Feeding a 7-month Birman kitten the right amount

A 7-month-old Birman at a healthy weight — that's a great position to be in, and it means you're paying close attention. Kittens have very different nutritional needs from adult cats: higher protein, more calories, and specific nutrients like DHA and calcium for bone and muscle development. This phase is critical for setting up long-term health. To point you in the right direction on portions and formula, can you tell me roughly how much your kitten weighs right now, and what you're currently feeding them — wet, dry, or a mix?

That's actually a really healthy sign — she's self-regulating, which Birmans often do. At 3.8kg and 7 months, she's likely approaching her adult weight but isn't quite there yet. Birmans typically finish filling out between 12 and 18 months, so she still needs kitten-formula nutrition. The issue with free-feeding dry food is it makes it hard to track intake accurately. Can I ask what brand you're using for each? That'll help me tell you whether the formula itself is right or whether it's just a portion issue.

Okay, that's helpful. The Whiskas pouches are fine as a complement but they're not particularly nutrient-dense, and the own-brand dry is likely where things get a bit vague in terms of quality and calorie consistency. For a Birman at this stage — still growing, good weight, self-regulating — I'd switch the dry to Royal Canin Kitten dry food. It's specifically formulated for kittens up to 12 months, has a precise calorie density so you can portion it properly, and the kibble size and texture is actually designed to encourage chewing rather than just inhaling it. It also supports immune development and digestive health, which matters a lot in this window. Move away from free-feeding and switch to two measured meals of dry alongside the morning wet pouch, and you'll have much cleaner control over her intake.

At 3.8kg, the Royal Canin Kitten guidelines suggest around 55–60g of dry per day for a kitten her size and age — but since you're also giving a wet pouch in the morning, I'd drop that to around 40g of dry split across two meals, so roughly 20g per sitting. That balances out the calories from the wet food and keeps total intake in the right range. Weigh it out for the first week or two rather than eyeballing it — the difference between a level scoop and an actual 20g can be surprisingly large. If her weight stays stable or she gains very slightly over the next month, you're in the right zone.

Gradually is always safer, especially since you're changing both the brand and moving away from free-feeding at the same time. Over about 7 days, mix increasing amounts of the Royal Canin into the old biscuits — start at roughly 25% new, and by day 7 you're on 100% Royal Canin. Her digestion will thank you, and it also lets you see if she takes to the new kibble well before you're fully committed. Most kittens go for Royal Canin happily — it's well-palatable — but the gradual switch just removes any risk of a dodgy stomach mid-transition.