What to feed kittens
When a small cat appears in the house, most owners have a question about what to feed their pet: ready-made diets or homemade food. In this case, industrial feed will be a convenient solution. They contain vitamins, microelements and easily digestible protein necessary for full development.
In addition, during the growth period the animal needs more energy than in adulthood. He needs a sufficient amount of amino acids, calcium, phosphorus and other trace elements. Some pet owners believe that homemade food will better meet their kittens' needs. It is important to remember that such nutrition is very difficult to balance at home without sufficient specialized knowledge. Therefore, if you decide to create a diet based on homemade food, you must first consult with a veterinary nutritionist.
What to feed a kitten from one to four months
From about 3-4 weeks, the kitten can begin to be given solid food. He may also start tasting it himself from the cat's bowl. From 6 weeks he is completely ready to feed himself.
Royal Canin Mother & Babycat Ultra Soft Mousse
The light and delicate mousse is suitable for feeding during the first growth phase, that is, from 1 to 4 months. Due to the mousse texture, the kitten can easily eat the entire portion.
Product Features:
- Helps support the immune system during growth
- the aroma profile corresponds to the instinctively preferred by the pet
Dry food Royal Canin Mother & Babycat
Dry food that can be soaked will help quickly and easily transition your pet from mother's milk to more adult food. At about 4 weeks of age, the kitten becomes more active, it grows sharp claws and teeth, so it can injure its mother during feeding.
Mazer & Babycat food will help the kitten quickly adapt to solid food. The croquette has a specially designed texture, due to which, upon contact with water, it is soaked until it becomes a paste. The croquette is easily grabbed and chewed.
Product Features:
- antioxidant complex with vitamin E supports the immune system during development
- prebiotics (FOS) are necessary for the balance of healthy intestinal microflora, which helps ensure normal digestion, highly digestible protein is important during the growth period for both development and normal digestion
- DHA, which is extremely necessary in the first phase, takes part in the development of the nervous system, namely the brain
Compound
The entire line of Royal Canin complete food is created on the basis of unique, specially developed formulas and is fully adapted to the needs of the body of small furry pets of various breeds and ages.
Royal Canin Pharm dry food contains dehydrated protein (veal, poultry, hydrolyzed animal proteins), cereals (easily digestible rice, wheat), plant fiber, plant protein isolate. As for additional additives, Royal Canin dry food for kittens contains yeast, fish oil, which is known to be the main source of vitamin D3, as well as fructooligosaccharides, plantain seeds, and marigold extract.
Some foods contain soy, soybean oil, wheat gluten, and other additives that cannot be called too beneficial for kittens. Moreover, unlike cheap low-grade feed, their percentage relative to the total volume is minimal.
Composition of dry food for Maine Coon kittens
Dry food for kittens is enriched with vitamins (groups B, C, E, A, PP, D), antioxidants, amino acids, minerals (iodine, iron, sodium, calcium, magnesium, selenium, copper, manganese).
Royal Canin Kitten is characterized by a high degree of protection for the kitten’s gastrointestinal tract. The proteins included in its composition are highly digestible, which leads to the formation of a minimal amount of undigested food residues. Fatty acids provide reliable protection for your little pet's intestinal mucosa.
Beet pulp, which is an active component of the feed, normalizes the balance of intestinal flora. Antioxidants, as well as lutein and taurine, enhance the body’s natural protective functions and affect the processes of antibody synthesis in the intestines of kittens. The instructions indicate the recommended daily diet in grams.
The combination of easily digestible proteins (LIP) and special types of fiber (psyllium seeds and FOS-MOSI) in Royal Canin food for kittens provides an optimal balance of beneficial intestinal flora and normalizes stool. The active ingredients support the kitten's natural defense mechanisms in the second growth phase thanks to a patented antioxidant complex including vitamin E.
The adapted content of proteins, vitamins and minerals, including vitamin D and calcium, strengthens the skeleton and bone structures, and prevents the development of rickets.
The high caloric content of feed meets the energy needs of the growing animal during the period of their intensive development. Different types of kitten food
What to feed a kitten from four to twelve months
After four months, the pet’s diet should, as always, be balanced, rich in important microelements and substances, which in ready-made food are calculated depending on the age and needs of the pet. At the same time, the feeding schedule may change, since cats tend to eat several times a day. It is very important here to control the daily food intake so that the kitten does not overeat. Otherwise, there is a high risk of gaining excess weight, which carries with it a number of diseases in the future. That is why it is recommended to divide the daily intake into several servings.
Royal Canin Kitten dry food
The food is developed taking into account the developmental characteristics of the body in the second phase of growth. At this time, the immune system mainly continues to develop, bone and muscle tissue builds up, teeth change and puberty occurs. The pet becomes more active, begins to explore the world around him with interest and spends a lot of time playing.
Royal Canin Kitten is suitable for feeding your pet from 4 months until he is fully grown, up to 12 months.
Product Features:
- a complex of antioxidants is involved in maintaining the kitten’s defenses during their formation
- prebiotics and highly digestible protein help maintain normal gastrointestinal function and healthy intestinal microflora
- the high calorie content of the product in combination with essential microelements, vitamins, including calcium, helps provide everything necessary during the period of intensive development
Pieces in jelly Royal Canin Kitten in Jelly
Wet food can be used on its own or combined with a dry diet. Suitable for feeding pets aged 4 to 12 months.
Product Features:
- helps support the immune system and the body's protective functions during their development
- The pieces in the jelly are easy to grab and chew, and the formula is designed to suit kittens' preferences
Chunks in Royal Canin Kitten in Gravy sauce
Chunks in Sauce is a diet that meets the macronutrient profile that kittens instinctively prefer. Suitable for feeding animals aged 4-12 months. Can be combined with dry food or used as a separate diet.
Product Features:
- Helps support the immune system in the second growth phase
- small pieces of optimal size are easy to grab and chew
Royal Canin Kitten in Loaf
The soft pate has an optimal consistency, which many kittens prefer.
Product Features:
- supports the immune system during the formation period during the second stage of development
- The formula of the food meets the instinctive preferences of kittens
Royal Canin dry cat food - reviews
DeepEyes
https://www.zoovet.ru/forum/?tid=35&tem=515191
I know many animal owners and breeders who have been feeding Royal for the past ten years and have had no problems. I also know many whose animals suffered from diarrhea, itching, and whose liver and kidneys failed. Different animals, different organisms. okrm is suitable for some, not for others. Yes, and Royal is imported, and there is one that is produced in the Moscow region. According to those who feed Royal, the difference is huge. Imported is much better. Medical royal is good, effective, always imported. PS I buy Royal ONLY medicinal lines and then very rarely, because I prefer to do WITHOUT medicinal diets (purely in my opinion). I don’t buy everyday and won’t buy, because... I know that my animals will react negatively to it.
Kis@ Murys@
https://otvet.mail.ru/question/91750877
At one time I fed my cat French-made Royal Canin, everything was fine, the only thing I wasn’t happy with was that the output was too much, and this indicates that the food was poorly digested. Then we switched to a higher quality, grain-free one, which suits us much more. Once I accidentally bought a Russian RK without looking, the cat vomited for several days, there was a loss of strength and fever. A British friend had the same situation with a Russian RK. Russian-made Royal Canin is equal in quality to Whiskas and Ketitket, since it is produced by Mars LLC. It is very easy to distinguish French Royal Canin from Russian, at the bottom of the package, next to the barcode, either RU or FR is written, then I think everything is clear. Buying food in bulk is extremely dangerous; in order not to buy expired food, it is best to buy it in packs and be sure to check the manufacturer and date. But if there is such a problem with the food, then of course the best of these Royals is premium food; it wouldn’t be classified as super premium, it contains too much vegetable protein and not enough animal protein. In your case, I recommend feeding a good natural diet, balanced and prepared separately for the cat.
formentera
https://otzovik.com/review_956301.html
Pros: Price, beautiful packaging.
Disadvantages: Composition.
A long time ago, I knew almost nothing about food. And I mostly bought food in magneta and peterachka stores. And then one day I accidentally went into a pet store and saw such an interesting food for kittens. I didn’t have kittens then, but I had two cats. I thought for a very long time, because the price was simply terrible for me at that time. Then I bought it. 165 rubles for 400 grams was terrible for me (now pennies). Came home. I started calling my princesses. The cats attacked. They ate and ate, and I was happy. So I transferred them to Royal Canin. Once a week I went and bought something. So two years passed. And only then did I start studying food. I was in shock then. What did I feed the cats?! Royal Canin is all corn and fat. I don't recommend it! Bad food!
Avdeeva
https://irecommend.ru/content/sukhoi-korm-dlya-sterilizovannykh-kotov-vozrastom-do-7-let-royal-canin-young-male-izmeneniya
Advantages: has an attractive taste for cats, prevents the occurrence of urolithiasis, is physiological for castrates
Disadvantages: *high price, the food is not filling, the specific meat of the bird is not specified, discharge has appeared from the eyes and ears, composition, little meat
I am the owner of a 2.5-year-old Scotsman diagnosed with chronic renal failure and urolithiasis. We treated urolithiasis for more than six months with the help of Royal Canin medicinal line food and other drugs. Chronic renal failure is incurable.
Royal Canin Young male dry food was prescribed as maintenance therapy after medicinal food, so as not to aggravate the already deplorable situation with the urinary and kidneys.
Compound
For those who understand food and their compositions, it is better not to look here. You won't see super healthy supplements here. The food is rich in complex carbohydrates, which a carnivore does not seem to need in such quantities. But it’s good that at least meat comes first, albeit in a strange form (dehydrated).
Due to the high carbohydrate content, the food is not filling . If my cat had his way, he would have eaten a hundred grams in one sitting and asked for more. In my opinion, this food is not for open access, i.e. There is no need to give the cat the entire daily dose at once - this is an unnecessary temptation, and there is a high probability that the food will not survive until the evening.
Again, due to the large amount of carbohydrates, there is a load on the pancreas. Cats don't produce many enzymes to digest that much fiber. In general, there may be problems.
Summary
Advantages
- the food did not cause the formation of new cystine crystals
- the stool became more formed, without a strong odor
- There are fewer crusts in the corners of the eyes
- allergies disappeared, bald patch on head healed
Flaws
- objectively high price, there is nothing in the composition that would cost 29 dollars for 3.5 kg
- the composition is so-so, polysyllabic carbohydrates, because of this there is a load on the pancreas
- does not maintain urine pH in its original form
- there is vomiting of food
- the food is not filling at all, the cat does not eat enough, constantly begs for food
- crusts in the eyes, greasy dirt in the ears that were not there before
Despite the abundance of shortcomings of the food, I still recommend it. But with the caveat, if a doctor prescribes it for you. I would never buy it on my own, because the composition leaves much to be desired.
A huge minus for the food for the price. Not only not objective, but downright inadequate. I am ready to pay the same price for the Canadian holistic Akana, where the raw materials are organic, there is no hint of corn, and the composition is all natural meat and vegetables. Here it is blasphemous to extort money from the buyer for nothing. If the doctor gives us the go-ahead to buy any other food of a higher class, then we will undoubtedly give preference to it.
The second big minus is that the food is not filling. Total 3 points.
natasha2-7
https://irecommend.ru/content/sukhoi-korm-pri-sterilizatsii-i-mochekamennoi-bolezni-mnenie-protivnika-sukhikh-kormov-kogda
Advantages: small pads, no problems with hair, no problems with stool, no recurrence of urolithiasis Disadvantages: high cost, dry food is not the best food for a cat
- Use experience: one year or more
- Cost: 1310₽ 2kg
Hi all!
Today I want to share with you a review of Royal Canin Sterilized 37 food. The cat Boston, or as we call him at home - Basya, appeared in our family 4 years ago.
An exotic and rare breed in Russia, the ragdoll (translated as “cat-doll”) is a gentle and kind creature. The breeder immediately warned what food to feed the kitten, literally everything down to the smallest detail. Having moved to our home, most likely from the stress of being torn away from his mother (although we adopted the cat at 4 months old) or due to a change in environment, the kitten refused to eat its usual food - it sniffed, licked, but did not eat. Thus began our and Basin’s search for the optimal food - well, let’s not return him to his mother...
In general, this is the first time I have seen a cat who would refuse meat - fresh and boiled, fish, baby meat/bird food and most wet food presented on the shelves of pet stores. I didn’t really want to give dry food to the cat, since it has a bad effect on the kidneys, and what kind of food is it... When the cat was one year old, the cat was diagnosed with urolithiasis. But there is nothing to do - the only food the cat eats is dry.
First, the cat was treated and given medicinal food for urolithiasis, and after castration, the veterinarian recommended a special series for sterilized cats from 1 to 7 years old. (As the veterinarian said, sterilization does not affect urolithiasis. The disease is hereditary due to the abuse of dry food)
We decided this - since the cat doesn’t eat ANYTHING except dry food - let him eat good food. Royal Canin food is certainly not cheap. We buy it at the Beethoven pet store closest to us, where it is often on sale. The cost of 2kg is 1300₽, 4kg is about 2000₽.
Feed composition:
They produce food in packages of 400g, 2kg, 4kg and 10kg.
The food is served in a plastic bag with a zip fastener. This is very convenient - the pads do not weather.
Basya is a strange cat, straight from another planet. If we compare it with my previous cat, who, when you poured food into a bowl, swept everything clean, then Basya will come up to the food, savor it, but not eat everything, take a walk, think and again peck a couple of grains from the bowl. Therefore, we do not need to pour in the amount of food recommended by the manufacturer - our cat knows how much and how to eat, he doesn’t need much. We do not need weight control after sterilization. To be fair, it’s worth saying that Basya is quite slender, it’s just not visible behind his thick skin))) If we talk about the chair, there are no problems with it. Everything is like a clock.
The fur is shiny, there are no problems with it or its removal. The pads themselves are not large - about 0.5 cm. It’s convenient for the cat to grab them; sometimes he’s so hungry that he swallows them whole without choking.
Basya's opinion.
The cat likes the food, but I'm afraid that this is more due to the flavors and flavoring additives.
Urolithiasis disease
After switching to Royal Canin for sterilized cats and a regular course of medicated food of the same brand against urolithiasis, the disease subsided. There were no more attacks in 3 years.
Result:
I am generally against giving dry food to a cat and I don’t want to recommend the food for this reason alone. But since there is no other choice - the cat does not eat anything, I advise you to take good, expensive food with a good composition. I hope my review was useful to you.
Nelanela
https://otzovik.com/review_2738175.html
Advantages: everyone recommends Disadvantages: expensive and the cat doesn’t like it
The packages were small in volume - 400 grams each - the cat gobbled them up with a bang, it was simply too much to pull by the ears. But he completely refuses to eat the same food (according to the name and pictures on the packaging) in a 2 kg bag. Well, he just ignores that’s all! I became interested in the topic and this is what the saleswoman told me - that there is an original production (like France), and there is one under the same brand, produced by Russian enterprises. And for some reason cats eat this “our” food worse.
I came and looked and it was, according to the barcode: Made in Russia. Well, what should we do, now we combine it with natural food, in a day the cat masters a small hill of this “canin”. Another disadvantage is that it is very expensive. 2 kg - 1066 rubles.
Unbearable
https://otzovik.com/review_543840.html
Advantages: Tasty (from experience that cats eat it well), contains a large number of useful components.
Disadvantages: The price for a pack of two kilograms is very high
The problem of feeding pets occurs in every family where these same pets live. These problems have not spared us. At first we fed the animals with chain food like Whiskas, then, after reading horror stories, we realized that this was certain death for our pets and began to look for other feeding options. Then we decided to feed them completely natural food, bought chicken breasts and gave them to the cats. It is worth saying that this feeding did not do us any good; the pets’ fur began to fall off in clumps. I started reading on the Internet myself and consulted a veterinarian, he explained that I needed to switch to better food that contained all the necessary substances and microelements. These feeds are also called premium and super-premium feeds. Here is one of the premium karms - Royal Canin Kitten food.
The food is packed in a tight bag and packaged in two kilograms. The cost of one such package reaches 1000 rubles. It all depends on where to buy. We usually buy food at one of the pet stores in our city. Confirms the packaging and the inscription on the pack itself.
Manufacturers claim that if you measure 70 grams, it contains 288 kilocalories. Our cats are already adults, but we buy them cat food, I’ll explain why. Kitten foods contain a large amount of meat. That's the whole secret. As I already said, the food itself is packaged in bags of different sizes; in the photo there is a bag with two kilograms of food. This amount is enough for our pets for 1.5 weeks. It is very convenient that the bag itself has a comfortable silicone layer. Which allows you to both open and close the bag of food for better preservation.
The dry food itself actually contains various useful microelements. This is confirmed by the composition on the pack of food itself. The composition of the food is written in several languages, including Russian, and this is good news.
The food itself is quite good, my cats eat it with great pleasure. Feeding occurs 2-3 times a day.
When using food, if your pets are still tiny, it is better to be guided by the feeding table. You can find it on the Internet or use the table that the manufacturer offers. It is published on a pack of Royal Canin Kitten food. The table is quite clear and does not require decoding. Depending on the age of your pet, choose the feeding schedule you need. Since our cats are already adults, this table does not suit us. They eat much more already.
So, about the advantages of food:
- The food is good, contains all the necessary components;
- The food is already ready, all that remains is to open it and distribute it into bowls;
- Can be purchased at any pet store;
- Suitable for both big cats and babies. There is only one minus, but a significant one - the food is expensive.
What not to give to a kitten
Some owners, in addition to the chosen nutrition program, decide to additionally feed their pet or often treat it with food from their table. But digestion in cats is different from that of humans, and a number of seemingly ordinary foods can cause not only mild illness, but also serious damage to organs.
- Raw eggs contain avidin, which can interfere with the absorption of biotin, which is one of the B vitamins.
- Chocolate is harmful due to theobromine it contains. Heart rhythm disturbances, tremors, convulsions, and sometimes death - these are the possible consequences of chocolate eaten by a cat.
- Onions and garlic can provoke the development of anemia, since these products can destroy red blood cells in the animal's blood.
- Milk can cause digestive upset, since after 6 months the body of most kittens stops producing the enzyme responsible for breaking down lactose.
Owner reviews of Royal Canin kitten food
Dmitry Kostyuk, the happy owner of a cat from the nursery, left the following review: “We give our fidgety wet food Royal Canin Kitten Instinctive in Gravy. The baby eats it like a vacuum cleaner. The composition is balanced, designed to meet the needs of an organism that is growing, and this is very important. The size of the pieces is convenient for chewing with a small jaw. The stomach works well, there are no allergies, the kitten is healthy and active. We’re glad we didn’t make a mistake with our choice.”
Małgorzata Staszewska, who has had a neutered kitten living at home for a couple of months, says: “Thanks to this food, we are able to maintain the cat’s optimal weight for his age. Having tried different types of food, Mashan eats Kitten Sterilized. My cat really likes this diet and he eats every last bite. We will definitely remain loyal to Royal Canin!”
Reviews of Royal Canin cat food
Vasilisa : “I bought a portion of Royal when I rushed to the pet store screaming for help - my pregnant cat refused to eat... that’s it! She turned her nose up at her favorite fish and chicken, at various foods and complementary foods, until she tried Royal. At first the cat was cautious, but then she began to eat it for her dear soul, eating it throughout the two months of pregnancy and the same amount after, when she was feeding the babies. I recommend this food to everyone."
Igor : “I don’t save money on my cat of the noble breed, so I buy him food designed specifically for castrated animals. He eats it slowly, but not with great desire. For now, we’re checking to see who has stronger willpower. I’m holding on because I know that it’s better to be patient and feed than not to feed and then treat,”
Svetlana : “The cat turned one year old and we ran to buy food for adults for his birthday! French Royal Canin inspired confidence, but I can’t say yet whether it’s justified. Yes, the chair is good, but the fur has become dull. While we are watching..."
Nadezhda : “We took the cat from unreliable owners who fed him anything. They immediately switched the mischief maker to ready-made food. This did not affect the activity of the adopted child. The food is probably a little expensive, but I’m willing to spend the money because it’s nice to see the appetite with which the cat devolves this food.”
conclusions
The Royal Canin Kitten line is an excellent choice for your pet. The company is attentive to the production process and carefully monitors compliance with the manufacturing technology of the entire range so that your pet receives all the necessary nutrients in each serving. More than one generation of healthy and beautiful animals has grown up on the company’s products, and veterinarians confidently recommend them as the main diet for purebred and mongrel cats. Reviews from owners are direct proof that Royal Canin is truly a brand that works conscientiously and that you can trust with the health of your pet.
