We have a male kitten, about 5 months(Mao) and a female, about 11 months (Isis). At what point is Isis an adult, and is it okay to keep feeding her kitten chow? They eat out of the same bowl, and it would be impossible to separate their food and give them different stuff. We figured it was more benficial for Mao to have kitten chow than it was dangerous for Isis to have it. Is this right? Thanks.

Well, cat food and kitten food contain different nutrients. The thing you have to worry about is whether or not your adult is getting what she needs for her daily diet. I don't think it'll hurt her, especially since you only have one more month for your other cat to be on kitten food. If you're really concerned about it, try buying a special treat for Isis that contains a lot of nutrients and making sure she gets a certain amount each day.

Clerky

you are fine. You should not keep an adult cat on kitten food for longer than 12 months. The primary difference is the higher protein and fat -it is much higher in the kitten food. If you keep an adult cat on kitten food they have an increased risk of obesity and illnesses attributed to it.

We got Gizmo when Hunny was just about a year old. Hunny had just recently been switched over to Cat Chow herself, but as with you, there would really have been no way to keep their food separate so we gave both of them Kitten Chow.

By the time Gizmo was a happy & healthy 6 month old cat, while during a routine exam, I asked the vet if it would be OK for her to be on Cat Chow, since 6 months on Kitten Chow had caused Hunny to gain quite a bit of weight and I was worried for HER health.

Because both of my cats are seen regularly and we never give them anything but a normal cat diet, they are amazingly healthy kitties. Because Gizmo was growing so well, the vet agreed that she could be switched over to Cat Chow at 6 months.

It all depends on their overall health, since as previously mentioned, Kitten Chow has essential nutrients necessary for proper growth. On the down side, it has too much of the good stuff for the adult cat that no longer needs it.

No harm in Isis getting Kitten Chow, as long as you keep an eye on her for signs that she might be gaining too much. If she's spayed this could also have a bearing.

If if becomes a concern much more before 6 mo, or at that 6 mo point if Mao seems to be growing well, healthy & happy, see if the vet would agree that Mao can have Cat Chow.

Good Luck!

Thank you all for your help. Isis doens't seem to be getting fat, but ironically Mao is. He's a little tub! So I think when this bag (we buy the 30 lbs bags) is done we'll switch them to adult. For now they get a bowl of dry left out all day, on serving each of wet (adult formula), and a vitamin treat each day. Isis is right about the right size (about 5 lbs - not too much extra flab that I can see, counting that she was fixed and her tummy is loose anyway); Mao is getting large. His belly is really big. Now, he's always running around and stuff, so I know he gets enough exercise. I can tell you right now he's going to be a big cat. Isis is a little more petite than average; Mao is more than half her size already!

Thanks again!

I would continue to feed the cats the same type of food. Choose the one that is tolerable to both cats. I would read the ingredient label on the cat food you are buying. I don't think it is harmful for your kitten to have a good quality cat food instead of kitten chow.

Kitten food is higher in calories and an 11 month old cat should be fine on it. I have the same problem, A three year old cat and a 4 1/2 month old kitten. The vet said give them seperate bowls, oh yeah, that works!!! They eat out of whatever bowl they feel like. I have been putting a small amount of kitten food in the bowl and when that's gone I put in adult and keep repeating this. That way the older cat isn't constantly eating the higher calorie food and the kitten is still getting what she needs.