Safely Introducing Adult Food to Puppies and Kittens | Dog & Cat Health, Wellness, Products and Breed Information

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Safely Introducing Adult Food to Puppies and Kittens
| Print | September 28, 2009 2:18 PM

Introducing adult food should be done gradually over the course of a week to three weeks. Some puppies and kittens are sensitive to changes in diet, so be on the lookout for loose stool or digestive upset. If either of these things occurs, slow down the transition to adult food.

For Kittens
Kittens can start switching to adult food around seven to nine months of age.

Begin the change to adult cat food by blending in a very small portion, no more than one teaspoon, of the new food into your kitten's diet.

Every four days, increase the amount of new food by another teaspoon and decrease the kitten food by the same amount.

For Puppies
Small breed puppies can start switching to adult food around eight or nine months old. Medium and large breed puppies should wait until about one year of age.

At feeding time on the first day, simply mix together three-quarters puppy food and one-quarter adult food. Each day, increase the amount of adult food and decrease the amount of puppy food until it is all adult food.