Kittens need a 'growth' or 'all life stages' formula—AAFCO growth standards require minimum crude protein 30% on a dry matter basis (adult cats 26%), calcium 1.0%, phosphorus 0.8%, taurine 0.10% on a dry matter basis. Per kg of body weight, a kitten's calorie needs are about 2-3 times that of an adult cat, so you cannot feed adult portions, nor should you use adult food as a long-term substitute.
3 Key Points
- Must use growth/all life stages formula: protein, calcium, phosphorus, and taurine standards are all higher than adult cat food.
- Meal frequency decreases with age: 4-5 meals at 4-8 weeks, 3-4 meals at 8-12 weeks, 3 meals at 3-6 months, 2-3 meals at 6-12 months.
- Food transition takes 14 days: add 20% of the new food each time; if soft stool appears, go back to the previous ratio.
Feeding Schedule and Observation Points by Age
| Age | Meals per day | Food type | What to watch |
|---|---|---|---|
| 4-8 weeks (weaning) | 4-5 | Wet food paste / softened kitten food | Weight gain weekly; transition from mother's milk to solid food |
| 8-12 weeks | 3-4 | Kitten wet food + softened dry food | Teething starts, appetite may fluctuate briefly |
| 3-6 months | 3 | Kitten wet food + kitten dry food | Fastest growth period, highest protein needs |
| 6-12 months | 2-3 | Kitten/all life stages formula | Gradually transition to adult food (after 12 months) |
How to determine portions? The most reliable way is to follow the packaging feeding table (by weight) plus weigh every two weeks and do a body condition score (BCS). From 4-6 weeks of age, weigh every two weeks; steady weight gain in the first year is normal, but sudden stagnation or loss needs checking.
Hong Kong Real Prices: Kitten Food (checked 2026-10-02)
| Product | Type | Net weight | Hong Kong price | Price per kg |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Pure paws Kitten Mousse Can Chicken + Taurine 80g | Wet | 80g | $9 | $113/kg |
| RONRON Kitten Complete Pouch 75g | Wet | 75g | $8.5 | $113/kg |
| Vitakraft Kitten Can Chicken 85g (discontinued) | Wet | 85g | $9 | $106/kg |
| ADVANCE Kitten Wet Food Chicken 85g (discontinued) | Wet | 85g | $9.7 | $114/kg |
| Hill's Kitten Can Chicken 2.8oz (discontinued) | Wet | 79g | $10.5 | $133/kg |
| WELLNESS Kitten Complete Can Chicken 70g | Wet | 70g | $16 | $229/kg |
| ZiwiPeak Steam-Dried Kitten Recipe Can 85g | Wet | 85g | $34 | $400/kg |
| PLATINUM Fresh Fish Crunchy Kitten Recipe 400g | Dry | 400g | $90 | $225/kg |
| Orijen Kitten Dry Food 5.4kg (discontinued) | Dry | 5.4kg | $488.6 | $90/kg |
| WELLNESS CORE Kitten Dry Food Trial Pack 250g | Dry | 250g | $40 | $160/kg |
| Instinct Freeze-Dried Kitten Raw Food Free-Range Chicken 9.5oz (discontinued) | Freeze-dried | 269g | $86 | $320/kg |
| ZiwiPeak Steam-Dried Kitten Recipe 700g | Air-dried | 700g | $279 | $399/kg |
Note: Small packs (250-400g) can cost more than twice per kg compared to large packs. After 5 months, when a kitten's appetite stabilises, you can switch to large packs to save cost. Trial packs are a good way to confirm acceptance first.
Daily Cost Estimates
| Plan | Hong Kong price | Daily cost (estimate) |
|---|---|---|
| All wet food ($106-133/kg range) | $8.5-9.7/can (85g) | Kittens need several meals a day, about 3-5 cans; roughly $26-48/day |
| All kitten dry food ($90/kg range) | $488.6/5.4kg | About $12-20/day (kitten calorie needs higher than adult) |
| Mixed feeding (dry + 1-2 cans daily) | Sum of both | About $20-30/day |
| All freeze-dried/air-dried | $320-399/kg | Highest expense, generally used as a mixer |
(Kitten calorie needs vary greatly with weight and age; above are general ranges; for accurate portions follow the packaging feeding table and veterinary advice.)
14-Day Food Transition SOP
| Days | Old food | New food | Observation |
|---|---|---|---|
| Days 1-3 | 75% | 25% | Stool formed? Appetite normal? |
| Days 4-6 | 50% | 50% | If soft stool appears, go back to previous stage |
| Days 7-10 | 25% | 75% | Weight continues to rise |
| Days 11-14 | 0% | 100% | Transition complete |
Why kittens need a slow transition: Kittens have an immature gut microbiome and small body weight; diarrhoea can easily cause life-threatening dehydration. Compared to adult cats, kitten transitions should be extended to 14 days or more; persistent soft stool should prompt early veterinary care.
What Kittens Must Not Eat
- Adult prescription food (unless specified by a veterinarian)
- Dog food (insufficient taurine)
- Plain fish canned food as a long-term staple (calcium-phosphorus imbalance)
- Human seasoned food, chocolate, onion, garlic, raisins
- Raw egg white (affects biotin absorption)
- Vegan diet (cats are obligate carnivores)
Sources
- AAFCO cat food nutrient profiles: growth minimum crude protein 30% dry matter basis, fat 9%, calcium 1.0%, phosphorus 0.8%, taurine 0.10% dry matter basis; adult maintenance crude protein 26%, calcium 0.6%, phosphorus 0.5%.
- WSAVA Global Nutrition Guidelines: monitor growth using body condition score (BCS) and muscle condition score, and confirm products have a 'complete and balanced' statement.
- NRC (National Research Council) 2006: growth energy requirements are significantly higher than adult maintenance; recommended daily total water intake for cats is 50-60 ml/kg body weight.
- Product prices, net weights, formula labels: PetChill product pages (checked 2026-10-02).
This article is general nutritional information and does not constitute veterinary diagnosis or prescription. For kitten health issues, consult a registered veterinarian as soon as possible.
Further Reading
- Which Hong Kong cat food is best? 2026 Top 10 Popular Cat Food Brands Guide →
- 12 Popular Cat Foods Recommended by Scenario (Hong Kong Real Prices) →
- Senior Cat Food Guide: Protein, Phosphorus and Water After Age 7 →
- Canned vs Dry Cat Food: Moisture Content, Water Intake and Daily Cost →
- How to Tell Complete Wet Food from Complementary Wet Food? Label Identification →
- The Truth About Grain-Free Cat Food: Grain-Free ≠ Low-Carb →
- Freeze-Dried vs Air-Dried: Process, Rehydration and Daily Cost →
⚠️ Some products mentioned in this article are discontinued (marked 'discontinued'); prices are pre-discontinuation records. For other products, please refer to the current prices displayed on the online store.
ZiwiPeak full guide →
Orijen full guide →
Hill's full guide →
