12 best foods for kittens - rating for 2021

Getting a kitten is a very serious and responsible step. We must always remember that we are responsible for those we have tamed. It doesn’t matter whether you buy a purebred Sphynx kitten, a fold-eared one, or a child brings a domestic one from the street, in any case, raising it into a healthy cat is your task.

The first correct action will be the choice of food. There are special lines of cat food designed for kittens. Since animals grow very quickly, you don’t have much time to choose food. In this article, we decided to help you and tell you how to choose the right food for your kitten.

Features of the body of kittens: what the owner needs to know

In the first year of life, kittens grow rapidly, gain weight, and master the necessary skills. It is important for their owner to know what changes occur in the baby’s body during a specific period, so as not to miss anything. So:

• 10 days. At the age of 1.5 weeks, a kitten is considered a newborn; it weighs about 100 g. Its eyes are not yet open, it cannot hear, there is no thermoregulation, and the sense of smell is not developed. He finds his mother cat thanks to the warmth emanating from her. During this period the baby only eats and sleeps. Newborns cannot be picked up unless there is a threat to their life and health.
• 2 weeks. The cat gains weight (approximately 100-150 g), its eyes begin to open, it hears, and its sense of smell appears. The kids communicate with each other and their parents and try to crawl. Since the skeleton is not yet strong, the kitten can be carefully picked up, lifting it to a small height from the soft bedding.
• 3 weeks. All sense organs are formed and begin to work. However, it is still difficult for kittens to navigate indoors. The muscles are still weak, but there are attempts to stand on their feet. Nutrition during this period can be mixed - mother's milk and some complementary foods.
• 4 weeks. The baby is growing up, gaining weight, and moving actively. About 25 teeth appear.
• 5-6 weeks. Weight is 600-900 g. Deworming can be carried out. It is best to show your pet to a veterinarian, who will assess the state of health and development and give the necessary recommendations.
• 7-8 weeks. You can wean him from his mother, transfer him to industrial and natural food, and get his first vaccinations. Weight is about 1 kg.
• 3 months. The animals are active, playful, curious, display individual character traits, and become independent. They can be taken to a new home; the small animal quickly adapts to new conditions and its owner. During this period, gender is already clearly determined.
• 4-6 months. The cat is quite well formed, the features of an adult animal appear. With proper care - socially adapted, weighs 1.5 kg. Teeth begin to change, the process is completed by 8 months.
• 7-8 months. Kittens reach a weight of 2 kg, large ones - about 3 kg, and begin to wash themselves regularly. The “children’s” fur falls out and is replaced by “adult” fur, which feels a little rougher to the touch. The owner can help the pet by cleaning its ears and eyes with special hygiene products for animals. You can castrate or sterilize.
• From 9 months to 1 year. The pet’s body is almost formed, the animal masters all the skills of an adult cat, gains weight, and reaches optimal growth.

From the age of 1 year, the animal is considered an adult, fully formed.

Dry

Orijen

pros

• quality
• beautiful packaging
• ranks first in almost all ratings
• balanced content
• lasts a long time
• high percentage of proteins
• beautiful fur on your pet
• the animal is active and cheerful
• can eat this food all year round

Minuses

• smell
• price
• The box cannot be closed after opening

From RUB 3,580 per package 5.4 kg

One of the best brands due to its excellent composition. Suitable for cats of any age. Contains fresh chicken, turkey, liver and heart of chicken and turkey, fresh fish meat - herring, flounder, mackerel, sardines, whole eggs, legumes, vegetables, herbs, berries, herbs, fiber. Packaging: cardboard box.

Royal Canin GI32 for gastrointestinal problems

pros

• normalizes stool
• the pet looks cheerful and healthy
• good ingredients

Minuses

• Expensive

From 1500 ₽ for 2 kg

Soft bag with fixation. The main component is poultry meat. For animals of all ages. Premium ingredients: minerals, fish oil, vegetable fiber, yeast, soybean oil, lutein.

You might be interested in:

• Health and beauty of pets: TOP-18 best food for sterilized cats
• TOP 12 best food for British cats

GO! Sensitivity + Shine grain-free, for sensitive digestion, with duck

pros

• quality
• consumption is small
• healthy looking pet
• activity, beautiful coat

Minuses

• the transition from other foods is long and painful
• very fine granules
• bad smell

From 1,370 ₽ for 1.8 kg

Packaging in the form of a bag with a zipper clip. Refers to holistic and premium feeds. No grains. Suitable for cats of any age. The main ingredient is poultry. Also contains legumes, fiber, chicken fat, flaxseed, a large amount of vitamins, minerals, lactobacilli, and spices. The contents are designed to minimize allergies in animals.

How to feed kittens correctly

In the first month of life, babies feed on the milk of their mother cat. With it, babies receive the necessary amount of proteins and antibodies, which are important for the development and formation of the immune system. If for some reason this is not possible, special mixtures for kittens are used. After 4 weeks, complementary foods can be introduced - soft pates or mousses.

Industrial feed is introduced into the diet at 2 months. New foods should be introduced gradually, starting with a few dry pellets or wet morsels (the portion should consist of the chosen pate or mousse). Gradually the amount of new food increases to a full portion. The process takes 7-10 days. If it is difficult for a kitten to chew dry food, it can be soaked in water or low-fat broth until it becomes mushy. During the period of introducing complementary foods, there should be no disturbances in the gastrointestinal tract (for example, constipation, diarrhea).

Up to 6 months, the kitten should be given specialized food for kittens, which contains the necessary vitamins and microelements and is fully adapted to the baby’s digestive system and the entire body. You can switch your pet to the diet of an adult cat after six months, gradually introducing new foods. The number of feedings is shown in the table:

Josera

Josera Cat Minette food

German super premium food, which took first place in the rating due to its price-quality ratio. There are no by-products, only natural meat. Tocopherol (vitamin E) is used as a preservative.

The best-selling food for babies is Josera Cat Minette (2 kg costs 288 rubles). Dry granules are suitable not only for kittens up to one year old, but also for lactating and pregnant cats. The food is created taking into account all the energy and nutritional needs of a young animal.

Another product from this segment is Josera NatureCat (2 kg for 310 rubles). It is an easily digestible food for kittens from 6 months of age. It does not contain grain, only salmon and poultry meat. Therefore, the food is ideal for cats with sensitive digestion. But it’s hard to find it on sale; it’s more common on the Internet.

Which kitten food to choose – dry or wet?

All types of industrial food are balanced and contain all the necessary substances for the harmonious development of the cat’s body. They differ only in production technology. The dry one is compressed, the moisture is evaporated from it, and the wet one is sterilized and then packed into cans or pouches (bags). The main advantages of these types of feed:

• Wet. It is easily chewed by animals, contains moisture, and therefore partially satisfies the daily need for water. Give in small portions, as it is not recommended to store uneaten food in the refrigerator.
• Dry. It is used sparingly; uneaten granules can be poured back into the original packaging. By eating this food, the cat gets rid of plaque and tartar. However, there should always be fresh water in the diet.

Many manufacturers also provide specialized food, for example, medicinal food for removing hair from the stomach, preventing urolithiasis, for cats with a sensitive digestive system and those who are obese.

To avoid trouble, it is important to strictly follow the feeding recommendations indicated on the packaging.

Selection rules

When buying food you need to pay attention to several points:

• Price. Really high-quality food will not be cheap.
• The composition of the food must meet the needs of a growing pet; it should not contain chemical preservatives, dyes, sugar, or flavoring additives. A long list of components is not an indicator of quality; the shorter it is, the better the quality of the food. In the first place, of course, meat should be listed, but not cereals.
• Age for which this product is intended. Manufacturers of premium food usually produce a whole line, and they must indicate on the product packaging at what age this food can be fed.
• Individual characteristics. The pet’s health indicators play an important role and, for example, if he has an allergic reaction to any type of meat, you need to select food that does not contain this allergen .

Important! If a kitten has health problems, it is recommended to select food after consulting a veterinarian.

• Dry or canned. Here the owner decides what type of food to feed the pet, since the quality of premium food is equally good. But still, if the kitten has sensitive digestion, it is better to opt for canned food, as they are easier to digest.

Before choosing a particular brand, it is advisable to get acquainted with the opinions of experienced owners of the breed of which your pet is a representative, read reviews on the Internet, on cat fancier forums, and ask a veterinarian for advice.

Kitten food: what to look for

The quality of food depends on its composition, so food for babies should contain the following elements:

• Vitamin A. Necessary for tissue growth and regeneration, vision, and immune system. Protects mucous membranes from pathogenic microflora, promotes normalization of metabolism and protein synthesis.
• Vitamin C. Strengthens the immune system, normalizes the functioning of the digestive system, and ensures the elasticity of the walls of blood vessels.
• Vitamin D. Necessary for the development of the skeletal system and the prevention of rickets.
• Vitamin E. Is an antioxidant and is involved in the formation of the reproductive system.
• B vitamins. An important element for the development of internal organs, nervous system, wool, skin, claws.
• Iodine. Regulates the functioning of the brain, thyroid gland, nervous system, participates in the growth and development of the body.
• Iron. Necessary for the hematopoietic system, provides oxygen to the tissues of internal organs.
• Zinc. Needed for normal functioning of the immune system, healthy skin and coat, and participates in regeneration processes.
• L-carnitine. Participates in metabolic processes, helps control weight.

The feed should also contain calcium, taurine, magnesium and other substances.

Eukanuba

Kitten Healthy Start Chicken & Liver food

A corporation that produces feed in America, the Netherlands and Russia. Eukanuba is super premium food. You definitely won’t find any offal or soy in them, as well as chemical additives, even those approved for humans.

Kitten Healthy Start Chicken & Liver - intended for babies from one month of age. The main components in it are chicken and liver (up to 43%), and other sources of proteins are animal protein and dry whole egg. The food is not cheap - 2 kg costs about 900 rubles.

Review of premium and economy class feeds

The global market for industrial pet food provides a large selection of premium and economy-class food. Which ones are suitable for your pet? Let's consider this issue in more detail.

Grandin

Produced in Germany and the Czech Republic, packaged in bags of 400 g and 1.5 kg. Has a holistic class. The range includes wet food for kittens aged 4-12 months, with grain-free chicken and pate with chicken meat in jelly. Dry food is intended for pets up to 1 year old, pregnant and lactating cats. Any of these types contains Omega-3 and Omega-6 fatty acids, vitamins B, A, C, E, D, preventive complexes for intestinal disorders and improved motility, iron, zinc, copper. Includes:

• meat and fish (78%) are sources of essential amino acids;
• potatoes, peas, beets - improve intestinal motility;
• apples – contain pectin, a natural antioxidant;
• yeast, flax seeds - affect the health and beautiful appearance of the coat;
• Chinese wolfberry, chicory, ginger root - strengthen the immune system;
• plant components are a source of fiber;
• Yucca Schidigera – reduces the intensity of the unpleasant odor of excrement;
• folic acid – improves the functioning of the nervous system;
• calcium, phosphorus, selenium, manganese are required for the health of all organs and systems.

The composition does not include preservatives, dyes, or grains that can cause allergies. The energy value is 2306 kcal/kg. The table shows the number of feedings according to age:

In this case, the daily norm for a kitten is divided into 3-4 meals, for pregnant cats - into 2 meals.

Wellkiss

Made in Belgium. Wet food is sold in bags of 100 g. It belongs to the premium class. The line includes dry granules for kittens, canned Delice Kitten with chicken or veal, Kitten wet food with chicken and turkey, lamb and beef in sauce. Contains natural meat (70%) - chicken or veal, microelements (iron, copper, zinc, magnesium), taurine, salmon oil, broth, vitamins D3 and E. The daily portion will be 50-70 g per 1 kg of animal weight.

Meatfeel

Belgian premium food. The range includes dry food with turkey and chicken for kittens up to 12 months. There are canned Kitten mousse with chicken or veal, Functional Nutrition Junior wet food with poultry or lamb in sauce. Contains:

• meat and meat components (40%) – sources of essential amino acids;
• vegetable protein extract (1.5%);
• fish and fish components - the elements they contain contribute to the development of muscle mass and increase the overall tone of the body;
• vitamins D3, E - support the functions of the musculoskeletal system, the immune system;
• taurine – normalizes the functioning of the nervous and immune systems, prevents the formation of kidney stones, strengthens vision.

Animals up to 5 months old are given 2-3 sachets per day, older pets (6-12 months) - 3-4 sachets.

Murmix

Economy class food, produced in Liechtenstein. For kittens, wet food with lamb or chicken in sauce is available, packaged in 100 g pouches. It contains 40% meat and meat by-products, vitamins, macro- and microelements, vegetable protein, glucose. For kittens weighing 1-2 kg, a daily dose of 2.5 packets is recommended, for pets weighing 3 kg - 2.5-3 packets.

Pro Plan

Produced in Russia, France and Italy. Pro Plan premium food is available in the following assortment: wet Nutrisavor Junior with chicken in jelly, beef or turkey in sauce, canned Junior with liver and chicken, dry Delicate with turkey. Ingredients: meat (for example, turkey 17%), rice, corn starch and gluten, animal fat, chicory root, soy protein, minerals and vitamins, flavored mineral additive. Packaged in packages weighing 200 g, 400 g, 1.5 kg, 3 kg, 10 kg.

Whiskas

Whiskas food, produced in Russia, economy class. Consists of meat and offal, cereals, vitamins, minerals, taurine, vegetable oil. For kittens, dry food is available in the form of “pads” with the addition of carrots, wet food - stew with lamb or chicken, pate with chicken, veal in jelly.

Canned food

This is an expensive pleasure; rather, this type of food can be defined as high-quality bait for a kitten. Canned food is the most expensive type of food on the market. This is explained by their composition. Often, they include from 90 to 60% natural meat - animal origin or fish.

Pros of canned food:

• High calorie content. It is enough for a baby to eat 100 g of such food to satisfy hunger for a long time.
• High quality raw materials used in production.
• Disposable packaging.
• Well-thought-out composition - if vegetables and meat are included, then they complement each other as much as possible.

Disadvantages of canned food:

• High cost.
• Small list of components. Often the packaging may consist of 1 or 2 components. Such nutrition can hardly be called completely balanced.

Many veterinarians consider canned food to be a delicacy for animals. The top best canned food for kittens looks like this:

• Almo Necher Alternative.
• Leonardo.
• Applous.
• Evanges Signeisha Series.
• Petite Couisin.

Almo Nature Alternativ
There is no, and cannot be, economy class food in this category. This is an expensive meal that a very wealthy person can afford.

Let's sum it up

Each owner chooses food independently, based on the needs of the pet. Therefore, you should follow these recommendations when providing a complete diet to your kitten:

• Mother's milk. This is the main component of the diet of a baby up to 3 months. In addition to proteins, it contains bacteria necessary for the digestion of “adult” food.
• Lure. It is introduced at 1 month; you can gradually switch to adult food starting from six months.
• Feed. It is better to choose high-quality balanced food with a high meat content (for example, holistic or super-premium).
• Age and breed. You need to carefully read the age recommendations and instructions on the number of feedings per day on the packaging. There are special diets for individual breeds.

It is better to place the bowl on a low stand so that the baby does not mistakenly use it as a toilet or toy. There should always be clean, fresh water in a separate container, which should be changed daily.

What diet do veterinarians recommend?

There is no convinced opinion that you should use only industrial food or natural food. The main thing is not to combine these two types of nutrition with each other. But the opinions of professionals are inclined towards the use of ready-made nutritional mixtures, since they have a balanced composition.

Basic nutrition rules:

• Choose premium or super-premium ready-made nutritional products.
• When using dry nutritional mixtures, be sure to place a bowl of clean water nearby.
• Food must have a high level of digestibility.
• Do not mix canned and dry mixtures at the same time.
• You need to select a dry product with small granules.
• Do not pour large portions, as many pets do not have a sense of proportion.
• Use a nutritional product in accordance with the age category.
• Do not mix products of different qualities.

Each owner must decide on the type of food he chooses for himself, depending on his capabilities and preferences. But the use of cheap options does not imply savings, since the cat will need to eat a larger volume to be satisfied. Based on this, it is better to use more expensive products, because they are not only useful, but also the percentage of digestibility of their components is much higher. And this will allow you to compensate for the money spent.

Club 4 paws

Food Club 4 paws

A premium product intended specifically for small representatives of the cat family, from 2 months (as well as nursing and pregnant women). It is produced in Ukraine and is one of the cheapest products in its segment (3 kg of it costs 187 rubles)

Contains 34% protein (of which 28% is poultry flour), taurine (which cats cannot synthesize on their own), a complex of polyunsaturated fatty acids, and a preservative approved in the European Union.