What to Feed a Kitten in the First Year

Bringing a kitten home is exciting—but one of the most important decisions you’ll make is how to feed them properly during their first year of life. Nutrition at this stage directly affects growth, digestion, immunity, and even long-term health.

At Catzilla Cattery, we rely not only on veterinary recommendations but also on real, hands-on experience raising British Shorthair kittens. Below is a simple, practical feeding approach that has consistently worked well for us.

Our Core Recommendation: Dry Food as the Foundation

Based on our experience, we recommend using Royal Canin Kitten dry food as the primary diet during the first year.

Why dry food works well:

  • Balanced nutrition specifically formulated for growing kittens
  • Supports dental health
  • Easy to digest when introduced properly
  • Convenient for free-feeding (important for young kittens)

Our approach:
Dry food + fresh water should be available to your kitten 24/7.

This is especially important during the first weeks in a new home, when the kitten is adapting and may eat in small, frequent portions.

Fresh Water: Always Available

Kittens must always have access to clean, fresh water.

Even if you occasionally offer wet food, hydration should primarily come from drinking water—not from food.

Wet Food: Use Carefully and in Moderation

Wet food can be a useful supplement—but we do not recommend making it the main diet.

Our feeding practice:

  • Frequency: once every 2–3 days
  • Portion: 30–50 grams per serving

Why limit wet food?

Overfeeding wet food can lead to:

  • Loose stool or diarrhea
  • Digestive instability
  • Dependency (kitten refusing dry food)

Monitor Stool Carefully

Your kitten’s digestion tells you everything.

  • Normal stool → diet is working well
  • Loose stool → immediately stop wet food for a few days

Once digestion stabilizes, you can carefully reintroduce small portions again.

Wet Food as a Tool (Not a Staple)

Interestingly, wet food can also be helpful in specific situations.

If your kitten has mild constipation:

  • A small portion of wet food can help regulate digestion
  • Do not overuse—just enough to support bowel movement

Free Feeding vs Scheduled Feeding

There are many opinions on feeding schedules. Here’s what works best in our experience:

First months in a new home:

  • Free feeding is recommended
  • Dry food available at all times
  • Helps reduce stress and ensures the kitten eats enough

Later (optional adjustment):

Each owner can decide what works best.

Our practical view:

  • If your cat does not have weight issues,
    there is no need to strictly measure food to the gram
  • Many kittens naturally regulate their intake when raised on quality dry food

Key Principles to Remember

  • Dry food = main diet
  • Water = always available
  • Wet food = occasional supplement only
  • Monitor digestion closely
  • Avoid overcomplicating feeding routines

Final Thoughts from Catzilla Cattery

Every kitten is unique—but consistency and simplicity are key.

From our experience, kittens raised on:

  • High-quality dry food
  • Constant access to water
  • Limited wet food

…tend to have stable digestion, healthy growth, and fewer feeding-related issues.

As your kitten grows, you can always adjust the routine—but a strong, balanced start makes all the difference.