How long do I need to feed my kitten special kitten food?

I wonder if you can put the kitten food in a place where only the younger cat can go… Is your older cat active? A veterinarian will definitely know more…

Is there a way you could feed them separately? It may not be necessary, but it is beneficial to go the whole year on kitten food. When it became obvious our Cat was going to have kittens, we started her on kitten food, It seemed to help both the mother and the kittens.

There’s really no place in the house that both can’t get to. I tried like hell to keep the older cat away from the younger’s food, but had no success. :(

@augustlan I understand, it is nearly impossible to stop a cat from getting somewhere they want to be, especially when there is food involved.

The only thing I can think of is to get one of those big cat cages with the climbing posts and shelves, and put the kitten in it when it’s feeding time, and let the kitten out other times. And put the kitten food away when the kitten is out of the cage. That might not work, though, if you want the kitten to get used to having food out all the time so she can nibble whenever she’s hungry.

I had the same problem. Keep in mind, this only works if you have exact feedings (and don’t let them graze—which I’ve always been told is healthier anyway).

When I had an older cat and a kitten—I’d feed the older cat (a quarter scoop or whatever), and then take the kitten into the bedroom and feed him. If I needed to, I could close the door, but normally both of them are busy eating their own food that they could care less.

Repeat for the evening feeding.

Holy Medusozoa, it’s an Andrew!

@augustlan – I’m by no means an expert, but I have studied feline diets, so basically, I play one on the TV. Cats are technically kittens for the first year, as the package says. During this year, they have a lot of body and brain growth and development, which is why the kitten food is packed full of fat and yumminess. To the older cat, it’s like asking whether it would like a boiled chicken breast or a bacon cheeseburger… no contest. :)

@Andrew’s suggestion is a good one, of feeding them separately at set times. I’ve not heard that grazing is less healthy; on the contrary, my understanding is that cats are natural grazers and unless they are prone to gorging/overeating, it’s perfectly healthy to let them eat at will.

My cats are definitely grazers. Do you guys think I could switch them to specific time feedings, without causing them some starvation first? I worry that if I just pull a switcheroo on them tomorrow, they won’t eat enough at one time to sustain them.

You may have to start with several feedings a day and wean them down to two. But I think they will learn pretty quickly to eat when it is available.