What food is better to choose for kittens: recommendations of veterinarians on choosing a product

Among the most crucial choices you’ll make as a pet owner is selecting the proper food for your kitten. Because kittens’ nutritional requirements differ from those of adult cats, choosing the right food will help to ensure that they grow up strong and healthy. Determining the best option can be daunting due to the abundance of options.

Foods that are high in protein, packed with vital vitamins and minerals, and especially designed for young cats are frequently suggested by veterinarians. Selecting a balanced diet that meets your kitten’s energy requirements and enhances general wellbeing is crucial. During this crucial stage of growth, proper nutrition can help avoid health problems later on.

In order to help you choose the best food for your pet, we’ll go over the important aspects to take into account when choosing kitten food in this post, along with some advice from veterinarians.

Why is the quality of food important?

Kittens and young children are similar in many aspects. They grow and put on weight rapidly in the first few months following delivery. The fluffy lumps mature into sexually mature adults by the time they turn one and are prepared to have babies.

A kitten needs a lot of vitamins and microelements for proper growth and development, as well as for the prevention of illnesses and deviations. As long as the mother cat does not go without nourishment, the baby receives all it needs from her milk during the first few weeks of life.

Kittens are separated from their mothers and placed with new owners when they are two to three months old. At this age, they start to try adult food and wean off of milk. The infant’s owners must decide how and what to feed their small companion.

Every pet owner wants their animal to be healthy, have gorgeous, glossy fur, be active, and be curious. Because food provides all the essential elements for an animal, only high-quality food can guarantee a cat’s healthy development.

Don’t feed the kitten cat food meant for adults. The body needs the incorrect combination of vitamins because it is growing. Additionally, avoid feeding the infant homemade food because it can be challenging to monitor the ratio of beneficial ingredients while cooking, and good meals usually include all the ingredients you need.

How can I choose the best brand of animal feed when there are so many options available? Some people choose the less expensive option based only on financial considerations. However, these food savings may result in veterinary bills. The feed needs to be of the highest caliber and meet all veterinary specifications.

Veterinarians advise choosing premium, age-appropriate cat food that offers all the nutrients needed for a kitten’s healthy growth. Choose foods high in protein and enhanced with vitamins and minerals to help strengthen their growing immune system. Because it aids in digestion and hydration, wet food—or a mix of wet and dry food—is frequently the best option. Always read the ingredients list and steer clear of goods that contain an excessive amount of artificial additives or fillers. The foundation for a kitten’s long-term health is laid by proper nutrition during the first few months of life.

Mandatory composition of good feed

How can the quality of a kitten’s diet be assessed? It is imperative that you read the composition of the product, which should be mentioned on the packaging. Vitamins and microelements required for a developing organism must be present in the product:

• Vitamin A (retinol). Is an antioxidant capable of binding to free radicals. Necessary for the normal functioning of the visual apparatus.
• Vitamin C (ascorbic acid). One of the most important elements for the functioning of a living organism. Stimulates the synthesis of interferons and participates in immunomodulation. Plays an important role in the formation of collagen, serotonin, catecholamines, corticosteroids. Necessary for the development of the digestive system and increasing the elasticity of the walls of blood vessels.
• Vitamin D. Required for the normal development of the musculoskeletal system and circulatory system. A growing organism especially needs it, because it is in the first months of life that the musculoskeletal system is formed in kittens.
• Vitamin E (tocopherol). Participates in the development of the reproductive system. It is a powerful antioxidant along with retinol.
• B vitamins. These include thiamine, riboflavin, nicotinamide, pantothenic acid, pyridoxine, folacin. They are necessary for the full development of all internal organs and normal functioning of the body.
• Microelements – iodine, iron, zinc. They participate in the most important life processes: ensure the transfer of oxygen to cells, humoral regulation, transmission of nerve impulses.
• L-carnitine. Participates in metabolism and especially in the metabolism and transport of fats. Prevents diseases of the nervous system.

See also: "Mealfeel" cat food for adults, kittens, and senior cats: compositional variations and characteristics

Dry food

Kittens who are older than three months should be fed dry food. Babies younger than a month will find it challenging to chew their granules due to their hardness. If the pet’s owners give them "drying," there should always be a container of cool, fresh water close by. Cats on this diet require a lot of fluids. Which dry food brands are regarded as the best?

Review of the best brands of dry food for kittens

Who is the brand leader among the best dry food brands? The following brands should be of interest to owners of furry pets:

• Royal Canin. The company has long established itself as a manufacturer of high-quality and affordable premium pet food. This brand of food can be put in 1st place. The pillows contain natural meat and a full range of substances necessary for full development. For kittens, the company produces Royal Canin Kitten, for babies up to 4 months – Royal Canin Kitten 34, which includes a substitute for cat milk, and for animals from 4 months to 1 year – Royal Canin Kitten 36. The manufacturer also produces a line of therapeutic food for cats with allergies, gastrointestinal diseases and kidneys.
• Hills. Veterinarians put this super-premium brand in 2nd place in the rating. Hills Science Plan Kitten Chicken is produced for kittens. The company also produces many medicinal products for cats with various diseases.
• Purina ProPlan. Contains only natural chicken meat, without preservatives, which is easily digested by the kitten"s still weak stomach.
• Eukanuba. Like most premium foods, it is presented on the market in two lines – for everyday diet and veterinary treatment. Eukanuba Cat Kitten with chicken and liver is offered for kittens.
• Bozita. A less common brand of food, but veterinarians put it in the top five. A Swedish company produces high-quality and inexpensive "drying" for little pets.
• Bosch Sanabelle. A German product of super-premium quality. The manufacturer does not use dyes and flavor enhancers, so even the most picky cat will eat such "drying" with pleasure.
• 1st Choise. A Canadian brand of food that produces three lines: Growth for pets up to 1 year old, Adult for adult cats and Senior for elderly animals over 7 years old.
• Arden Grande. Despite its high quality, this food is relatively inexpensive. It contains natural meat and rice with the addition of probiotics.
• Cimiao Farmina. A product that helps improve digestion, which is important for kittens recently weaned from mother"s milk. In addition to meat, it contains fiber.
• Go Natural Holistic. In terms of composition, this product would even be suitable for humans. In addition to natural meat, it contains vitamins, minerals, probiotics. The green line is a grain-free dry food for kittens with allergies. Pink – food with chicken, fruits and vegetables.

See also: Is it feasible to feed prepared food to a sick cat suffering from liver disease?

Advantages and disadvantages

The food’s variety and accessibility are its indisputable advantages. There are affordable products among the premium and super-premium brands that will satisfy both the owners’ budgets and the tastes of small, cuddly animals. For just 1,000 rubles, you can get a big 2 kg package of Royal Canin that will last for several months. A 400 gram package of super-premium food Arden Grande costs a little more, 450 rubles.

The majority of cats enjoy "drying." While some finicky eaters might turn down liquid food, dry food will undoubtedly appeal to them. You can create variety in your diet by choosing from a range of products that include meat, poultry, vegetables, and seafood.

There is a wide variety of veterinary lines among these foods. These products combine the uses of medication and food. Apart from specific varieties meant for felines with illnesses, there are foods that help prevent kidney disease and foods that remove hair.

Having the cat always have access to water is one of the drawbacks of "drying." She should drink more as she consumes more of these foods to prevent kidney issues.

Kittens’ love of playing with granules is another downside that some owners find objectionable. They can roll them all over the house, scattering food, because they think of them as toys.

Wet food

The consistency of wet and dry food is the primary distinction. Meat pieces stuffed with jelly, mousses, pates, or creams are examples of wet food. They are nearly identical to "drying" in terms of composition, so cat owners can safely feed their pets just one kind of food. Which wet food is suggested by veterinarians?

Rating of wet food

When it comes to being the most practical and superior wet food brands, these are the top picks:

• Veterinarians unanimously give first place to Innova Evo. These canned foods contain exclusively dietary meat and probiotics. Premium quality does not prevent the manufacturer from selling them at a low price of 95 rubles for 375 grams.
• Schesir. Italian food contains dietary tuna meat, vegetable jelly. It is enriched with vitamins and is suitable for cats of all breeds. Tuna is easily digestible, even the most fastidious pets eat it with pleasure. Low fat content prevents obesity, especially in neutered pets. Veterinarians recommend using Schesir to accustom babies to dry food. Dry granules should be added to the jelly little by little, gradually increasing their amount.
• Animonda Carny Kitten. German canned food best imitates the natural diet of cats. The meat base includes beef, heart, liver, kidneys, lungs and udder, and the jelly is made from meat broth. Such food is suitable even for cats prone to allergies. Many note that wet canned food has an unpleasant smell, but Animonda Carny Kitten, unlike other brands, smells quite nice.
• Animonda Vom Feinsten Baby-Pate. This same manufacturer has food for kittens, which can be given from 4 weeks of age. It is made in the form of a pate, it is convenient for babies to lick it. The composition includes meat, fish broth and seafood.
• Brit Care Kitten Chicken. Czech food will appeal to all cats, because it contains a minimum of ingredients. It contains chicken and rice.
• Organix. The list of the best wet canned food also includes premium food produced in Russia. The soufflé does not contain any flavors or dyes, only natural meat, broth and offal. This product is a real find for those who want to save money, but do not want to harm their pet. A 150 g jar costs only 40 rubles.
• Almo Nature. Italian holistic food containing meat, vegetables and fruits. Grain-free food is suitable for pets with diseases of the gastrointestinal tract, liver and kidneys.
• Applaws. Dietary food that veterinarians prescribe to animals prone to allergies. The product is enriched with vitamins and minerals.
• Hills. This brand is included not only in the rating of the best dry food, but also wet canned food. The composition is enriched with magnesium, phosphorus, calcium, which a growing body needs.

Also read: Ingredients, benefits, and drawbacks of "Brit" premium and care lines’ dry and wet cat food for kittens and adult cats

Pros and cons

The fact that liquid food is suitable for cats of all ages is one of its key benefits. A month-old baby can lick mousse or jelly and enjoy soft pieces of meat at any age, even if he is not yet able to chew on a hard "drying." As soon as the baby is weaned off of mother’s milk, this product can be added to their diet.

Additionally, the animal’s daily need for liquid is partially satisfied by wet food. Compared to after dry food, it does not require as much water to drink.

The cost of wet food is one of its main drawbacks. Generally speaking, they cost more than "drying" of the same brands. Not all pet owners can afford to treat their animals to pricey treats on a regular basis. The fact that jellies and liquid mousses have a short shelf life complicates matters. Dry food can be kept in the bowl for several days, but if the kitten hasn’t eaten it in a day, it should be thrown away.

Not every cat enjoys moist food. They tend to overlook low-cost brands but are able to turn down extremely expensive goods as well. The cat will need to visit the veterinarian on a regular basis to avoid tartar if the owner only gives mousses, jellies, and pates.

It’s critical for your kitten’s growth and general health to select the proper food. A balanced diet prepares them for a healthy life by supporting the growth of their immune system, muscles, and bones. Start by searching for formulas designed specifically for kittens, as these have the ideal ratio of nutrients for your pet.

High-quality, high-protein diets that are rich in essential vitamins and minerals are frequently advised by veterinarians. Steer clear of artificial additives and fillers. It’s usually a good idea to consult your veterinarian if you’re not sure which brand to choose because they can provide you with individualized advice based on the needs of your kitten.

In the end, wholesome, easily digested food that promotes an active lifestyle is what your kitten should eat. To make sure the food you’re feeding them is effective, pay attention to their weight, energy level, and coat condition. Maintaining a good diet now can help ward off health issues later in life.

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