Mutliple cats- multiple foods

We currently have 4 adult cats that we own and are fostering 4 feral kittens that we are socializing. Out of the 4 adult cats one of them has crystals in her urine. On the advice of the vet to simplify the feeding routine we have all 4 of the adult cats on Purina Urinary Tract dry food and somehow manage to separate them during their wet food feeding time.

We are thinking of adopting one of the kittens that we are socializing. I was wondering how important it is for their health for kittens to continue eating kitten dry food up until 1 year of age? Right now they are about 5 months old. Is it safe to put such a young kitten on the Urinary Tract food? If it is not how would I manage to divide up all of the different kinds of dietary needs?

Hmm, the website does say it's specifically formulated for adults cats and they say to feed the kitten formula for kittens.
Do you leave the dry out all day or feed timed meals?

Yes, right now we just leave the dry food out all day and schedule the wet food feedings. The cat with the crystals knows that she needs to eat her special wet food separated from the other cats. I guess we could feed everyone strictly wet food until the kitten gets older or maybe the kitten urinary food would be good for all the cats. I guess I'll ask a vet!

Well, I have 8 cats with varying dietary needs. I solved the problem by removing dry altogether, and feeding timed meals.

I wouldn't give kitten food to all the cats as it's usually too high in calories for the adult cats. Instead, I'd be inclined to go with timed feedings and try as much wet food as you can.

Sounds like a plan. Thank you!
 

Alicia, thanks for the post.  I too had that issue with multiple cats and multiple diets.  I had Hoot on Senior wet and dry, Ramsey and 'Bitz on Adult wet and dry and then rescued Swiffer who was about 10 weeks old.  Finally I completely lost my mind trying to keep it all straight and who got what and when.  I literally had 3 different containers of dry and a bunch of different trays of wet food going at the same time and and then trying to monitor them while eating was just more than I could handle. 

Sooooo....  I called the vet.  The vet's suggestion was to put them all on adult food.  I was concerned about the kitten's nutritional levels and he assured me all would be okay and that is where I learned a little about senior cats and nutrition.  To make it short, I put them all on Nutro Max Cat roasted chicken dry and Nutro Max and Nutro Natural Choice wet foods as well as several other brands of premium wet foods.  I now use a timer for the kibble and they get 2 wet feedings a day.  The kibble timer feeds them 3 different times daily in small amounts.  Their we/dry ratio is now at 85%wet to 15% dry and I'm going to reduce the kibble another 5% to make it 90/10.  That is probably where I'll leave it.

I don't know if any of this helps but it's been my experience.  The kitten did just fine and now weighs in at about 22 pounds.  She's a Maine Coon/Siamese mix. 
 

NutroMike said:

I don't know if any of this helps but it's been my experience.  The kitten did just fine and now weighs in at about 22 pounds.  She's a Maine Coon/Siamese mix. 
 

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22 lbs is awfully big even for a Maine Coon, especially a female. Are you sure she isn't getting *too* big?

mschauer said:

22 lbs is awfully big even for a Maine Coon, especially a female. Are you sure she isn't getting *too* big?

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LOL!  I KNOW!  People just stare at her when they see her.  My little Maltese dog looks like a toy when he sits by her.  According to everything I've read and the vet's check ups she is at the perfect weight for her size.  She is mostly on a wet diet now and seems to maintain right at 22 all of the time.  She is a very active cat so I'll need to watch her weight when she slows down a bit.  I'll probably cut down on the number of snacks she gets during the day but until then she is big, happy and healthy girl

LDG said:

Well, I have 8 cats with varying dietary needs. I solved the problem by removing dry altogether, and feeding timed meals.

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Don't put a kitten on a urinary tract food made for adults. I'm with LDG, get them all on a good healthy canned diet, canned only. You can keep the one kitty on the canned "prescription" food if you want, and put the others on a good grain free commercial canned.

I have three cats eating three different diets. I used to have four with four different diets.

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