What's the best dry food for kittens?

ginger's mum · Sep 22, 2005

All the labels are in Japanese and I can't really choose from the information given on the product webistes. I 'think' that going from the information I've read that Eukanuba is the best with the highest protein count of 36%.
Is it true the higher the protein the less they need to eat of it?
What to you experts think?

This is what I can get...
Kal Kan
Royal Canin
Eagle Pack
Eukanuba
Iams
Science Diet
Purina One
Medifus
Purina Friskies
Carat Healthcare
AvoDerm
1st Choice
Unicharm

wellingtoncats · Sep 22, 2005

Until our kittens turn into cats at nine months old we use Royal Canin Babycat - not the Royal Canin Kitten though (that makes them loose!) we have had very pleasing results with this product

pollycharlie · Sep 22, 2005

I had been feeding my 1-year old, my 6-month old, and my two 4-month olds Nutro. They love it, and no problem. The kibbles might be a bit big if you have a small cat like me. I mixed in some Iams until my smallest cat was 4-month old, then I gradually mix it back to Nutro.

The most important aspect of food is the ingredients. I think there are many posts in this forum about dry food. Go to the pink tool bar above and "Search" for dry food, you will get an idea what people had been using/saying.

hell603 · Sep 22, 2005

I agree Royal Canin is a good product!

pat · Sep 22, 2005

The Royal Canin baby 34 formula is the best of the ones I could look up (I compared the eukanuba, eagle pack, avoderm, and purina one from the list you gave) from the list you gave.

Unfortunately, of those, none of them meet all my requirements/suggestions of no corn, no animal by-products or by-product meal, wheat gluten/soy or wheat flour, multiple carbs, but at least the royal canin baby formula only has corn, and it's not in the first 3 ingredients at least

This is the one I'd go for, for now. It's not just a question of the protein content, it's also the quality of the protein and what else is in the ingredients list. Feed the Royal Canin, and supplement with the best quality canned kitten (or for all lifestages) food you can obtain.

sharky · Sep 22, 2005

the baby cat ... it is a good to excellent food cept for the corn... The protein in some may be higher but is it coming from meat mostly from chn or chn meal?? or is it coming from by products , corn , wheat??

zoggy · Sep 22, 2005

I use Max Kitten food but they wont eat it, theyre both about 5 weeks old. They eat the wet food though (Same brand).
What good dry food should I introduce them to thats small enough for them to eat and soft enough to chew and digest?

semiferal · Sep 22, 2005

I am not familiar with all the brands you listed, but of those listed Avoderm and Eagle Pack are by far the best - much better than Royal Canin. RC isn't a bad product, just not as good.

pat · Sep 22, 2005

Originally Posted by semiferal

I am not familiar with all the brands you listed, but of those listed Avoderm and Eagle Pack are by far the best - much better than Royal Canin. RC isn't a bad product, just not as good.

I don't know why you feel these two are better, but here is why I disagree with you.

Eagle Pack Kitten:"Chicken Meal, Ground Brown Rice, Chicken Fat (naturally preserved with mixed tocopherols, citric acid and rosemary extract), Ground Corn, Corn Gluten Meal, Chicken (organic), Flaxseed, Brewers Dried Yeast, Poultry Liver Digest, Wheat Germ Meal, Dried Egg Product, Pork Meal, Fish Meal, Dried Beet Pulp, Tomato Pomace..."

Avoderm Kitten and Adult:"Chicken Meal, Ground Yellow Corn, Corn Gluten Meal, Ground Whole Wheat, Chicken Fat (Preserved with Mixed Tocopherols and Ascorbic Acid), Herring Meal, Dried Beet Pulp, Brewers Dried Yeast, Avocado Oil, Corn Germ Meal, Dried Whole Cheese.."

Royal Canin Babycat 34: "Chicken meal, chicken fat (preserved with mixed tocopherols), chicken, corn gluten meal, rice flour, beet pulp, corn flour, chicken flavor, chicken liver, pea fiber, fish oil, canola oil, brewers yeast.."

I'll take the food with the less red highlighted ingredients

sharky · Sep 22, 2005

Originally Posted by Zoggy

I use Max Kitten food but they wont eat it, theyre both about 5 weeks old. They eat the wet food though (Same brand).
What good dry food should I introduce them to thats small enough for them to eat and soft enough to chew and digest?

Have you tried mixing the wet with dry?? or adding a little warm broth to it .. Your kittens are too young to be awaty from mommy cat... Please give them some milk replcer the stage 2 is good for there age

sharky · Sep 22, 2005

Originally Posted by Pat & Alix

I don't know why you feel these two are better, but here is why I disagree with you.

Eagle Pack Kitten:"Chicken Meal, Ground Brown Rice, Chicken Fat (naturally preserved with mixed tocopherols, citric acid and rosemary extract), Ground Corn, Corn Gluten Meal, Chicken (organic), Flaxseed, Brewers Dried Yeast, Poultry Liver Digest, Wheat Germ Meal, Dried Egg Product, Pork Meal, Fish Meal, Dried Beet Pulp, Tomato Pomace..."

Avoderm Kitten and Adult:"Chicken Meal, Ground Yellow Corn, Corn Gluten Meal, Ground Whole Wheat, Chicken Fat (Preserved with Mixed Tocopherols and Ascorbic Acid), Herring Meal, Dried Beet Pulp, Brewers Dried Yeast, Avocado Oil, Corn Germ Meal, Dried Whole Cheese.."

Royal Canin Babycat 34: "Chicken meal, chicken fat (preserved with mixed tocopherols), chicken, corn gluten meal, rice flour, beet pulp, corn flour, chicken flavor, chicken liver, pea fiber, fish oil, canola oil, brewers yeast.."

I'll take the food with the less red highlighted ingredients

ginger's mum · Sep 22, 2005

Thanks everyone, this is really helpful for me, she had a bumpy start and I want to give her the best I can. She has quite happily eaten Iams and Royal Canin KIitten 34 before but haven't tried the Eukanuba yet.

So, are you saying that Royal Canin is better than Eukanuba? This isn't because this site is sponsered by them is it?

No, really, I trust your oipinion

Ginger is over 5 months old now and is pretty flexible about what dry food she eats.
For wet food she seems to have settled on the Science Diet Kitten Range alternated with Kal Kan (Masterfoods) Kitten range. She only eats a tablespoon or two a day of wet food, seems to prefer the dry. Which is weird considering the trouble I had getting her to eat at all.
Not a large Kitten wet food range available here.

Keep your opinions coming please, I have to decide tonight what brand to buy tomorrow.

pat · Sep 22, 2005

Originally Posted by Ginger's Mum

So, are you saying that Royal Canin is better than Eukanuba? This isn't because this site is sponsered by them is it?

Hi, The sponsorship has nothing to do with me whatsoever, it doesn't shape my opinions as I hope everyone has noticed, I back up why I have the opinion I do with my reasons - I list the ingredients I feel are not the best, I list articles etc.

I've never, ever, given an opinion based on anything other than my honest opinion. I am a volunteer here, not compensated by anyone, especially not a food company.

sharky · Sep 22, 2005

Imho... your best bet is the Royal Canin... it a a good all around food ... Eukanuba uses tons of by products , lots of corn and sourghum and chemicals preservatives...

decadenz · Sep 23, 2005

I have been feeding my mommacat (about 9 mths old) and her son (2+ mths) Avoderm Adult and Kitten. Looks like I'll switch to Royal Canin Babycat for the kitten since it's better...

What would you guys recommend for my momcat though? Something from the Royal Canin range? But which specific one? She doesn't have hairball problems or any allergies which I know of.

ginger's mum · Sep 24, 2005

Well, I did it. I went out and bought a big 2kg bag of Royal Canin Kitten 34 for my baby. She loves the stuff, prefers it over wet food most of the time.
That ought to keep her happy for a couple of months

Thanks everyone

pat · Sep 24, 2005

Originally Posted by Ginger's Mum

Well, I did it. I went out and bought a big 2kg bag of Royal Canin Kitten 34 for my baby. She loves the stuff, prefers it over wet food most of the time.
That ought to keep her happy for a couple of months

Thanks everyone

Glad she likes it

ashleynicole · Sep 24, 2005

I have a question....I just bought a bag of Eukanuba for my kitten. I got it b/c I was looking at labels while at the pet store, and it was the ONLY one that had real meat (chicken) as the first ingredient and chicken liver as the second. RC had a meal product as the first, as did many other brands I looked at. Did I do wrong by buying this? I am so confused!

pat · Sep 24, 2005

Originally Posted by AshleyNicole

I have a question....I just bought a bag of Eukanuba for my kitten. I got it b/c I was looking at labels while at the pet store, and it was the ONLY one that had real meat (chicken) as the first ingredient and chicken liver as the second. RC had a meal product as the first, as did many other brands I looked at. Did I do wrong by buying this? I am so confused!

I am not sure if you read through this entire thread? This kitty owner gave a list of what foods were available, and asked which would be best, of them, Royal Canin kitten was,imo. If you go back through, you'll see why I had that opinion in the message where I list the ingredients of the eukanuba, royal canin and one other brand.

ashleynicole · Sep 24, 2005

Pat & Alex

The Royal Canin baby 34 formula is the best of the ones I could look up (I compared the eukanuba, eagle pack, avoderm, and purina one from the list you gave) from the list you gave.

Unfortunately, of those, none of them meet all my requirements/suggestions of no corn, no animal by-products or by-product meal, wheat gluten/soy or wheat flour, multiple carbs, but at least the royal canin baby formula only has corn, and it's not in the first 3 ingredients at least

Is this the one you were talking about? I guess I just need to practice reading the labels, its so much too remember! And hard to tell (IMO) b/c if one has real chicken as first ing. and another has meal, but has less corn, etc. I have trouble choosing which would be better! I guess as time goes on, it will get easier (I hope), but thanks for your reply

What's the best dry food for kittens?

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