This is a specific conversation about Kitten food — the right nutrition from the start — ask about yours and get one honest answer for your exact situation.
inparticular.ai
At 11 months, your Domestic Shorthair is right on the cusp — most DSH cats are considered adult at 12 months, so you're only a few weeks away from the right time to make this switch. Kittens have very different nutritional requirements from adult cats — higher protein, more calories, and specific nutrients for bone and muscle development — and this phase is absolutely critical for long-term health. You're asking exactly the right question at exactly the right time. What are they eating at the moment, and are there any health considerations I should know about — weight, digestion, anything like that?
She's been on Royal Canin Kitten dry food since we got her at 8 weeks. No health issues, good weight, eats well. I was thinking of switching her next month when she turns one. Is that the right call?
inparticular.ai
That's genuinely a great call, and your timing is spot on. Waiting until she's 12 months means her bones and muscles have had the full development window they need — no need to rush it. The good news is that because she's already on Royal Canin, the transition can be really smooth. I'd recommend moving her onto Royal Canin Adult Instinctive dry food — it's formulated specifically for cats aged 1 to 7, it's designed with Domestic Shorthairs in mind, and staying within the same brand means her digestive system won't be hit with a dramatic formula change all at once. The texture and palatability profile is very similar to what she already knows, which matters a lot for cats who can be fussy about change.
That makes sense. How do I actually do the transition — do I just swap it over or does it need to be gradual?
inparticular.ai
Always gradual — even within the same brand. Cats' digestive systems are more sensitive than most people realise, and a sudden switch can cause loose stools or refusal to eat even if the new food is perfectly good. Here's the method I'd use over 10 days: Days 1–3, mix 75% kitten food with 25% adult. Days 4–6, go 50/50. Days 7–9, flip it to 25% kitten and 75% adult. Day 10 onwards, full adult food. Mix it well so she can't just pick out one or the other. If at any point she gets loose stools or starts leaving food, slow the transition down by a few extra days at whatever stage she's at. There's no penalty for going slowly.
Should I change the feeding amounts too when I switch?
inparticular.ai
Yes — adult food has a different calorie density to kitten food, so you'll need to recalculate based on her weight using the guidelines on the Royal Canin Adult Instinctive packaging. Kitten food is calorie-dense by design because kittens are growing fast; adult maintenance food is dialled back a bit. If you just keep feeding the same volume, she could end up slightly overfed over time. Weigh her now, use the feeding guide on the bag, and check her weight again at around 6 weeks post-switch. At 12 months she should have a visible waist when you look down at her and you should be able to feel her ribs without pressing hard — that's your benchmark.
Perfect, that's really clear. I'll grab a bag of the Royal Canin Adult Instinctive to have ready for when she turns one.
inparticular.ai
That's exactly the right plan — having it ready so you can start the blend on day one of her birthday month is ideal. She sounds like a healthy, well-cared-for cat and this transition should be genuinely easy given her stable background on Royal Canin. The Adult Instinctive is widely available on Amazon UK, usually in 2kg or 4kg bags — the 4kg is better value if storage isn't an issue. Good luck with her first birthday!
