When it comes to caring for my kitten, I make sure to feed him right! After all, how will he be able to grow into the majestic kitten he deserves to be without the best kitten food to supplement him?
But with the many brands and types of kitten food available to purchase, it can get quite difficult choosing the one that will benefit both your kitten and wallet. To help you out, read on as I show you the top six best kitten food reviews! I’m sure you’ll be able to narrow down your choices and feed your cat happily after this.
What You Need To Know About Kitten Food
Why should you bother taking much time into choosing your kitten’s food?
Whether you have just adopted or purchased a new kitten, he will require to eat dry or wet food once he arrives in your home.
But what makes the kitten’s nutritional requirements different than of an adult cat?
A kitten’s weight would double or triple during his first few weeks of living. To support that explosive growth and high activity levels (kittens can get quite energetic!), then the kitten would need more than double the energy needs compared to the adult cat.
But of course, you aren’t able to feed triple the amount of adult cat food! That’s why there is kitten food, which is higher in calories in order for the kittens to get in enough calories in one meal without overfeeding them.
It’s very important to begin weaning off formula and into higher-calorie food with more protein, as this will help your kitten maintain his energy while encouraging him to grow. Not only does he grow physically, but the nutrition found in kitten food will help develop his mind and organs, which are vital in keeping him alive and enjoying his days as he grows into an adult!
How To Choose The Best Kitten Food
Choosing the best kitten food isn’t just about getting the most popular and expensive brand! There are more factors to consider when selecting the one right for your little one. Here are some tips and things to consider when doing so:
1. Wet or Dry Food?
This debate will actually depend on your kitten’s lifestyle.
Wet kitten food comes in pre-measured portions to make it easier for feeding. They also contain a high moisture content, which keeps the kitten hydrated while helping their digestive health as well. BUT, wet food costs more and it may be difficult to store once you have opened the can. Picky eaters may also be a hassle, since there are times they opt for hot food and you’ll need to microwave it before feeding! Cleaning their bowl (and your kitten’s face) can be a hassle as well, especially if they left wet scraps.
As for cat food, they are affordable and come in big-sized bags, was to store and serve. They also last longer and can be used for free-feeding. BUT, it may not be for kittens with certain medical conditions, and some kittens can have a hard time eating dry food at first.
You can also opt to blend both dry and wet food for your kitten to enjoy the consistency and flavor.
2. Should You Go Grain-Free?
Kittens do not require carbohydrates, through some types of food come with corn, wheat, or rice to use as fillers. There are also certain binders and flavoring to satisfy your cat’s taste buds as well. But I recommend that you choose kitten food without such preservatives, which helps with your cat’s overall health.
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Nutritional Information
The kitten’s basic nutritional needs are as follows:
- Protein from named fish, poultry, or meat sources (NO fillers or artificial flavors that make them sick!)
- Taurine, which is an essential amino acid
- Various vitamins, minerals, and fatty acids to improve your kitten’s immune system and digestive health
- Water to keep them hydrated
Make sure that the kitten food you choose focuses on both protein and essential vitamins and fatty acids. This should help with their growth and organ health. Protein is one of the most important macronutrients your kitten will need while growing up! You Should take note that 30% of their nutritional needs must come from protein.
Quick How-To On Feeding Your Kitten
Now that you’re familiar with choosing the best kitten food, how can you properly feed it to your kitten to enjoy? Here are some tips to follow when dealing with a fussy kitten and more information on how much to feed your furry friend!
- If your kitten is still weaning off the bottle or mama’s milk (from four to eight weeks of age), then make sure that you mix one part of dry kitten food with three parts of either wet food or milk replacement. Reduce the liquid as the weeks pass.
- Your kitten should be eating three to four times a day or more, as they have stomaches that are too small to contain too much food in one go.
- If you are feeding your kitten wet food, then refrigerate it between feedings and warm it up before you give it to the kitten. For dry food, I recommend free feeding to make it easier for your little one to get all the food he needs according to HIS time and preference.
- If your cat doesn’t like the dry food, then it’s best to mix it with a bit of water or wet food to make it easier for chewing.
- Wondering how much food or calories to feed your kitten? This will depend on his weight. A five-pound kitten will require about 200 calories a day. Usually, 10-week old kittens require about 100 calories per pound of their bodyweight, which is about 200 to 250 calories a day based on the standard growth of kittens.
The Six Best Kitten Food Reviews 2018
Based on my research, testing, and overall customer reviews, here are my top six choices on the best kitten food:
1. Royal Canin Feline Health Nutrition Kitten Dry Food
I believe that Royal Canin is one of the best brands to trust when it comes to feeding my pets. This kitten food holds no exception! My kitten really enjoys the food and continues to eat it straight. The small kibbles are also easy to consume or digest, my kittens have had no problems with swallowing and have had adequate stools.
Another plus is that it comes with the essential nutrients that keeps them energized and growing! It’s easy on the stomach and I can see that this is helps with every aspect of kitten growth, from their digestion own to their dental health! Though it may be quite pricey, I would definitely say it’s worth the investment. You are assured that you aren’t only spending more for its brand name, but the excellent quality as well!
Pros
- All kittens love the taste
- Keeps coat shiny
- There are no problems with stool
- Comes with small kibbles for easy consumption
- Very effective in kitten growth
Cons
- Contains corn
- Expensive price
Check Price and Rating on Amazon
2. Meow Mix Dry Cat Food
What I love about the meow Mix Dry Cat Food for Kittens is that it comes in smaller multiple bags to easily measure and feed the kittens without wasting time. It also has smaller kibbles that make it easy and safe for your kitten to chew.
As for its nutrition, you can see that it contains all the delicious flavors and protein that your kitten will enjoy. It has a mix of chicken, salmon, turkey, and ocean fish! The high-quality protein is effective with kitten growth, rich in fatty acids and other vitamins that are required for developing both mind and body. With its packaging and medley of high-protein kibbles, it’s another must-buy! This is a great choice for those on a budget but also want to ensure that their kittens will be growing healthily with the right type of food.
Pros
- Has a mix of all high-protein meat sources
- Comes in multiple bags for easy serving
- Smaller kibbles for easy chewing
- Rich in fatty acids
- Affordable price
Cons
- Not the best for sensitive stomachs
- Contains some fillers and cornmeal
Check Price and Rating on Amazon
3. Ideal Balance Natural Chicken and Brown Rice Recipe Dry Cat Food
Hill’s Ideal Balance is another excellent brand to trust for your pet food. What I love about this variety of kitten food is that it comes with NO fillers or artificial coloring and preservatives at all. It’s definitely safe for kittens to consume and has chicken as the number one ingredient on the list, which contains the lean protein for building and maintaining the right muscles your kitten needs to grow into the healthy cat!
The food also contains a variety of fruits and vegetables filled with vitamins and antioxidants. This helps boost their immune system while promoting bladder and digestive health. It also has brown rice, which has the fiber to promote healthy digestion while the fatty acids contained in the kitten food improves my kitten’s skin and coat.
My kitten enjoys the food and I have seen tremendous changes as he grows into an adult cat. He doesn’t only look healthy with the shiny coat, but he is way too energetic with the proper digestion, from firm stools to health urinary habits. Definitely a must-buy with its affordable price!
Pros
- Contains lean protein for muscle growth
- Has fiber and flaxseed for digestion and healthier coat
- No fillers or preservatives
- Affordable price
- Kittens enjoy great taste
Cons
- Too high in calories
- Contains a lot of carbs
Check Price and Rating on Amazon
4. Purina Fancy Feast Kitten Gourmet Wet Cat Food
If you opt to fed your kitten wet food, then I would recommend Purina Fancy Feast, which includes everything your kitten needs to grow into a healthy adult cat. The can is easy to open and serve, containing real milk and an ocean whitefish flavor which my kitten absolutely loves! It has a gourmet recipe that doesn’t only have a great taste, but it also makes it awesome for improving my kitten’s digestive health as well.
It comes with a tender texture, which makes it easier to eat. While I do wish the prices didn’t shoot up, it still is worth the price for canned food and I would buy this again!
Pros
- Tasty flavors that cats love
- Contains the lean protein with fatty acids
- Tender texture for easy chewing
- Easy-to-open can
Cons
- Makes kittens can gassy
Check Price and Rating on Amazon
5. Nutro Max Dry Cat Food
This is another excellent dry kitten food which contains all the essential nutrients that keep your kitten’s mind and body healthy and growing. It’s DHA-fortified to help with their brain development, as well as the vitamins that contain antioxidants that keep the immune system going. My kitten enjoys the food, made out of chicken meal (NO heads, feet, or intestines), and I can see the progress as he grows quickly and with much energy! I also appreciate the thin kibbles, which are easy for my kitten to chew on. All in all, it’s a great investment with its many vitamins and nutrients!
Pros
- Great for kittens with allergies
- Helps with brain and body development
- Great taste kittens will love
- Improves dental health and immune system
Cons
- Not the best packaging
- Some cats experience stomach issues
Check Price and Rating on Amazon
6. Hill’s Science Diet Indoor Dry Cat Food
Hill’s Science Diet is back on my list again with the indoor kitten food. I like the fact that this is made for indoor kittens, filled with fiber and high-quality ingredients with helpful nutrients that promote digestive health and firmer stools. It also comes with a lot of antioxidants to ensure that the kitten has a healthy immune system!
My kittens love the flavor, and there was no need to force it to them. It contains no preservatives or fillers, and it does the simple job in fueling up my kittens with what he needs.
Pros
- Kittens love the flavor
- No preservatives or fillers
- Affordable price
- Vet-recommended
Cons
- Some kittens may not like it
- A bit difficult for them to chew
Check Price and Rating on Amazon
In Conclusion
I know how important it is to feed your kitten the right food after weaning it off from his mother’s formula. With the right type of food and treats, you are assured that your furry friend will grow up to be healthy and energetic.
Out of all the kitten food I have tested and reviewed, the best one will have to go to the Royal Canine Feline Health Nutrition Kitten Dry Food.It doesn’t only come at such an affordable price, but it also has a host of benefits, such as boosting the kitten’s immune system and its digestive health. Plus, the small and dry kibbles are easy for kittens to eat and help with dental care! My little kitten has no trouble with this cat food and enjoys mealtimes now because of it.
I hope that this article on the best kitten food helped you become more knowledgeable on what to invest in! So don’t wait any longer and treat your kitten right with the healthy food for health and strength.
If you have any questions or would like to share your tips and experiences feeding your kitten, then comment down below. I would love to hear what you have to think
Jenny azcat says
June 8, 2018 at 7:01 AMI have a unique perspective on this company – first of all I own a construction company and reside in a town close to where Hills is actually located. Our company was contracted for the installation and fabrication of certain structural items in the plant. We had a first-hand look at the meticulous procedures and dedication of this company to its facility as it was constructed. Hills has illustrated through its stringent policies for CONTRACTORS working in their facility a commitment to the health and safety of their food. I was not a consumer of Hills’ products until just recently. I feel good about giving their food to my two kittens and puppy. I have purchased both the “healthy development” and “ideal balance” kitten food and the difference between the two (other than the obvious ingredients) is the “ideal balance” has smaller kibbles. I prefer the “ideal balance” for this reason. My kittens love this food – I have them on self-feed schedule – so I do not know exactly how much they eat. I have one Bengal and one Ragdoll. Also – the description doesn’t mention this that I could see – but the bags on the “ideal balance” kitten food have a really cool “Velcro-style” closure. The bag opens and seals shut extremely well with this system and eliminates the need for a storage container if you are concerned about keeping the food fresh. Love love love this product!!!! I will definitely continue to feed my kittens the “ideal balance” brand when they switch to the adult cat food.