The 8 Best Cat Foods For Kittens
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The best cat food for kittens is something that you want to choose wisely, for the benefit of our little furry friends nutritional best interest.
The first year is the most important for a kitten because major development is underway in those fifty-two weeks.
During that first year, a kitten develops from infancy to the equivalent of childhood and then on to young adulthood.
The Best Cat Food For Kittens Comparison Chart
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Best food for 6-8 month old kitten
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The best food is needed to build good muscles, strong bones, a well-developed nervous system, and provide the energy needed during that first year. Read on for some tips to help you care for your kitten and get her started on the right food.
Wet Vs. Dry Food
Kittens should be fed both wet and dry kitten food, until they are at least eight months old. Young kittens have very small teeth and can not chew dry food well. Without some kind of canned or wet food, kittens won’t get enough nutrition to grow properly.
If you are feeding your kitten both dry and wet foods, then twice a day wet feedings are sufficient. If your kitten is only eating wet food, she should be fed four times daily.
Since wet food provides more protein per pound than dry cat food, wet food is not only a better nutritional choice, but is actually less expensive in the long run.
However, it is acceptable to feed only dry food during your kittens first few months if it is softened with water.
By the time your kitten is seven months old, her permanent teeth should grow in and can handle dry food. One of the advantages of feeding dry food, apart from the convenience, is that dry food can help decrease the rate of tartar accumulation on the teeth.
Cat Food Vs. Kitten Food
When you purchase food for your kitten, you want to avoid buying adult cat food. Just like human babies eat baby food, cat babies eat kitten food.
Growing kittens have different nutritional requirements and an under developed digestive system that is not able to handle foods that adult cats can eat.
Kitten food provides a lot more nutrients, such as fat and fiber, that a growing kitten needs to properly develop. Wet kitten food, has more moisture or water than dry kibble.
Here are some essentials to look for on the label when buying a kitten food.
- Protein: Kitten food has a higher protein content than adult cat food. Kittens should get around 30% of their calories from protein while adult cats should get around 25% of their calories from protein.
- High Calories: Kittens need to consume up to three times more calories than adult cats do.
- Vitamin A: Kitten food should contain high levels of vitamin A. Kittens require twice as much vitamin A as adult cats do.
- Calcium-to-Phosphorus Ratio: Growing kittens require a greater calcium-to-phosphorus ratio in their food for proper bone growth.
- Fatty and Amino Acids: Kitten food should contain greater amounts of various fatty acids and amino acids which serve as important nutrients for brain and vision development in kittens.
- Price Range: ~$2.00 – $3.50/ per meal
- Food Type: Fresh
- Made In: USA
- Protein: 21.2% Min
- Fat: 8.05% Min
The Good
- The meat and produce are sourced from US suppliers
- Grain free recipes
- Plans for every budget
- Free shipping
The Bad
- Website is hard to navigate
- Food needs to be refrigerated
Smalls is a subscription cat food delivery service that delivers customized meals to your door. They guarantee to provide restaurant quality ingredients that are considered human grade, in every meal.
The food contains no fillers or grains, no preservatives or artificial flavors, and they only use the highest-quality, responsibly sourced meats.
Smalls cat food recipes are prepared in a human-grade kitchen that is 100% designed and dedicated to making fresh pet food.
There are several meal recipes that you can choose for your kitten. The first is the Ground Bird Recipe which is full of ingredients to keep your cat’s eyesight razor sharp for stalking. The second is Smooth Bird Recipe and it is packed with tilapia and salmon to guarantee a softer and shinier fur coat for your cat.
- Price: ~$0.3/ OZ
- Food Type: Pate (Wet)
- Made In: USA
- Protein: 9% Min
- Fat: 4% Min
The Good
- Formulated for young kittens
- Kittens take to it quick
- Great for immunity
The Bad
- Contains by-products
- Runny stool
This 1st stage Royal Canin Babycat cat food features an ultra soft mousse that helps a young kitten transition from milk to solid food. It is recommended for kittens being weaned to 4 months old.
It Includes an antioxidant complex to help support the immune defenses of the young kitten. It also features a proven Macro Nutrient Profile that is preferred by young kittens under 4 months old and represents the balance between proteins, fats, and carbohydrates.
- Price: ~$2.2/ Ibs
- Food Type: Dry
- Made In: USA
- Protein: 33% Min
- Fat: 19% Min
The Good
- Protein is the 1st ingredient
- Helps with gas
- Recommended by Vet’s
The Bad
- Kibble size is large for kittens
- Price on the high side
Hill’s Science Diet is recommended for kittens from weaning up to age 1, and pregnant or nursing cats. This kitten food provides natural DHA for optimal brain and eye development as well as a combination of antioxidants for a strong immune system.
With natural ingredients plus vitamins, minerals and amino acids, and no artificial colors, flavors or preservatives, this is ideal for a dry kitten food. Hill’s also claims this is veterinarians #1 choice of cat food.
- Price: ~$0.2/ OZ
- Food Type: Pate (Wet)
- Made In: USA
- Protein: 11% Min
- Fat: 5% Min
The Good
- Contains necessary supplements
- Lightweight
- Inexpensive for quality
The Bad
- Contains cow milk
- Some kittens will not eat it
- Can cause gas
Purina Fancy Feast Kitten Tender Ocean Whitefish Feast wet cat food provides a smooth texture which makes it easy for your kitten to nibble her way through and is made with real milk.
The high-quality ingredients ensure that she’s getting the nourishment she needs as she grows, and the essential vitamins and minerals in each serving help to support her overall health and wellness.
- Price: ~$0.6/ OZ
- Food Type: Dry
- Made In: USA
- Protein: 40% Min
- Fat: 18% Min
The Good
- Veterinarian recommended
- Price is right
- Real chicken is #1 ingredient
The Bad
- Contains meat by-products
- May cause smelly poops
- Contains corn-meal
Purina ONE Healthy Kitten Formula premium dry cat food formula lists real chicken as the first ingredient. This means you’re providing your kitten with the high-quality protein that helps her grow.
This recipe is made with DHA, a nutrient found in mother’s milk, which assists with brain and vision development.
This dry cat food is an ideal formula made for your kittens specific tastes and to help support a healthy immune system. Purina ONE recipes contain 0% fillers, meaning all food contains high-quality ingredients.
- Price: ~$3.3/ Ibs
- Food Type: Dry
- Made In: USA
- Protein: 34% Min
- Fat: 16% Min
The Good
- Kibble is small in size
- Protects teeth
- Helps with digestion
The Bad
- Contains meat by-products
- Price is on the high side
- Contains fillers
Royal Canin Kitten Food is tailored for a kittens first year of life. It is filled with important minerals, antioxidants and vitamins such as taurine, Vitamins E and C and lutein, plus pre-biotics to ease your kitten’s digestive transition from mother’s milk to solid foods.
DHA which comes from fish oils, plays a major role in embryonic and fetal development and growth of the central nervous and visual systems.
Carefully selected ingredients, like rice, are easy to digest for young kittens and good digestion is important for optimal nutrient absorption, during this second stage of growth.
The tiny kibble is easier to eat and contains nutrients that help to bind and safely remove the calcium that could build-up on teeth.
Product Info:
- Price: ~$0.4/ Oz
- Food Type: Wet
- Made In: USA
- Protein: 10% Min
- Fat: 7% Min
The Good
- No by products
- All natural ingredients
- High quality protein
The Bad
- Some cats refuse it
- Pricey
- Soupy texture
AvoDerm Natural Chicken Formula Canned Cat Food is made with Chicken and chicken broth as the top ingredients.
It provides a healthy balanced meal for your kitten by using high quality ingredients that ensure that you are providing the optimum nutrition your cat needs.
It also has vitamins, minerals and antioxidant nutrients to help support your cat’s immune function.
AvoDerm Wild By Nature is formulated to be rich in high quality fats and oils with a balanced Omega-6 to Omega-3 fatty acid ratio.
These nutrients, in the right proportions, are important to keeping your cat’s skin healthy. Avocado and avocado oil is included and can help support the skin and coat from the inside out for the protection your cat needs.
- Price: ~$0.25/ OZ
- Food Type: Dry
- Made In: USA
- Protein: 10% Min
- Fat: 7% Min
The Good
- Helps maintain weight
- High quality ingredients
- Noticeable improvements in cats coats
The Bad
- Price on the high side
- Some complain cats refuse to eat
Nutro Max Kitten Wet Canned Cat Food is a natural cat food that provides natural fiber for healthy digestion and essential antioxidants. Since it is for indoor cats, it helps control weight. It also contains vitamin E for a healthy immune system, plus vitamins, minerals and other nutrients.
This cat food also is made with Omega 6 fatty acids, to promote healthy skin and a soft, shiny coat. All Nutro cat food is made with Non-GMO ingredients and has no artificial flavors, colors or preservatives. Every cup of cat food is nutrient dense so your kitten gets the right amount of calories.
What To Avoid Feeding Kittens?
Giving your kitten the occasional treat is not a bad thing as long as you follow the 10% rule. This means that treats should make up less than 10% of your kitten’s total calorie intake. This doesn’t mean you should turn your leftover table scraps into treats for your kitten. Avoid feeding your kitten the following foods:
- Raw meats – Could contain parasites and harmful bacteria.
- Raw eggs – Could contain Salmonella and can decrease absorption of a B vitamin, which leads to skin and hair coat problems.
- Milk – Can cause diarrhea in weaned kittens and cats because they lose the enzyme needed to break down milk.
- Raw fish – May lead to a B vitamin deficiency, causing loss of appetite, seizures, and even death.
In addition, garlic, onions, chocolate, coffee, tea, raisins, and grapes can be toxic to cats and kittens.
Conclusion
While it’s quite exciting having a cute kitten in the house, it maybe overwhelming with the endless choices of cat foods. It’s best to start by discussing a kittens diet with your veterinarian to make sure it is balanced and specially formulated for your developing kitten.
