Food & diet
What to look for on a puppy or kitten food label, how much to feed at each stage, and the right time to move them onto adult food.
Two words on the food label do most of the work.
"Complete", and the life stage, such as puppy or kitten. A food carrying both is already balanced for that point in your pet's life, which is the thing the price tag cannot tell you.
Premium foods aren't always better.
The cheapest puppy and kitten foods really are poorer. Past that, our food guides are clear that for some premium brands, the additional cost goes on marketing rather than into the bowl.
If you're planning to change your puppy or kitten's food, do it over a week, not overnight.
Mix a little more of the new food into each meal. Switching in one go tends to upset stomachs, and that is the most common reason a perfectly good food gets blamed.
Whichever food you choose, check the label says complete and gives the life stage. If your pet has a health condition or is on a prescription diet, check any change with your own vet first.
