Cats- when to go to adult food?

[Crazy_cat_lady]

So The Alley Cat aka Gary is now 7 months old and Penny (aka Penny Dreadful/ Pennypoo)6 months. Both have now been neutered.

Interestingly, on PD post spay care sheet, it mentioned how they are more susceptible to weight gain once neutered, something I was aware of.
However it did also mention after 6 months it being worth transitioning her to adult food?

I was wondering what people's experiences of this are as I thought it was around a year old they went to adult food? PD is a ragdoll so a chunkier build, while AC is more leaner. I'm just worried about them losing out on vital nutrients they need for growing? But obviously I don't want them obese! Both will be house cats.

If the vet has advised it it must have reasoning behind it and they're good vets, however it just seems very early and i thought it happened closer to a year?

Both are on different makes of food at present however when she goes onto adult food I'll transition PD to applawse so she's on the same as AC. They will stay on kitten biscuits regardless as I had to buy a massive bag last time as Zooplus didn't have the smaller one in stock!

Pictures for attention!

 

[Shady]

Looking at them and seeing that they will stay on kitten biccies, I would start introducing adult wet food now.
I always start mine on kitten food, both dried and wet and then keep up the kitten dried in a really good quality brand up til a year and then introduce adult wet food at about 7/8 months. I don't give a huge amount of wet food anyway but i'm not a great lover of cats being on a totally dried diet either. I personally think a balance is better, but that is my personal choice and sometimes it's not possible or cats just don't get on with wet food. I change to adult dried, of hopefully the same brand, at a year.

Your cats are gorgeous

 

[HufflyPuffly]

I moved them over when I got fed up of food guarding from the adult cats/ just giving all of them kitten food and letting the other ones get podgy... They have all survived and are good weights lol.

 

[ycbm]

I've never fed kitten food to a kitten. I always figured that a mouse was a mouse, you don't get 'kitten mice', so why do kittens need kitten food?
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[HufflyPuffly]

I've never fed kitten food to a kitten. I always figured that a mouse was a mouse, you don't get 'kitten mice', so why do kittens need kitten food?
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They tend to have higher calories for growing wee ones, but as mine get ad lib dry food as well as wet, I figured if they were hungry they'll eat more... I did use kitten food with the original two until they were about 9 months but I haven't noticed the younger two have any issues with just eating adult food.

 

[ycbm]

I'm the same, all my cats have been fed ad lib dry and wet.
.

 

[Crazy_cat_lady]

Thank you, it sounds a bit like babies and weaning (not that I have babies) where its a little bit how long is a piece of string! I messaged PD breeder and she said a year old, its good to know if she does suddenly balloon I won't kill/stunt her by switching to adult food! Its hard to tell with her weight wise as AC is a much leaner build while PD breeder even described her litter as "chunky" and ragdolls are one of the bigger breeds. Plus the fluff! I can feel ribs though so I think her weight is fine for now!

Also know the importance of switching food gradually, having always had cats and of course learnt from horses! OH thought you could just change a brand of food straight over, er no! Especially AC who has a sensitive tummy.