced protein and keep carbohydrate content low. We looked for foods that were at least 50% protein and less than 10% carbohydrate, measured on a dry matter basis.
Why Do You Only Use Human
Because our cats deserve better. The human grade, whole meats we use in our recipes are protein rich and highly digestible, meaning your cat can use more of the nutrients in the food. This is contrast to big brand cat food, which is stuffed full of questionable ingredients like animal derivatives, vegetable proteins, sugars and fillers.
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Kitten Adult Or Senior
Cats are roughly divided into three age groups kitten, adult and senior when it comes to cat food.
While you might have a good idea of which bucket your cat falls into, Julien recommends consulting your veterinarian about your cats specific dietary needs in conjunction with age, and to get an expert read on what needs or restrictions your cat might be exhibiting. Kittens need more energy-producing nutrients like proteins and fats and more vitamins, minerals and water than adult cats, says Ferris. Formulas made specifically for kittens provide these nutrients in the right amounts.
Most cats will move from kitten kibbles to adult food on their first birthday. Ferris tells pet owners its important to gradually work in new food over a week to help avoid upsetting your feline friends stomach. Adult cat food likely has less calories than kitten cuisine, while senior food will likely be geared toward the specific health of your cat they might have trouble chewing or a reduced ability to smell and taste.
Soft Kitten Food Is Easier For Young Kittens To Eat
Technically, you can feed your kitten dry, wet, or raw food, but when theyre very young and still have baby teeth, your kitten will likely find it easiest to eat soft, wet food. This could be a cooked homemade or homemade-style food, canned food, or a freeze-dried raw product.
After the first six months, introduce more challenging morsels. Raw meat chunks, raw meaty bones, and chewier pieces of cooked meat challenge your kittens jaws and can promote good dental health.
With most cats suffering from periodontal disease by the time they reach middle age, establishing good dental hygiene in kittenhood is one of the most impactful health investments you can make.
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Why You’ll Love It: Made With Several Sources Of Premium Animal Protein And Packed With Essential Fatty Acids Blue Buffalo’s Holistic Kitten Food Will Support Your Kitten’s Growth And Development With High
Dry cat food is typically the most convenient and cost-effective option. Not only can you save money by buying in bulk, but dry food has a longer shelf-life than wet food and it provides some dental benefits as well.
When shopping for dry kitten food, you need to check for high protein content, moderate fat content, and low carb content. Our top pick for the best dry food for kittens is Blue Buffalo Healthy Growth Kitten Recipe Dry Food.
It features real chicken as the first ingredient with chicken meal and menhaden fish meal as concentrated sources of supplemental protein. It provides the ideal balance of omega-3 and omega-6 fatty acids for skin and coat support, with supplemental fiber and probiotics to ensure healthy digestion.
This recipe contains fresh fruits and vegetables as natural sources for key nutrients with vitamins and chelated minerals to ensure nutritional balance. Overall, it provides 36% protein and 20% fat with 3.5% fiber.
The Blue Buffalo Healthy Growth Kitten Recipe Dry Food has been given an award and carries a 4.5-star rating on Amazon with more than 450 reviews. It is also included in Best Reviews Guide’s list of top 10 picks for the best kitten food.
Cat owners love the quality ingredients and high digestibility, though there are some comments about the inclusion of grains including brewer’s rice, which some kittens are sensitive to.
Cons: Not a grain-free recipe , contains some plant protein , contains brewer’s rice
At A Glance: Best Kitten Foods Of 2021
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In the comparison table below, weve highlighted some of the most important features of each product. Youll find more detailed information about each product later in the article.
- One of the most protein-packed kitten foods on the market
- Ultra-soft pate texture is easy for kittens to eat
- Calorie-dense recipe to fuel growth and development
- Rich in animal-based protein from chicken, beef, and salmon
- Soft canned food offers palatable texture and hydration
- Very low carbohydrate content
- Wild Pacific salmon as the first ingredient
- Supplemented with two concentrated sources of animal protein
- Herring and salmon oils for omega fatty acids
- Features high-quality animal protein as the main ingredient
- Hydrating canned food with a strong reputation for palatability
- One of the most affordable options for kitten food
- Made primarily with animal-based protein sources
- Contains menhaden fish oil for DHA
- Highly palatable and hydrating canned food
- Made primarily with animal-based protein sources
- Formulated for all life stages
- Highly palatable, soft texture is easy for kittens to eat
- Made primarily from nourishing sources of animal protein
- Hydrating and highly palatable canned food
- Calorie-dense at 122 calories per 3-ounce can
- Primarily made with high-quality animal-based protein
- Supplemented with fish oil for omega-3 fatty acids like DHA
- Calorie-dense option to fuel kitten growth and development
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How To Buy The Best Cat Food According To Veterinarians
Select is editorially independent. Our editors selected these deals and items because we think you will enjoy them at these prices. If you purchase something through our links, we may earn a commission. Pricing and availability are accurate as of publish time.
Good news. Your cat needs you. They also need the right cat food, not just a separate bowl of dog food. Like dog food, there are many options on the market when it comes to cat food. Cats are often thought of and fed as smaller dogs, says Tim Julien, DVM, the chief medical officer at Paz Veterinary in Austin, Texas. It turns out cats are not small dogs. Cats are obligate, or strict, carnivores and have a decreased ability to digest and use carbohydrates.
So whats the best cat food for your obligate carnivore? We consulted experts about how to figure out which cat food is right for you and your cat, as well as compiled some of the best cat food options around.