We use the term ‘budget’ advisably here, as good quality kitten food isn’t cheap. But it is vitally important to give your bundle of fluff the best start in life and not skimp on quality food. Hill’s Science Plan is slightly cheaper than other wet foods, particularly as the brand recommends that you only feed a pouch a day and supplement with their dry food to make up a kitten’s daily recommended amount. Unless your cat has accidentally had kittens (Blue Cross recommends that cats are neutered at around four months old to prevent unwanted kittens), your kitten should have already been weaned when it arrives at your house. It is advised that a kitten shouldn’t be rehomed until they are at least nine weeks old. But, for information, a kitten should be nursing from mum or bottle-fed until they are around five weeks old. At this age, a kitten’s premolars have started to appear, and they’re ready to try them out. Kittens often struggle to eat solids at first, so start by offering small bites of wet food on a finger or spoon if you have a kitten to wean. Kittens also need to be transitioned onto solids – they must nurse from their mother or have formula until they’re confident eating on their own, gaining weight and eating high-quality food. Expert formulations: For this guide, we prioritized brands that have a dedicated nutrition expert on staff, which aligns with WSAVA guidelines and our experts' guidance. We also looked for brands active in research or those that collaborate with universities and colleges. We’re big fans of Purina’s cat food, which seems to appeal to a wide range of palettes. The Pro Plan Nutrisavour Kitten food has been developed with good ingredients to make sure your kitten gets the correct balance of nutrients to help them grow and develop their vital functions. This balanced blend also helps to keep your kitten at their ideal weight, which is particularly important during the early stages. It also contains DHA from fish oil for brain and eye development, alongside minerals for strong bones and teeth.

Kitten food won’t do much harm to your older cat, however, it is worth noting that it is much higher in calories than that of adult cat food. Kitten food also contains much more nutrients and proteins which are all added to the food for optimal growth and development. Is kitten food different from cat food? Wet kitten food is the most natural way to keep your little one hydrated while meeting their nutritional needs. These foods contain 75% to 78% moisture whereas dry foods contain 10% to 12% moisture. "Cats prefer to get their water from their food," says Zoran. Like all of the best cat food, canned options must meet nutrition requirements set by the AAFCO for the growth (kitten) stage or all life stages, including a minimum of 30% protein and 9% fat on a "dry matter" or moisture-free basis. According to Zoran, the best food you can feed your kitten is one that is nutritionally complete, agrees with their skin and digestive tract, and is liked by your kitten. Quality kitten foods come from reputable brands with a dedicated nutrition expert on staff who follows strict quality control measures. What is the best cat food for indoor kittens? To compare the nutrients in wet food to those in dry food, convert the percentages of fat, protein, and fiber in wet food to a dry matter basis. To find the dry matter basis, use these directions from the Cummings Veterinary Medical Center at Tufts University, call the food manufacturer, or ask your veterinarian for help. The only downside is the price – if you are only feeding wet food, you’ll get through around three and a half pouches a day, and this can mount up. Although we feel the quality of the food is worth it, you could consider supplementing some of the wet food with the corresponding biscuits to keep the price down.Keep food bowls clean, and don’t leave dried-up food in the bowls, as this could put a kitten off eating.

We at Purina PRO PLAN believe nutrition is the foundation for long-term health, well-being and the starting point for an amazing life for your pet. PRO PLAN is a confident choice for those looking for products based on cutting edge proven science, rooted in over 90 years of passion and expertise.

The best kitten food you can buy in 2023

Discover PRO PLAN LIVECLEAR - the 1st cat-allergen reducing food offering cat owners a safe, effective and feline-friendly approach to reducing their explosure to allergens - whilst keeping cats in their homes and on their laps. PRO PLAN LIVECLEAR Sterilised Adult offers an outstanding complete and great-tasting nutrition for the long-term health of your cat as it helps maintain their urinary health and ideal body weight as well as helps promote healthy kidneys. Choosing one the best kitten foods is individualistic, from a cat's preferred tastes to unique nutritional needs. For this reason, it's helpful to approach feline nutrition with guidance from your vet.