Cats

How Long Kittens Need Kitten Food

Nicole Groshek  |  June 24, 2024  |  3 minute read

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Kittens should eat kitten food, or a food designed to be complete and balanced for all life stages,  until they’re finished growing, typically around 1 year old. Each kitten is unique and growth rate can vary by breed and other factors, so the exact age can differ. Your vet may recommend switching your kitten to adult cat food anywhere from 10-18 months of age, depending on when they reach adulthood (their full-grown size and weight). 

If your kitten eats your older cat’s food once or twice it won’t hurt them, but you should consistently feed kittens an age-appropriate diet to make sure they’re getting all the nutrition they need for healthy development. It’s also important to stop feeding kitten-specific food when the time is right and transition to an adult diet so your cat doesn’t become overweight. 

Kitten Food vs Cat Food

Kittens are constantly growing and require a diet formulated to meet their nutritional needs while supporting proper growth and development. Kitten food is more energy dense than cat food (it has more calories) and it’s formulated to include optimal levels of protein, fat, vitamins and minerals, amino acids and more. Other nutrients significant to a kitten’s diet include antioxidants to support a strong immune system and DHA, an omega fatty acid, for healthy vision and brain development.

When choosing a food for your kitten, look for the following on the label:

“Formulated to meet the nutritional levels established by the AAFCO Cat Food Nutrient Profiles for Growth”

or

“Formulated to meet the nutritional levels established by the AAFCO Cat Food Nutrient Profiles for All Life Stages”

These statements indicate that the diet is suitable for kittens according to AAFCO Cat Food Nutrient Profiles. When feeding your kitten, refer to the feeding guidelines on the bag. If feeding a recipe formulated for all life stages, your kitten may need to eat up to twice the amount listed for an adult cat! Always follow your veterinarian’s recommended feeding portions and schedule. Kittens can benefit from eating 3-4 smaller meals per day since their stomachs are small.

How to Switch from Kitten to Cat Food

When switching from kitten to cat food, transition your kitten slowly over 7-10 days to give their digestive system time to adjust. Abrupt changes can cause an upset stomach. 

When introducing a new food you should slowly mix it into your cat’s current diet in stages:

• Days 1-3: 75% kitten food | 25% adult food
• Days 4-6: 50% kitten food | 50% adult food
• Days 7-9: 25% kitten food | 75% adult food
• Day 10: 100% adult food

If you’ve been feeding your kitten a food formulated for all life stages and plan to continue, you won’t need to transition. Just gradually reduce or maintain the amount of food until you’ve reached the portion size recommended by your vet for adult maintenance. At any age, if you plan on feeding your cat a different type of food (wet, dry or raw) you should transition gradually using the ratios above. Rotating the protein within the same type of cat food generally doesn’t require a transition schedule (though some cats have more sensitive stomachs, so may require a transition period).

Our Kitten Foods & Cat Foods for All Life Stages

Stella & Chewy’s offers a grain-free kibble and a wet food made specifically for kittens:

We also have dozens of other recipes suitable for kittens and cats of all life stages, including dry, wet, frozen raw and freeze-dried raw options. Learn more about choosing the right diet for your kitten, or use our pet food finder to help you pick the best food for your kitten!