Kitten Food For Senior Cat Senior Food For Kitten
Originally Posted by Catz_Ruleshe lovesthe kitten food and will eat it if it’s sitting out, but once i caught her in the cubard eating the kitten food, and then its all the other way around for the kitten!!
least
- Purraise
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Originally Posted by GoldenKitty45And if I fed my rex kittens on kitten food for a year – like it’s “recommended”, they would be very much overweight.
Important Nutrients An Adult Cat Needs
The chances are likely that your feline isnt consuming the required amount of protein per day. Adult cats demand protein 2 to 3 times more than the adult version of omnivorous species. One quite unknown fact about cats is that theyve evolved into consuming protein as the main energy source. Just like all animal eaters!
On the other hand, omnivores like humans use protein along with fats and carbohydrates. Cat food varies in its protein content. It starts from 30 percent and goes all the way up to 50 percent. So if you choose cat food with high protein, youre making sure that he/she meets the daily requirements. It is a vital nutrient after all.
No wonder canned food is such a popular choice. Comparatively speaking, its packed with more protein and fewer carbohydrates. Unfortunately, cats cannot process carbs like grains all that well.
Iams Proactive Health Kitten Dry Cat Food
But not every brand of cat food is the same when it comes to calories, fats, and protein. So you have to make it a point to read the label and nutritional information printed on the packaging. Most manufacturers mention their contact information or website to clear your doubts. This way you can compare one brand to another.
For calculating DMB, heres an example that might help:
- Lets say dry food fat is 5%, protein 10%, and moisture 78%.
- Now you subtract moisture from 100, which gives you 22% or 0.22.
- Then divide 10 by that number, 10/.22 is equal to 45.
Ensure Your Senior Cats Dietary Needs Are Met
If the senior cat feels its dietary needs are met, it wont go around scavenging for more. You can take the cat to your vet for a checkup and ask if its a healthy weight for its size and age. If your cat is underweight, you should consider giving it more adult food.
If your cat is already obese, it may simply have a craving for additional food. You should try switching up the cats diet with less fattening options if this is the case.
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Can Kitten Food Be Beneficial To Adult Cats
After comparing the nutritional profile of kitten food to that of adult cat food, it would seem like an adult cat food has no business eating kitten food. However, there are certain times when kitten food would be beneficial to an adult cat.
When adult cats become seniors , they become susceptible to a number of diseases, some of which cause a decrease in their appetite hence resulting in weight loss.
If your senior cat is losing weight due to a lack of appetite, you should consider giving them kitten food. The benefit of kitten food is that the cat does not have to eat a lot of it for it to meet its daily caloric requirements. As such, you will not have to force-feed the cat.
Additionally, thanks to the fatty nature of kitten food, cats find it extremely tasty. This means that the taste alone will be enough to get your senior cat eating again. The same goes for choosy cats. True to their feline heritage, some cats will not eat food that does not interest them, and this might cause them to lose weight. If that is your cat, consider using kitten food as a temporary solution, as they will not be able to resist it.
Nonetheless, before getting your senior cat on a kitten food diet, make sure that you have consulted with your vet.
Cats With Health Issues
Cats experiencing kidney issues should not eat kitten food due to the high phosphorus content, but kitten food may also be harmful to cats with other medical conditions. If your cat has a medical condition, its best to talk to your vet to determine what types of food are ideal for your cats health and what types of food and nutrients should be avoided.
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How To Prepare Raw Cat Food Safely
If you feel strongly that a raw cat food diet is right for you and your cat, protect all the members of your family by closely following the U.S. Food and Drug Administrations guidelines for preventing infections associated with the handling of these products:
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Thoroughly wash your hands with soap and water after handling raw pet food, and after touching surfaces or objects that have come in contact with the raw food. Potential contaminated surfaces include countertops and the inside of refrigerators and microwaves. Potential contaminated objects include kitchen utensils, feeding bowls, and cutting boards.
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Thoroughly clean and disinfect all surfaces and objects that come in contact with raw pet food. First wash with hot, soapy water, and then follow with a disinfectant. A solution of 1 tablespoon bleach to 1 quart water is an effective disinfectant. For a larger supply of the disinfectant solution, add ¼ cup bleach to 1 gallon water. You can also run items through the dishwasher after each use to clean and disinfect them.
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Freeze raw meat and poultry products until you are ready to use them, and thaw them in your refrigerator or microwave, not on your countertop or in your sink.
Can Adult Cats Eat Kitten Food
October 26, 2020 by admin
When choosing cat food, the age of your feline matters the most. Should you buy adult cat food or the kitty version? In that case, heres a very commonly asked question. Can adult cats eat kitten food?
Optimum nutrition at every stage of life is crucial if you want your pet cat to live a long and healthy life. So lets get to the bottom of this!
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Tips For Transitioning To New Diets
The first transition cats will make to a different diet comes to an adult-specific or all life stages cat food when they become adults, but the process is the same every time they change foodsand its a gradual one. An abrupt diet change can create tummy troubles and digestion issuesin addition to the surprise of the new foods, which they might reject outright if not properly transitioned.
“Whenever you change diet, whether for a different life stage, or to a different flavor or brand, it is important that the transition is gradual,” Dr. Gray says.
Dr. Gray generally recommends mixing small amounts of the new food with the current diet, and then gradually increasing the amount of new food over a 7- to 14-day period.
This not only ensures that cats like the new food, but also that GI upset from a sudden change is avoided, she says. If GI upset is noted when transitioning foods, slowing down the transition or stopping and selecting a different food may be recommended.
The Cat Has An Unmet Dietary Need
A senior cat may require a specialized diet, depending on its unique circumstances. If your cat feels it isnt getting adequate nutrition from its regular diet, its body may start to crave the type of nutrients found in kitten food. In this situation, it will steal food from your kittens bowl or even start eating weird human food.
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When To Stop Feeding Kitten Food
The age at which a kitten reaches adulthood can vary by breed and other factors. Typically, kittens will be fully grown by age 1 and you should stop feeding kitten food and switch to an adult diet then. Its important to stop feeding kitten-specific food when the time is right and transition to an adult diet so your cat does not become overweight.
When switching from kitten to adult cat food, do so as a gradual transition over 7-10 days as changing your cats food too quickly can cause stomach upset. Always introduce the new food by slowly mixing it with the current diet.
Days 1-3: 75% kitten food | 25% adult foodDays 4-6: 50% kitten food | 50% adult foodDays 7-9: 25% kitten food | 75% adult foodDay 10: 100% adult food
Many kitten foods are nutritionally formulated to meet the needs of both kittens and adult cats so always refer to the label for the AAFCO nutritional statement!
Stella & Chewys offers a variety of raw and kibble diets that are formulated to meet your kittens needs. Learn more about choosing a diet for your kitten.
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How To Stop My Kitten Form Stealing The Older Cats Food
Raising a kitten when you already have an older cat comes with a set of challenges and one of them is the feeding process. This might not concern those few lucky cat owners whose cats stick to their own food bowls, but if your cats are anything like mine then your kitten will need extra attention during mealtimes!
This kitty for example doesnt seem to have much energy for stealing!
But if yours does then I think its time we take a look at the few steps that can help keep all parties happy and well-fed!
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Which Older Cats Need To Avoid Kitten Food
Earlier I mentioned that some older cats could eat kitten food. But, the ones that need to avoid it is the ones who are already overweight or have some specific health issues that benefit from a low-calorie diet.
This is one of the reasons why you need to be cautious with your cats diet. Especially when they fall into this kind of category.
What Happens If My Kitten Keeps Eating My Older Cats Food
The growth rate for each kitten can be individual, affected by their breed, genetics their environment, and of course what they eat. Nutrition is something we as cat parents can control and help set the foundations for a healthy cat life.
Thats why adult food shouldnt be part of a kittens diet. Krista Williams, BSc, DVM gives a perfect explanation to this by saying although the dry matter protein level may be adequate, other nutrients and energy content will not be balanced for optimal growth.
But even certain brands that sell kitten food might not have the appropriate nutritional value or theyre filled with fillers like corn, soy, wheat, or even vegetable. Ryan Llera warns that advertisements tend to promote taste, color, and shape rather than nutrition, so it is important not be influenced by these ads.
Feeding your kitty with over the necessary amount of fat, letting them freely graze, or overfeeding them can lead to fast growth, thus increasing your cats risks of becoming overweight. Likewise feeding them adult food can lead to an underfed kitten, or once again an overfed one since the somewhat lower protein intake will make them hungrier. Its important to mention that even cat food thats labeled for all life stages cant really cover the individual needs of each cat, especially that of a kitten!
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Can Adult Cats Eat Kitten Food What You Need To Know
Yes, you can feed kitten food to your adult cat however, only under specific circumstances. If you are asking whether any harm will come to an adult cat if they eat kitten food accidentally, rest easy as nothing will happen to them.
If you want your cat to live a long and happy life, it is crucial that you understand the specific dietary requirements your pet needs. In the pursuit of that knowledge, pet parents discover that the kind of food they feed their furballs changes over their lifespan.
For example, kitten food is recommended for cats up to the age of 12 months , upon which you have to switch to food formulated for adults. Why is this the case, and why would it be a bad idea to give kitten food to an adult cat?
Here is everything you need to know.
Proper Diet Of An Adult Cat
A partially raw or completely raw diet is a healthy choice for a cat. Its what comes the closest to what the cat would naturally eat. At the same time, a diet like this delivers the recommended amount of calories, fats, and protein.
Raw cat-specific food offers 40 percent to 60 percent protein. As for the fat content, its between 20 and 30 percent. For the sake of comparison, wild mouse contains 20 percent fat and 59 percent protein. Its almost the same thing, isnt it?
Keep a check on the weight though. If your pets weight doesnt increase on a high protein and calorie diet like this, then consider paying a visit to your veterinarian. Maybe he/she might recommend simple diagnostic tests to rule out problems like IBS. A change in the diet of your cat goes a long way in promoting better health and nutrition.
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Whats The Difference Between Kitten Food And Cat Food
A young cat is considered a kitten up to 12 months of age. After being weaned from their mother , kittens will consume a diet targeted to helping them grow and flourish into a full-grown cat.
The contents of kitten food are a little bit different from adult cat food in several ways. In general, kitten food contains:
- Higher levels of fat: Kitten food has a minimum of 22 percent protein versus adult cat foods 18 percent protein.
- Higher levels of protein: Kitten food has a minimum of 8 percent fat versus adult cat foods 5 percent fat.
- More vitamins and nutrients: Kitten food contains a larger dose of vitamins than adult cat food, such as calcium and phosphorus, needed for cats to grow and develop. Adult cat foods contain much lower levels since these vitamins are no longer needed for growth and can be harmful to some adult cats .
- Higher calorie count: Since kittens are growing, they need more calories. According to PetMD, kittens need roughly 520 calories per cup, while adult cats require only 500 calories .
What Is The Difference Between Kitten And Cat Food
Our cats are obligate carnivores, and once theyre off their mothers milk, theyll need a meat-based diet in order to survive and thrive. Taurine and protein are especially important for their development, while carbohydrates are not a good option since theyre not as easily digestible. As a result, the best cat foods typically have higher protein and lower carbohydrate content.
This rule that applies to the feline species, isnt the only thing we should pay attention to when it comes to our cats diet. Its also important to understand that each life stage of a cat requires different nutritional attention.
According to Ryan Llera, BSc, DVM Kitten, adult cat, senior, and geriatric cats are four significant life stages we need to address nutritionally. He also adds that diet is extremely important for a growing kitten.
For this reason, foods that are designed for kittens have the right nutritional value and requirements for a growing tiny ball of fur to develop into a magnificent adult cat, something an adult cat food simply cannot offer.
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Consider An Automatic Pet Door
A different option that could help keep your cats feeding time separate would be an automatic flap door. This option is perfect for those of you who have a spare room, or a door that leads to your garage, providing that its a safe place for your older cat.
Its better for the automatic cat door to be placed in a room where only your older cat has access, so your kitten wont be able to steal their food. Its a great choice for those of you who are away from home most of the day and cant control your kittens actions.
There are several brands that use different technologies to open and shut the cat flap, so lets take a moment to look at my favorites.
Best Overall: SureFlap-Microchip Cat Flap
Make A Feeding Station
A feeding station is an effective way to keep your older cat away. Effectively it is a purpose-made box that has a cat flap attached. This cat flap needs to be designed to only let in your kitten to keep out your older cat.
The only downfall is you will need to get a bit creative with this because it is not an off-the-shelf solution, it needs to be pieced together.
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Overweight Cats And Kitten Food
If your cat is overweight or if your vet has recommended they lose a pound or two, avoiding kitten food is definitely in your cats best interest. Typically, overweight cats might be prescribed low-calorie or satiety foods that keep them fuller for longer, so they avoid overeating and taking in too many calories.
Since kitten food is higher in calories and fat than adult cat food, substituting this is generally not a great idea since it will be difficult for them to lose weight eating kitten food. Your cat might end up gaining more weight.