10 Best Kitten Food UK 2024 | Whiskas, Purina, Lily’s Kitchen and More

Those with “animal digest” or “meat/fish byproducts” as the meat sources should be avoided, as these are cheap waste products from the human food industry and could be anything from scales to heads to bones. One thing they are probably not is nutritious and protein rich, so they won’t do your kitten any favours.

For all of the products in our recommendations section, we have done the calculations for you. For dry food, this is as simple as checking the back of the container. Because there is very little moisture content, the number you see is very close to the true protein, so you can easily compare it to that 30% we’re looking to get close to.

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These are the recommended vitamins, fatty acids and minerals that you should scan the ingredients list for, and why you should make sure your kitty has them:

• The essential fatty acid DHA (listed as omega 3 and 6): for brain, skin and coat health.
• The amino acid taurine: Cats cannot produce this themselves and it is needed for eye and heart health, as well as reproduction later in life for females.
  
• Vitamins and minerals: Calcium is vital for teeth and bones. Also, look for as many of the vitamins A, E, C, D, and zinc as you can for optimum overall health.
  

For this reason, many brands are making “no-grain” or “grain-free” kitten foods, whereby the calories are derived from protein and fats, or sometimes other carbs like potatoes – so even if you choose grain-free you’ll still need to make sure the majority of the food is animal based.

Rarely, some cats can have grain intolerances or allergies – another reason why these no-grain foods are becoming popular. It is best to check with your vet if you think your kitten may need a specialist diet or if they are displaying signs of illness, to ensure they are getting the correct nutrition or find out if it’s down to something else.