when to start limiting dry food?

Okay, so, since the kids are still kittens, I'm not limiting dry food yet, but am thinking I'll do so when they're a year old. I was thinking I'd start giving them say a quarter cup either between meals or a half cup a day. Right now, they've got a mix of three different brands, Purina kitten chow, a cheap cat food that came with Hecate, and a grain free that our friends kindly donated, because I forget to pick up kitten chow. I don't know what brand they'll be eating once they're fully grown, but I'd like it to be more a snack than a main food source. With the three wet feedings daily, what would be the best way to do dry snacks? Mind you, this will be in about six months.

I think it really depends on what you're feeding and how many calories it contains. Since you don't know what you're going to feed next its hard to say. I have 7 kittens all under a year (between 6-11 months). Right now they eat kibble as a "noon snack" and overnight as a snack. They all share, but my plan is to just cut back more and more as I'm planning on weening them off kibble once they don't need to eat so often. I think the best plan is to keep and eye on their weight and how much they're eating. If they aren't eating all the kibble cut back, or if they're not eating their wet food cut back on the kibble so they'll eat their meals. 

Yet, growing kittens need more protein than adult cats, and wet food is richer in protein than dry food. Also, kittens with small teeth can't chew kibble properly and need at least some wet food.

They get wet feedings 2-3 times a day. Approx 1/4 to 1/3 of a 5.5 oz. can. Lunch is sometimes skipped if we're both out or if the kids are sleeping. I figure that there's no reason to wake them for lunch. Plus, kibble is left out all day and night. If simply figuring out ahead of time when to start limiting the kibble.

OK, I hadn’t understood this part of the question.

Adult cats only need feeding once or twice a day. Kittens need feeding more times than that. So it is correct to limit the number of their meals as they grow up.

As to whether to leave kibble constantly available, it depends on he cat.  Some cats can regulate their food intake, but others can’t and will get overweight, which is of course harmful for their health. So just watch what’s happening with their weight and stop if they're gaining.

I assume that fresh, clean water is constantly available. Pet fountains are good for encouraging water drinking and their filter keeps water fresh.

I actually started filling the double food bowl on both sides with water, because they drink a lot of it. Especially after a game of chase/pounce/wrestling. So, they're already getting a smaller bowl of dry food because the large bowl is all water.

I worry a bit about Hades self-regulating his food intake, because he's still doing the stray cat "eat it all now" thing, but is getting better with the dry food.

I've actually been thinking about this as well. Mine is approaching 6months (matter of days) and atm I leave Orijen dry food out all day. I actually mixed it with some higher calorie cheap kibble earlier this week, because my picky eater is on the skinny side so she can use a few extra calories. She's also getting wet food 3x a day. (Most of the time she doesn't even eat all of it tbh.) I don't really know when to start cutting back on dry food either, especially since she got spayed today and that slows down the metabolism and stuff. I've also noticed she primarily eats during the night, which can be frustrating when she won't eat her wet food in the morning. I might just start with putting the bowl away during the nights once I feel like she's at a steady, healthy weight. But don't really know for sure yet.

I got my cat when she was 3 months old, she's 4 years old now. The vet said it's best to give only dry food since it is better for tartar control of their teeth. I give her a grain-free food. She used to free feed, having the food out all the time since she just eats a little at a time. A couple months ago I bought a food dispenser that I have set to give her 1/4  cup 3 times a day. She still only eats a little of it so she's eating for hunger, which is more natural than eating a lot at once and gaining too much weight. Plus I know she's not getting more than 3/4 of a cup a day. On her last vet visit she weighed 11 lb., which the vet said is the high side of normal. I've read that wet food gives them more liquid to keep them hydrated, but I'm afraid she might get overweight if she eats it. Will ask the vet when she goes for her vaccinations due soon.

Was happy to see this thread and chat with everyone!

Debbila said:

I got my cat when she was 3 months old, she's 4 years old now. The vet said it's best to give only dry food since it is better for tartar control of their teeth. I give her a grain-free food. She used to free feed, having the food out all the time since she just eats a little at a time. A couple months ago I bought a food dispenser that I have set to give her 1/4  cup 3 times a day. She still only eats a little of it so she's eating for hunger, which is more natural than eating a lot at once and gaining too much weight. Plus I know she's not getting more than 3/4 of a cup a day. On her last vet visit she weighed 11 lb., which the vet said is the high side of normal. I've read that wet food gives them more liquid to keep them hydrated, but I'm afraid she might get overweight if she eats it. Will ask the vet when she goes for her vaccinations due soon.

Was happy to see this thread and chat with everyone!

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She could only lose weight from switching to wet food, tbh, And the removing tartar from teeth thing is a myth that unfortunately most vets believe. It would be true if not that most of the time cats swallow their food so quick they barely bite down on it. You could try feeding her a tin of wet food but sometimes cats just won't have it after they've become "addicted" to dry food. Either way I wish my cat liked food time a bit more Dx She's on the lower side of normal - although she's kinda huge (tall) for a female this age, imo.

Elfilou said:

I've actually been thinking about this as well. Mine is approaching 6months (matter of days) and atm I leave Orijen dry food out all day. I actually mixed it with some higher calorie cheap kibble earlier this week, because my picky eater is on the skinny side so she can use a few extra calories. She's also getting wet food 3x a day. (Most of the time she doesn't even eat all of it tbh.) I don't really know when to start cutting back on dry food either, especially since she got spayed today and that slows down the metabolism and stuff. I've also noticed she primarily eats during the night, which can be frustrating when she won't eat her wet food in the morning. I might just start with putting the bowl away during the nights once I feel like she's at a steady, healthy weight. But don't really know for sure yet.

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There is a thought that immature animals benefit from being on the lean side. It keeps weight off growing bones and tendons. They will fill out more as they develop more muscle mass. For all of Mercy's hovering she is lean and her ribs are quite apparent when you run you hands down her side. This is different of course from being emaciated. Fast growth at this age means they are burning it before it becomes fat or even muscle. Young animals that are not getting enough to eat are often restless and have poor play and sleep patterns.

Yeah, I've increased their wet food. They're now getting 1/2 a can each, because they're finishing it, although Hecate needs hers stirred in order for her to finish it. I don't know why she seems to think that if I stir it, it's worth eating again. But, whatever works. And they're quite active, especially since I turned the tree. Now that they can run up the carpeted side, their chase/tackle/wrestle game has a new dimension. They love it.

Hatchytt said:

Yeah, I've increased their wet food. They're now getting 1/2 a can each, because they're finishing it, although Hecate needs hers stirred in order for her to finish it. I don't know why she seems to think that if I stir it, it's worth eating again. But, whatever works. And they're quite active, especially since I turned the tree. Now that they can run up the carpeted side, their chase/tackle/wrestle game has a new dimension. They love it.

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It's great that you're increasing their wet food! And I know what you mean about having to replate the food for Hecate to finish: one of our cats likes to have her raw food meals remounded in the middle of the dish or she won't finish them. Cat catering works hard around here.

I'm figuring your tree is some sort of condo or scratching post: we do the same with our condo two or three times a year and it gets the cats all interested again. Interesting creatures they are.

This is the tree. This is how it was sitting at first. And the kitty-kids kept knocking things off the bookshelf next to it.


This is after I turned it. Please pardon the mess. They were knocking stuff off the bookshelf last night and I'm on a new medication and haven't gotten a gumption to pick up their mess.

Kittens Mom said:

There is a thought that immature animals benefit from being on the lean side. It keeps weight off growing bones and tendons. They will fill out more as they develop more muscle mass. For all of Mercy's hovering she is lean and her ribs are quite apparent when you run you hands down her side. This is different of course from being emaciated. Fast growth at this age means they are burning it before it becomes fat or even muscle. Young animals that are not getting enough to eat are often restless and have poor play and sleep patterns.

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Ah! That calms me down a lot actually. She's far from underfed and I can't really feel her ribs (I mean, I can certainly feel them, but not each individual one unless i'm really trying to) and she's not underweight anymore thankfully. She was very thin when I first got her, which concerned the vet, and has concerned me ever since. She's been to the vet a couple time since then though and seems to be on a good weight, although she's still "on the skinny side".

But thanks though, that puts my mind at ease. Also because her play and sleep schedules are always on point, even when my sleeping schedule isn't, lol. For now i think i'll just let her eat however much she wants until I notice she's filling out. I think maybe i should just start thinking more like, 'if her body wanted more food she'd eat more'? She has a healthy appetite, especially after play times, but i've just never dealt with a picky eater before - so i should stop comparing her eating habits to other cats. Especially since all other cats i've dealt with were food-crazy. hahaha

Elfilou I feel your pain. I have a picky eater to go along with my feline vacuum cleaner. And along with being picky, she seems to be sensitive to fish, but in a weird way. I swear, it only happens with fish, but it seems to make her sneezy and her eyes watery. This includes fish broth, but apparently not fish meal in dry food. Weird.

M missmimz
Okay, I found something reasonable priced at WalMart. So it's likely that I'll be feeding them this brand as dry for the rest of their lives. It's Goodlife brand. Ingredients are as follows:

CHICKEN, CHICKEN MEAL, BROWN RICE, CHICKEN BY-PRODUCT MEAL, BREWERS RICE, ANIMAL FAT (PRESERVED WITH MIXED TOCOPHEROLS), NATURAL FLAVOR, BREWERS DRIED YEAST, POTASSIUM CHLORIDE, DRIED PEAS, SALT, ADDED COLOR, TAURINE, DL-METHIONINE, DRIED SPINACH, DRIED TOMATO, DRIED BLUEBERRY, DRIED SWEET POTATO, DRIED APPLE, DRIED CRANBERRY, CHOLINE CHLORIDE, DRIED CARROTS, MIXED TOCOPHEROLS (A PRESERVATIVE), VITAMINS (VITAMIN E SUPPLEMENT, NIACIN, VITAMIN A SUPPLEMENT, VITAMIN B12 SUPPLEMENT, THIAMINE MONONITRATE [VITAMIN B1], RIBOFLAVIN SUPPLEMENT [VITAMIN B2], d-CALCIUM PANTOTHENATE, PYRIDOXINE HYDROCHLORIDE [VITAMIN B6], VITAMIN D3 SUPPLEMENT, FOLIC ACID, BIOTIN), MINERALS (ZINC SULFATE, COPPER SULFATE, MANGANESE SULFATE, POTASSIUM IODIDE), YUCCA SCHIDIGERA EXTRACT.

Hatchytt said:

@missmimz
Okay, I found something reasonable priced at WalMart. So it's likely that I'll be feeding them this brand as dry for the rest of their lives. It's Goodlife brand. Ingredients are as follows:

CHICKEN, CHICKEN MEAL, BROWN RICE, CHICKEN BY-PRODUCT MEAL, BREWERS RICE, ANIMAL FAT (PRESERVED WITH MIXED TOCOPHEROLS), NATURAL FLAVOR, BREWERS DRIED YEAST, POTASSIUM CHLORIDE, DRIED PEAS, SALT, ADDED COLOR, TAURINE, DL-METHIONINE, DRIED SPINACH, DRIED TOMATO, DRIED BLUEBERRY, DRIED SWEET POTATO, DRIED APPLE, DRIED CRANBERRY, CHOLINE CHLORIDE, DRIED CARROTS, MIXED TOCOPHEROLS (A PRESERVATIVE), VITAMINS (VITAMIN E SUPPLEMENT, NIACIN, VITAMIN A SUPPLEMENT, VITAMIN B12 SUPPLEMENT, THIAMINE MONONITRATE [VITAMIN B1], RIBOFLAVIN SUPPLEMENT [VITAMIN B2], d-CALCIUM PANTOTHENATE, PYRIDOXINE HYDROCHLORIDE [VITAMIN B6], VITAMIN D3 SUPPLEMENT, FOLIC ACID, BIOTIN), MINERALS (ZINC SULFATE, COPPER SULFATE, MANGANESE SULFATE, POTASSIUM IODIDE), YUCCA SCHIDIGERA EXTRACT.

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I mean, if you're asking my opinion about it I don't really like the food. Brown rice as the third ingredient is not good. I would do your best to feed as much wet food as possible and as little kibble as possible. I would not feed this kibble for the rest of their lives. My opinion about kibble is that if you're going to feed kibble feed high quality or none at all, and if you can't afford high quality kibble feed lower quality wet food. 

hatchytt , as for purchasing affordable food, especially dry, have you looked into Chewy.com?

Merrick and Merrick's Before Grain foods are pretty decent grain-free foods and are very reasonably priced. However, there are many choices available for every price range.

The GoodLife food is really high in carbs, so take that into consideration. Definitely not the worst food on the market; but, you might be able to afford a higher quality dry if you buy online.

I recently bought Nature's recipe Grain Free Indoor Hairball Control at Big Lots. They didn't have a large size bag that would have been less expensive than at grocery stores. Got a 2 lb. bag for $4.50. I got the Salmon and Potato and my kitty loves it. Gonna buy up all they have, it's expensive at PetSmart and even on Chewy.com.