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Kitten vs adult cat food, from the label.

Kitten and adult formulas are written for different stages of life. Here is what the label records across 6 kitten and 29 adult cat foods in our catalog, side by side on a dry matter basis.

The same facts, side by side

Medians with the lowest and highest recorded value. Only foods that state a value are counted.

Label fact

Kitten6 foods

Adult29 foods

Protein (min), dry matterCalculated from label values; not stated on the label.

36.8%range 32.7–46.7% · 6 foods

39.1%range 29.3–48.9% · 29 foods

Fat (min), dry matterCalculated from label values; not stated on the label.

21.4%range 10.8–24.7% · 6 foods

18.2%range 10.2–22.7% · 29 foods

Fiber (max), dry matterCalculated from label values; not stated on the label.

4.9%range 3.3–13.3% · 6 foods

4.5%range 2–9.6% · 29 foods

Protein per 100 kcal (min)Grams of protein for every 100 calories. Puts wet and dry foods on one scale. Calculated from label values; not stated on the label.

9.2 grange 7.5–9.8 g · 6 foods

8.6 grange 6.4–12.5 g · 26 foods

Fat per 100 kcal (min)Grams of fat for every 100 calories. Calculated from label values; not stated on the label.

4.9 grange 3.1–5.2 g · 6 foods

4 grange 2.3–5 g · 26 foods

Moisture (max)As fed. This is the main reason wet and dry foods read differently.

7.8%range 7.5–10% · 6 foods

9%range 7.5–78% · 29 foods

Only 6 kitten foods are in the catalog so far, so treat these figures as a small sample.

Dry matter values use each label's own moisture maximum. Calorie rows use the calories per kg recorded from each label. Foods with a recorded life stage of all life stages, senior, or no recorded life stage are not counted.

How the label marks life stage

The adequacy statement on a label says which life stage a food is formulated for. AAFCO publishes separate nutrient profiles for growth and reproduction and for adult maintenance. This page counts only foods whose recorded life stage is exactly kitten or exactly adult.

What the label cannot tell you

How much a kitten should eat, and when to move to adult food, depends on the individual cat. Ask your veterinarian when choosing a food for a growing kitten or when changing an adult cat's diet.

Examples from the catalog

One food per brand, listed alphabetically. Open any food to see its full label facts and source.

Kitten cat food

Adult cat food

Compare one kitten and one adult food side by side