Feeding an 8-month Siamese kitten

Eight months and looking long and lean — that's actually very on-brand for a Siamese! They're a naturally slim, athletic breed and they stay in a genuine adolescent growth phase longer than most cats. But I completely understand the worry, because 'lean' and 'underfed' can look similar to the eye. Kittens have very different nutritional needs from adult cats — higher protein, more calories, and specific nutrients supporting bone and muscle development — and this phase is critical for long-term health. So let's get this right. How much is your kitten currently eating per day, and are you feeding wet food, dry, or a mix? And has your vet commented on their weight or body condition at all?

That makes sense — when a cat is racing around all day it's easy to feel like you're not keeping up with the fuel demand. At 8 months a Siamese can genuinely need more than you'd expect. The key question is: what dry food are you using? Because 60g of a high-calorie, high-protein kitten food is very different from 60g of a lower-grade adult or all-life-stages formula. Caloric density and protein quality matter enormously here. What's the brand on the bag at the moment?

It matters quite a lot, especially for a Siamese at this stage. Own-brand kibble often has lower protein content and higher cereal filler, which means she's burning through it quickly without getting the amino acids and calories she actually needs for muscle development. That could absolutely explain why she looks slim despite eating regularly. I'd switch her to Royal Canin Siamese Kitten dry food. It's formulated specifically for this breed — Siamese have a notably fast metabolism and a longer kitten phase, and this food is calibrated for exactly that. It's higher in protein, supports lean muscle, and the pieces are shaped for the Siamese jaw. Feed to the guidelines on the pack by weight, and I'd expect you to see her filling out nicely within four to six weeks. Keep her on kitten food until she's at least 12 months — don't be tempted to switch to adult food yet.

For most cats I'd say transition gradually over about a week — mix increasing amounts of the new food with decreasing amounts of the old. With Siamese though, who tend to have sensitive digestion, I'd take the full seven to ten days. Start at about 25% new food and work up slowly. The good news is that Siamese are notoriously opinionated about food and most of them absolutely love Royal Canin Siamese — so you probably won't have a refusal problem. If she seems reluctant in the first day or two, a tiny warm water mix can boost the aroma and usually wins them over.

Being able to feel the ribs is actually fine and normal — you should be able to feel them without pressing hard. What you don't want is to be able to see them or feel sharp hip bones prominently. The real check is what vets call body condition score: run your hands along her sides — if you can feel each rib with light pressure but there's a thin layer of coverage, she's good. If the ribs feel like a washboard with no padding at all, she's underweight. Your vet already said she's healthy, which is reassuring. Switch the food, feed to the correct amount by weight, and book a weight check in six weeks. She's almost certainly fine — just an active, rangy adolescent on food that isn't quite meeting her needs.