Kitten dry food
When it comes to feeding the newest fur baby in your family, you want to consider the nutrients in each meal as well as the quality of the ingredients. Just like babies, kittens require certain vitamins and minerals to ensure they grow to be strong and healthy cats.
Undeniably, it can be a little overwhelming walking into a pet food store and not knowing where to start. With so many options including dry, canned, fresh and raw foods, you may be overwhelmed. If you’re a new cat owner, the least messy and most convenient option is dry food, as you can leave it out for longer periods of time (perfect if you have to go to work) and there are a variety of healthy options.
How to choose the best kitten dry food
For starters, cats are instinctively carnivores, which means when it comes to their nutrition, they need an ample supply of meat. Look for the following when you read the nutrition labels.
Protein source
This is the most important ingredient and should be much more specific than just “meat.” The best choices are chicken, turkey, lamb and salmon. Another great option is dry food that includes specific organs, like chicken liver or chicken heart, as these are good sources of taurine, which is an essential amino acid that helps with your cat’s growth.
Named Fat Source
Look for terms like chicken fat, sunflower oil, or other oils. If it’s not specific enough, don’t buy it — you should know exactly what oil is being used.
DHA
This fatty acid is found in a mother cat’s milk and this is crucial to the growth of your kitten. Namely, it helps support vision and brain development in your pet.
Avoid carbs
Cats naturally have difficulty digesting some carbohydrates and some even experience food allergies triggered by these. It’s best to avoid foods that contain grains, especially corn or wheat. Instead, pick foods with green peas, sweet potatoes or potato starch.
Important considerations when transitioning your kitten’s diet
If you’re introducing new food in your kitten’s regime, it’s important to do it slowly and over a period of time — preferably a week. By doing so, you’ll avoid stomach upsets, anxiety or shocking their digestive system.
To help you figure out the right portions to help your kitten transition well follow this general rule of thumb:
Days 1 & 2
Previous Food: 75%
New Food: 25%
Days 3 & 4
Previous Food: 50%
New Food: 50%
Days 5 & 6
Previous Food: 25%
New Food: 75%
Day 7
New Food: 100%
The best kitten dry food to buy
Orijen Dry Cat & Kitten Food: available at Petco
Made with at least 15 fresh or raw ingredients, Orijen prides itself on creating food that contains meat, organs and bones to give your kittens the most nutrient-dense diet. This food is made from 85 percent poultry, fish and egg ingredients with absolutely no grain, potato, tapioca, or plant protein concentrates. Thanks to these combinations, your kitten is sure to stay healthy and strong as they grow.
Hill’s Science Diet Kitten Dry Cat Food: available at PetSmart
Made with natural ingredients, the Hill’s Science Diet Kitten Dry Cat Food will ensure your fur baby gets all the premium nutrition to keep up with their active lifestyle. Jam-packed with DHA from fish oil, it supports your kitten’s brain health and eye development. It’s also filled with a source of high-quality protein to help build lean muscle, and balanced minerals for strong bones and teeth. Add this to your kitten’s diet for their first year.
Purina ONE SmartBlend Dry Kitten Food: available at PetSmart
When it comes to this dry kitten food, the chicken is the number one ingredient to help give your pet a bite of high-protein. Thanks to the added addition of DHA, your kitten will get ample support for their vision and brain development, while four antioxidant sources strengthen their immune system. The natural ingredients in this kitten dry food are also filled with vitamins, minerals and nutrients from carrots and peas, with no artificial flavors or preservatives.
Blue Buffalo Baby Blue Dry Food: available at Petco
Start your kitten off on the right paw. Thanks to the high-quality, natural ingredients infused in the Baby Blue Dry Food, your kitten will get an enhanced dose of vitamins, minerals and nutrients with every bite. Made with real chicken (to support muscle growth) and garden fruits and vegetables, this dry food is also grain-free to make sure your pet has all it needs to grow healthy and play. It contains no soy, corn, wheat or artificial flavors and preservatives.
Nulo MedalSeries Cat & Kitten Food: available at PetSmart
Want to venture outside of regular chicken options? Thanks to the grain-free turkey and cod recipe packed into this kibble, you’ll have your kitten’s mouth watering with a healthy meal they deserve. Made with a high-meat, low-carb formula, your pet is sure to get the strength they need to grow. The best part about the Nulo MedalSeries is the added probiotic that supports digestion and immune health. And thanks to the lack of GMOs, artificial flavors, colors and preservatives, you’re sure to keep your kitten in tip-top shape.
Simply Nourish SOURCE Kitten Dry Food: available at PetSmart
With real deboned turkey, this kitten food is packed with 40% protein and is grain- and gluten-free. Not only does this meat-rich dish satisfy your kitten’s taste buds, but it also comes loaded with nutrients and fatty acids (like DHA) to support your pet’s healthy brain and eye development, skin and coat, digestion and overall health. Potatoes and peas in the recipe also contribute to your kitten feeling energetic.
Courtney Love is a writer for BestReviews. BestReviews is a product review company with a singular mission: to help simplify your purchasing decisions and save you time and money.
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