Feeding a kitten alongside adult cats

A four-month-old Abyssinian in a house with two adult cats — that's a really common feeding headache, and you're right to be thinking carefully about it. Kittens have very different nutritional requirements from adult cats: higher protein, more calories, and specific nutrients like DHA and calcium for bone and muscle development. This phase is critical for long-term health, so getting the food right now really does matter. How old is your kitten exactly, do you know the breed, and what are they all eating at the moment?

That's a really honest answer and honestly more common than people admit. The problem with letting your kitten eat adult food at this age is real — she's not getting nearly enough protein or calories for the growth she's doing right now, and Abyssinians are an active, lean, muscular breed that really benefits from solid early nutrition. The adults eating kitten food is less of a crisis short-term, but kitten food is calorie-dense so it can lead to weight gain in adults over time. Before I suggest anything — are you able to feed in separate rooms even briefly, or is the layout of your home making that genuinely difficult?

Completely fair — real life doesn't run on a perfect schedule. Here's the most practical approach for your situation: switch everyone to Royal Canin Mother & Babycat or, better for a four-month-old, Royal Canin Kitten dry food. The key insight is that Royal Canin Kitten is nutritionally safe for healthy adult cats to eat in the short term — it won't harm your moggies if they hoover up what's left. More importantly, it gives your Abyssinian exactly what she needs right now: high protein, optimal calcium-phosphorus ratio for skeletal development, and DHA for brain development. You feed one type of food, one bowl situation, no chaos. As your kitten approaches 12 months you transition everyone to an adult formula together. The specific product I'd point you to is Royal Canin Kitten Dry Cat Food — the 2kg or 4kg bag on Amazon UK. It's breed-neutral but absolutely appropriate for an Abyssinian, and it's one of the most rigorously formulated kitten foods available. Simple, practical, and it removes the need for perfect mealtime management.

For two healthy, normal-weight adult cats, eating kitten food for several months is not dangerous. The main thing to watch is weight — kitten food is more calorie-dense, so if either of your adults starts looking a bit rounder, you'd want to slightly reduce portion sizes rather than change the food. If either adult has a health condition like kidney disease or is already overweight, I'd flag that with your vet before making the switch, because higher protein isn't ideal for compromised kidneys. But from what you've described — two healthy moggies, normal weight — you're fine. Keep an eye on the scales every few weeks and you'll catch any changes early.

For your Abyssinian, somewhere between 10 and 12 months is the right window — she'll be largely physically mature by then. Royal Canin actually do an Abyssinian adult formula if you want to get specific later, but any quality adult dry food works. When you're ready, do a gradual transition over 7–10 days — mix increasing amounts of adult food into the kitten food — so nobody gets a digestive upset. Your adults will probably be quietly relieved to go back to something less rich.