New cat in the family (kitten/cat food question)

[Maxf]

We welcomed a new cat to our family a week ago, Oscar the Persian. He is 8 months old (and a Persian), and was supposed to be a show cat, but had some 'faults' (no idea, dont really care) so the owner lost interest in him.

He is very shy and unfortunately seems to have had a kick at some point, as he is afraid of feet and petrified of shoes (on feet). Poor little fella is settling in and getting braver daily. He used to compete for food with 15 other cats so his last owner had no idea what quantities he was eating.

After learning about kidney issues from our last cat, Ted, we are keen to give him the best start, so are feeding him 'Nature's Menu' kitten food (grain free raw food but steamed in the packet), which he sort of likes.

At 8 months, he is pretty big, but not full grown - is now about time to move him onto adult food? He isnt neutered but will be in a month or two.

We're a little wary of totally raw food at the moment, as he seems to graze a bit, and everything we read says to remove uneaten food after 10-15 mins. We will need to feed him packets of wet food in the morning, as our schedule won't leave time for raw, but can give him raw food in the evenings.

So,

8 month old kitten/cat - adult or kitten food? Also, should he have a supply of dry food to graze on during the day?

[bexVN]

The Kitten food until a year or change about a month after neutering. If leaving dry food to graze on, measure out the amount first as very very easy to overfeed, at a rough guess he'd prob only need 30g a day if on some raw aswell ie not much.

Grazing is ok if cat is a grazer and food measured. However if chobbling it quickly split food into 2/3 portions during day

Do you know if his parents were checked re polycystic kidneys? May need to be cautious re type of dry food, I'd recommend the likes of Lily's Kitchen, Applaws or Ziwi Peak, they may seem high protein but the quality is also very high and feeding amounts lower.

I would suggest continuing with some dry as that is what he was used to and continue to introduce the new foods gradually.

Edited by bexVN on Monday 11th May 15:04

Edited by bexVN on Monday 11th May 15:06

[Maxf]

Thanks Bex.

He apparently is from PKD negative parents - we have a pedigree certificate, not that I understand it, or the names mean anything to me.

We'll ration his biscuits (we had been just leaving him a pile), and keep him on the kitten food for a while longer.

With regards to getting him neutered - is it best to wait until he's a bit older? Surely he'll need testosterone to grow properly?

[bexVN]

Well generally most cats are castrated at six months old as they are sexually mature by then and inclined to spray.

Larger breed cats may benefit by waiting longer. I would say as long as he is not spraying and not going outside then you could probably wait another month or two but it would be ok if you do have him done sooner.