As a general rule, cats that are less than one year of age are considered kittens. It is important to feed your pet a kitten formula up to one year. The exception would be larger breed cats, such as the Maine Coon, which do not reach adult maturity until they are 18 months to two years of age.

Can Kittens Eat Adult Cat Food?

Can kittens eat cat food? The answer is on the label. If the label (or bag) of food reads “for all life stages,” then it is nutritionally sufficient for kittens.

When Can Kittens eat Dry Food?

When can kittens eat hard food? Kittens can begin eating solid food at around four weeks old. Begin by feeding your kitten soft or wet canned food. As they grow used to eating solid food and their teeth continue to develop, begin to mix in dry food softened with a bit of water. Gradually increase the amount of dry food over several days, paying attention to the feeding instructions on the back of the bag.

Introducing Adult Food

Kittens grow and develop every day. They require a food that meets the high-energy demands of their bodies. As your kitten becomes an adult cat, you may need to adjust her diet.

How do you know when to switch to adult cat food? Sometimes it’s hard to know when to stop feeding kitten food, but generally, you should begin slowly transitioning your kitten to adult food when she is one year old, or when your veterinarian recommends doing so. Spread out the transition process over a 7 to 10-day period, gradually increasing the amount of her new food each day.