There is absolutely no need for “life stage” foods. Or for differently formulated foods for different breeds.
As one of my vet friends likes to say, “there are no ‘kitten mice,’ ‘tartar control lizards’ or ‘senior cat crickets’ in the wild.”
A kitten eats more food (per pound of weight), but not different food. A kitten needs a high-protein, meat-based diet. An adult cat needs a high-protein, meat-based diet. A senior cat needs a high-protein, meat-based diet. Are there situations when it’s appropriate to adjust the diet based on health issues? Absolutely. But kittens, adult cats, and senior cats all thrive on a large amount of animal-based proteins (meat, organs) and all get much less nutritional support from plant-based proteins.
“Isn’t making cat food time-consuming?”
Once you get a routine going and your supplies organized, not really. You’ll also likely spend a whole lot less time (and money) in veterinary clinics. .
Maybe hook up with a local friend and savor some special time together hacking up meat parts and grinding them while singing show tunes. It beats cleaning your oven, right?
Time spent making cat food is less than the time spent fretting about your sick cat and taking him to the vet when he had a digestive disorder.
So yes, while it is definitely some work, it’s very manageable. Think of it as a labor of love. That’s exactly what it is.
Source: Cat Nutrition .org
