Is My Cat Too Old For Kitten Food?
Most kittens can be weaned off kitten food between 4 – 9 months old. Maine Coons, however, have a much slower growth rate than the average cat. As a result, they should not be weaned off of kitten food until they are between 9 to 15 months old.
All kittens need to start eating kitten food once they are weaned from their mothers. Kitten food is high in protein, fat, and calories because if kittens do not receive enough protein and fat while young, it can stunt their growth.
Some cat specialists state that Maine Coons should switch to adult food once they are 9 months old, while others say to wait until they are 9 to 15 months old due to this large cat breed’s slow growth rate.
Kitten Feeding Guide
Kittens that do not receive a proper diet can suffer from stunted growth and other health problems, therefore they must eat the correct nutrients and calories.
Below is a helpful guide to understanding this breed’s nutrition requirements:
1. High Calories
Most adult cats need between 25 and 35 calories per day, per pound of body weight.
Kittens, however, need to consume a lot of calories to grow and may need as many as 60 – 80 calories, per pound of body weight, depending on how old they are.
2. High Protein
Protein is the most important nutrient in any cat’s diet, but this is especially true of Maine Coon kittens. It is essential for building muscle and is also the main nutrient cats use for energy.
So should you be feeding your Maine Coon a raw food diet? Read this guide to find out.
3. Moderate Fat
Maine Coons also need a moderate amount of fat in their diet. Kittens need more fat than adult Maine Coon cats, as this will help them reach their full size.
Kittens are constantly growing, and if they do not have enough fat in their diet, they can easily become underweight.
4. Low Carbohydrates
All cats require only a small amount of carbohydrates.
Too many carbohydrates serve as empty filler calories, without any of the important nutrients of protein and fat.
Many cheap cat food companies will substitute important proteins and fats with filler grains and carbs, which is why it is important to purchase a high-quality brand of cat food like this.
5. Vitamins And Minerals
Cats need dozens of different vitamins and minerals to keep their bodies in the best possible condition.
If your cat does not receive all of these essential vitamins and minerals, it can lead to serious health complications.
When searching for a brand of cat food, seek out brands that are approved by the AAFCO.
The AAFCO has done extensive research on cat dietary requirements and only provides their seal of approval to foods that meet their rigorous standards.
What To Feed Your Kitten And When
Kittens need different nutrients and calories at different stages of their life.
Reputable Maine Coon cat breeders will not allow kittens to be adopted until they are at least 8 weeks old, so you don’t have to worry about weaning or potentially bottle-feeding your Maine Coon kitten!
Weeks 1 – 4
For their first four weeks of life, Maine Coon kittens are entirely dependent on their mothers for food. Still, it is an owner’s job to monitor the kittens’ weights closely, to ensure they are all getting the calories they need.
Daily weight checks help owners to keep tabs on which kittens are getting enough food, and which kittens may need to be bottle-fed a special milk replacement.
If you are not sure how to monitor your kitten’s changing weight, then read my article on How To Keep A Maine Coon Growth Chart.
Weeks 4 – 6
During this period, Maine Coon kittens gradually begin the weaning process. Once they are about three or four weeks old, they can be given extra soft kitten food, or high-quality kitten food mixed with warm water until their baby teeth come in.
They should be fed wet food a few times a day, gradually increasing in frequency and amount over time.
By weeks five and six, the kittens’ baby teeth will have come in, and they can transition to eating high-quality wet food.
Weeks 6 – 8
Kittens should be completely weaned by the end of this stage.
Once they are eating and drinking water on their own, they can be given small amounts of dry food. However, it is a good idea to mix some warm water into the dry pellets to make it softer and easier for your kitten to chew.
2 – 3 Months
This is when most kittens are adopted into loving homes, and it becomes their new owner’s job to ensure they are eating enough.
Your Maine Coon will grow rapidly until they reach about three months old, and you can expect your kitten to weigh between 3 and 5 pounds by the time they are three months old.
At this stage, you should allow your kitten to eat as much as it wants since they naturally eat until they are full. Supply dry food, as well as portions of wet food two to three times a day.
Most Maine Coon kittens will need about 60 – 80 calories per pound of body weight each day.
3 – 7 Months
Maine Coon kittens usually gain about two pounds every month until they reach seven months old. At this stage, you should provide about 60-70 calories per pound of body weight each day, and give your kitten wet food two to four times a day.
If you only give your kitten wet food, you should feed it four times a day, but if you are providing both dry food and wet food, it will only need wet food twice a day.
While some owners do choose to provide only wet food to kittens, it is a good idea to provide dry food, as well.
Dry food is better for a cat’s teeth, and kittens can become picky about dry food if they are not introduced to it early on.
7 – 15 Months
Most Maine Coons will get their first growth spurt when they are about 8 months old, or 32 weeks old. After this growth spurt, your Maine Coon will grow more slowly for a while, until their final growth spurt at about one year old.
During a growth spurt, your cat will probably need more food than usual, so it is a good idea to keep feeding your kitten as much as it wants.
Then, after its final growth spurt, you can begin reducing your cat’s calorie intake, as well as the amount of wet food it receives.
Adult Maine Coons need between 25 – 35 calories per day per pound of body weight, and should only be fed wet food a few times a week.
You can start gradually reducing your Maine Coon’s wet food intake from two to four times a day to just once a day, and then once every two or three days.
9 – 15 Months Old
Once your Maine Coon is between 9 and 15 months old, you can finally switch it over to adult cat food. Make sure you talk with your vet before making the switch, though; since each cat’s nutritional needs will vary based on its weight and health.
When making the switch to adult cat food, please be aware that cats can be picky eaters, and are prone to suffering from digestive problems if their food is changed too abruptly.
When switching foods, mix a small amount of the new food with the old kitten food, and gradually taper both wet food and dry food over seven to ten days.
You may need to try a few different kinds of food and flavors to find one your kitten enjoys! (source 1,2,3).
Best Food To Feed A Maine Coon Kitten
There are a wide variety of ways you can feed your Maine Coon. You can choose to feed your kitten any or all of the following food types:
- Dry
- Wet
- Raw
- Homemade kitten food
Maine Coons do require more protein and calories than the average cat, but you do not have to worry about purchasing a specialized diet. Instead, focus on buying food from high-quality, trustworthy brands, or making your food that meets all their needs.
1. Dry
Dry food is the easiest and cheapest cat food diet available in the marketplace. When purchasing a brand of food, the following food options are available:
- Kitten Food
- Adult Food
- Senior Food
Starting a kitten on adult cat food is very dangerous because it does not contain enough calories, protein, or fat. Kittens given adult food instead of kitten food will quickly become underweight or malnourished.
Kittens can be introduced to eating dry food when they reach six and eight weeks old. Before doing this, make sure your kitten has been completely weaned from its mother.
The kitten also needs to be readily eating wet food before you introduce dry food into their diet.
2. Wet
Since wet food is soft and easy to eat, kittens are given wet food when they are about four to six weeks old as they begin weaning.
Kittens can eat regular wet food, but only if it is specifically made for kittens. This is because adult wet food does not contain enough of the following ingredients to ensure a nutritionally balanced diet:
- Protein
- Fat
- Calories
3. Homemade
Homemade kitten food is much less commonly used than wet or dry food. However, if you have the time and money to put together a specialized diet for your Maine Coon cat, a homemade diet is a great option for you.
There are lots of recipes online for homemade kitten food, but you will still need to do a lot of research on the exact quantities that your kitten needs in their diet, of the following:
- Protein
- Fat
- Carbohydrates
- Vitamins
- Minerals
You should also talk with your vet before starting a homemade diet, to ensure you are providing your cat with food that is both safe and nutritious.
4. Raw
Raw food, similar to homemade food, is a method where owners provide their Maine Coons with a diet of raw meat and additional nutrients. This is a tricky, time-intensive method of feeding your cat, but it can also be very rewarding.
The amount of food you feed your kitten will depend on its:
- Weight
- Activity Level
- Life Stage
Can Kittens Eat As Much As They Want?
Maine Coon kittens have endless energy, and if they do not have access to enough food, they can easily become underweight.
It is pretty difficult to overfeed a young kitten, so unless you notice signs of obesity in your kitten, let it eat as much as it wants (in the beginning).
Once your kitten is about nine months old start reducing how much you feed your cat. At this stage, feed your kitten two to three times a day, and once it reaches adulthood, you should feed it just twice a day.
What Happens If I Feed My Kitten Cat Food?
You should never feed your kitten adult cat food because it will affect their long-term health and growth.
Here’s what could happen if you feed your kitten adult cat food:
- Weight Loss: Kittens who eat adult cat food instead of kitten food will not get as much protein or fat as they need, which can cause weight loss.
- Obesity: Ironically, while feeding your kitten adult cat food can cause your kitten to become underweight, it can also cause them to become overweight. Since adult cat food does not contain enough protein for kittens, your kitten might be extra hungry, leading to overeating.
- Stunted Growth: A cat’s long-term growth is determined by the nutrients and calories they receive while young. If your kitten does not get enough calories and nutrients, it could end up never reaching its full weight.
In summary, adult cat food contains less protein, fat, and more carbohydrates than kitten food. Kittens require more protein and fat and fewer carbs to grow properly (source 1).
How To Switch From Kitten To Cat Food
Maine Coons will eventually need to switch from kitten food to adult food between 9 and 15 months, depending on the cat. If you change too abruptly your kitten could suffer from digestive problems.
To switch from kitten food to cat food, you will want to cross-taper your cat’s food over seven to ten days.
Start by mixing just a little bit of the regular food into the kitten food, and slowly reduce the amount of kitten food you provide while also increasing the amount of adult food.
You may need to try out some different brands and flavors before finding one your cat likes. If your cat loses weight or stops eating, it might be time to try out a different kind of food.