Best food for flat-faced Exotic Shorthair kitten

An Exotic Shorthair at four months — such a gorgeous breed, but you're absolutely right to be thinking about food shape early. Those flat faces mean a lot of kittens struggle to pick up and chew standard kibble or large wet food chunks, and if eating is physically awkward, they either undereat or inhale air while trying, which makes breathing even more laboured. Kittens have very different nutritional needs from adult cats — much higher protein, more calories, and specific nutrients for bone and muscle development — so this phase really does set the tone for long-term health. Before I point you in the right direction: is your kitten on anything at the moment, and has a vet flagged any specific concerns about the breathing beyond the typical brachycephalic stuff?

That makes total sense — if breathing is already slightly restricted, the last thing you want is a food that forces her to work hard just to get a mouthful. Chunky wet food or hard dry kibble can both cause problems: chunks require a lot of jaw manipulation, and round kibble is nearly impossible for a flat face to grip. What you want is something she can lap and bite into easily without wrestling with it. Is she showing any signs of struggling at mealtimes — dropping food, eating very slowly, or seeming frustrated?

That dropping behaviour is classic for brachycephalic kittens — they can't get a clean bite on large pieces. The fix is a food designed specifically for flat-faced cats where the texture is soft and the pieces are small enough to scoop with the tongue rather than grip with teeth. My recommendation is Royal Canin Kitten Instinctive in Gravy — the wet pouch version. Royal Canin actually engineers the texture and piece size for exactly this kind of cat, and the kitten formula hits all the nutritional targets she needs at four months: high protein, DHA for brain development, the right calcium-to-phosphorus ratio for bone growth. The gravy base means she can lap up a lot of the nutrition even if she drops a piece or two, so she's not losing out calorically. It's widely available on Amazon UK, often in 12 or 85g pouch multipacks. I'd move away from the supermarket food — at this age the nutritional precision really does matter, and breeds like hers benefit enormously from that early investment.

You can mix, but if you do use dry food alongside it, go for Royal Canin's brachycephalic or Exotic Shorthair-specific dry kibble — they design those pieces in a doughnut or almond shape that flat-faced cats can scoop up from the side rather than trying to bite down on a round pellet. But honestly, at four months with the breathing concern, I'd keep her primarily on the wet food for now. It's easier to eat, keeps her hydrated, and you can monitor how much she's actually consuming. Once she's past six months and more established, you can revisit introducing a small dry component if you want to.

Great choice — you'll likely notice the difference in mealtime speed within a week or two. One small tip: serve it at room temperature rather than straight from the fridge. Cold food is stiffer and slightly harder to eat, and the warmer it is the more the aroma comes through, which encourages them to eat more enthusiastically. Keep an eye on her weight monthly — at this age she should be gaining steadily — and if the vet mentions the nostrils again at her next check, it's worth flagging that eating has been challenging, as it all gives them a clearer picture. Good luck with her!