Switching Kitten to Cat Food

swhite2012

We have a 10mo old kitten that we are trying to do a gradual switch from a low quality kitten food (Kitten Chow) to a high quality adult food (Chicken Soup).  We started slow and gradually increased the amount of Chicken Soup in the mix. About a week in, he started getting very liquidy stool. We stopped with the Chicken Soup to see if that was the case before we took him to the vet. The problem stopped. We do need to get him on an adult food. Should we try the Chicken Soup again and give it time to see if he adjusts, or try a different food? We have given him a variety of wet foods with different proteins and he's been fine, so I don't think it's the protein source. Thanks!

Kaiene

You can keep them on a kitten food for up to a year, so I'm confused why you want to switch to adult now.  But, I am glad you want to transition to a better food than kitten chow.

That being said, I would suggest an all life stages food, such as Taste of the Wild.  There are others, like Acana, but TOTW is the most budget friendly.

Also, it could just be that the Chicken Soup doesn't agree with your kitty's system.

swhite2012

The reason we're switching is because the vet suggested it. He was gaining a lot of weight on kitten food, even in moderation, so she said we can start switching him a little earlier.

Kaiene

swhite2012:

The reason we're switching is because the vet suggested it. He was gaining a lot of weight on kitten food, even in moderation, so she said we can start switching him a little earlier.

Ah.  

I have fed Acana and loved it.  The ingredients are high quality, and it's grain free.  It is pricey though, but with one kitten I bet it would last quite a while, since you feed less of it.  We feed raw now, but if we ever had to go back to kibble, it would be Acana.

I like this site for cat food ratings.  They rate quality and price, so you can find something good in your budget.  http://www.petfoodratings.net/cattable.html

swhite2012

Thanks for the info!

mainerocks

Maybe you just need to switch more gradually? Start with a really small ratio? I'm doing a really slow switch right now for my 2 new cats because one of them has had soft stools, but it seems to be better now. It's been about a 4 week switch for us so far. Probably another week given what's left in the old bag and how he's doing.

PolarBearFans

We feed Wellness canned. Grain free and we really have seen the long term benefits to a high quality diet with wet good as the primary component. Make sure you are transitioning very slowly. Tiniest bit in the old food and gradually increase amount of new food.