Kitten feeding and nutrition
Why your kitten's diet is so important
Birth to 4 months
4 to 12 months
Your kitten’s digestive and immune systems are strengthening but still fragile. Their growth rate and energy needs begin to slow, but they still need easily digestible food designed for developing kittens.
Adult cats
Nutrients for healthy growth
There are a range of vital nutrients that your kitten needs during the first months of life to aid growth and development. Kitten diets must provide enough energy and quality proteins to support growth, strengthen the immature immune system and be easily digestible. ROYAL CANIN® diets are nutritionally balanced to offer a complete tailored diet to meet the needs of kittens of all sizes, lifestyles and breeds.
The science behind ROYAL CANIN® kitten nutrition
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Your kitten's feeding schedule
There are three common feeding methods for kittens and cats.
- Self-service - This is the most natural style as, when cats have free access to food, they usually eat several small meals a day – as many as 16 in 24 hours. It’s suitable for kittens who can eat dry food and aren’t overweight or likely to overeat.
- Fractioned feeding - This is when you feed your kitten at specific times during the day. It’s not as well-suited to their natural grazing tendencies, so it’s best to divide their overall daily ration into smaller amounts offered several times a day.
- Combination feeding - For this feeding method, you provide kibbles on a self-service basis and wet food at set times. If you use this approach, it’s important to control the amount of food provided overall to prevent your kitten becoming overweight.
Create the right environment for feeding your kitten
How much should my kitten drink?
Why can mixed feeding be good for kittens?
Hydration
Two pouches of wet food a day can provide around 73% of your kitten’s recommended daily water intake.
Palatability
Our wet formulas are designed to be highly appealing to the fussiest of kittens.
Weight management
Wet food’s high moisture content means you can serve a larger portion for the same number of calories.
Dental hygiene
Dry kibbles can help to keep your kitten’s teeth clean thanks to the brushing effect on their teeth as they chew.
Natural grazing
Providing dry food to nibble on throughout the day enables your kitten to follow their natural instinct to eat several small meals daily.
When should I begin mixed feeding?
How to change your kitten’s food
Any sudden changes in diet can cause digestive upsets and may make your kitten wary of their food. So it’s important to introduce new foods slowly during a week-long transition – whether you’re switching to adult food, changing products or introducing mixed feeding.