Kitten food - I don't know what I'm doing!

[hobokendata]

Hi everyone!

I just adopted a 12-week old kitten named Data. He is my first pet ever so I am a little clueless, but I am doing the best I can by reading what people have to say on this forum and talking to friends of mine who have pets.

Here's my question. When Data came to me, he had been eating Purina Indoor Advantage, which is what his foster mom had been giving him. Not knowing anything about cat food, I went to Target and picked up a big bag of Purina because I figured it would be good to give him what he was used to. Of course, once I went online and read about how horrible Purina is, I immediately ran out and bought a bag of EVO Chicken & Turkey Dry Food (Data doesn't like fish.)

Data LOVES the EVO. I've been mixing it with the Purina in about a 50/50 ratio so the richness of the EVO won't shock his tummy, and I plan to completely phase out the Purina over the next few weeks.

I thought I was a total cat food genius for figuring all of this out until I went online again and saw a website mention "kitten food" - apparently I'm supposed to be feeding Data food that is rich in amino acids specifically for kittens?! Oh no! Can someone clue me in? Can I keep feeding him the EVO or should I try to locate kitten food?

Also, wet food. I picked up 12 cans of B.G. (Before Grain) wet food, but Data is only able to eat a little of it at a time. The cans are expensive - about $1.15 each - so I don't want to waste a whole can by opening it if Data is only going to eat a little of it. How long does wet food stay good for? Can I pop it in the fridge when he's done and give it to him for the next few nights? Is wet food even appropriate for kittens or should I wait until he's older?

Any advice would be appreciated - thank you!

[Meezer_lover]

I believe that Evo is an all stages food.....meaning it's meant for kittens and cats of all ages.

Regarding the canned food.....I had asked Nature's Logic (the brand I feed) how long their food is good for refridgerated and was told 3-5 days. Not sure if Evo would be the same, but I would imagine so. Just make sure you cover it tightly (get the lids made for canned food), and refridgerate it immediately after opening.

Feel free to email or call the manufacturer and ask questions about their food, as that's a a good indication about what type of company they are. (ie how quickly they respond, how knowledgeable they are, how honest they are)
Whenever I've emailed Nature's Logic, the founder of the company has always emailed me back within a few minutes or a couple of hours at most, even on Sundays.

Also: The food I've been feeding our kitten is an all stages food, and he's been doing incredible on it. When I first brought him home, I had his old food to feed him for a week or two....just so he could have something consistent considering he was going to a totally new home/environment. So I think you were smart to start him out on the same food he was eating, even though that food sucked (I know the feeling....mine was eating Science Diet kitten formula and a mix of not-so-great wet foods). I carefully transitioned him to NL over the course of about 12-14 days.

[SigmaWhisky]

EVO seems like it's on the right track but as I understand it's a dry food; this has me concerned about their water intake.

Cats normally get their water through the meat they eat. Our own human body consist for the largest part of water. Since cats do not have a natural thirst drive (they don't need it in the wild) you end up with your cat drinking but not enough. The intake of water from cats eating meat > the intake of water of cats eating dry + drinking separately.

The wet food should help with this though, so that combination is good!

The only last concern is the dental health; Personally I am not convinced that dry foods do indeed have a positive teeth cleaning effect and there is no scientific evidence to support this. Opinions are divided however and the next person might tell you something completely different. I tend to believe doctors over profit motivated companies but I won't tell you what to do

[Meezer_lover]

Originally Posted by hobokendata

Is wet food even appropriate for kittens or should I wait until he's older?

Forgot this question.....
Yes, wet food is appropriate for kittens. Better to start them early so they don't become addicted to dry food only. Not sure if the BG canned is an all stages food, so you may want to verify that (should say right on the label).

[ittybittyx]

Data LOVES the EVO. I've been mixing it with the Purina in about a 50/50 ratio so the richness of the EVO won't shock his tummy, and I plan to completely phase out the Purina over the next few weeks.

That's funny I did the SAME thing with Monster & Lacey. I didn't know much and bought a bag of purina kitten chow, then ended up buying Evo Turkey& Chicken and have been mixing it as well I feed a canned food every here and there in order for them to get their water & they LOVE it, but it isn't their main food and they are completely healthy, happy kittens

[MowMow]

@Sigma ~ Evo comes in canned as well.

I've kept food in the fridge for up to three days with no problems. I put it in a glass bowl with a lid and scoop out what is needed.

Data is very lucky, it looks looks you're really interested in researching about feeding him properly. Canned food is absolutely good for him. At his age he needs lots of food so the dry is a great supplement for him to munch on between wet meals and once he's a bit older he can go straight canned.

[hobokendata]

Thanks for the advice everyone! You all made me feel a lot better. I've been poking around online reading about the wet food I got (Before Grain Chicken & Quail) and it looks like most cats don't really like it (despite its excellent nutritional value.) I wonder if that's why Data is eating so little of it. Maybe if I try giving him a different flavor, I'll have fewer leftovers.

[Meezer_lover]

Are you feeding in meals or "free feeding"? It is recommended to feed in meals (probably 3-4 per day for kittens), as that builds up their appetite and is the way their system is used to working anyways (ie killing prey a few times per day and eating those as meals).

I feed 3 meals a day based on my work schedule. Morning, afternoon, night. I do a 50/50 wet/dry diet split into the 3 meals, so he eats his wet food right away when I serve it, then he has a little dry food to eat between the meals.

[hobokendata]

Originally Posted by Meezer_lover

Are you feeding in meals or "free feeding"? It is recommended to feed in meals (probably 3-4 per day for kittens), as that builds up their appetite and is the way their system is used to working anyways (ie killing prey a few times per day and eating those as meals).

I feed 3 meals a day based on my work schedule. Morning, afternoon, night. I do a 50/50 wet/dry diet split into the 3 meals, so he eats his wet food right away when I serve it, then he has a little dry food to eat between the meals.

I am free-feeding and putting out the wet food at night when I get home. I've been recording an album after work, so I've been coming home around 10:00 (which is not ideal, but that's how my life will be for the next few weeks.) After that, I should be able to put out something at around 8 and then again at 6:30, and then again at 10 or 11. Is free feeding really bad?

[SigmaWhisky]

Something to consider also is that it takes a cat some time to adjust to a new smell of their food. Dry foods are not naturally palatable and are thus artificially enhanced to make them palatable and more importantly to a cat, have a strong smell. Cats rely on their smell first and foremost to determine whether or not they'll eat something. Since dry food a very strong smell nowadays people tend to think cats like it more but this is artificial flavoring.

Hope this helps!