
Chicken Recipe Dry Cat Food for Growing Kittens
Product Description
Hill's Science Diet Kitten Dry Cat Food in Chicken Recipe is a complete and balanced kibble that supports healthy growth in kittens from weaning through their first year, with ActivBiome+ Multi-Benefit technology supporting digestion, immune system, and organ health. Real chicken is the first ingredient, with brown rice, whole grain oats, cracked pearled barley, and a wholesome blend of natural fiber sources. Verified by AAFCO feeding tests for growing kittens and pregnant or nursing cats.
Benefits
-
ActivBiome+ Multi-Benefit: A special blend of prebiotic fibers and antioxidants supports digestion, immune system function, and organ health in growing kittens.
Healthy Brain and Eyes: DHA from fish oil promotes healthy brain and eye development during the kitten's first year of life. - Muscle-Building Protein: Real chicken as the first ingredient provides high-quality protein to support healthy muscle development in growing kittens.
- Strong Bones and Teeth: Calcium at 1.44% and phosphorus at 1.2% dry matter are balanced to support healthy bone and dental development in kittens.
- Immune System Support: Vitamins C at 122 ppm and E at 591 IU/kg support the healthy development of the immune system in growing kittens.
- Healthy Skin and Coat: Omega-6 fatty acids at 4.47% dry matter alongside fish oil support healthy skin and coat during the kitten's first year.
- Pregnant and Nursing Cats: Verified by AAFCO feeding tests for gestating and lactating adult female cats in addition to growing kittens.
Variants
3.5 lb
7 lb
15.5 lb
Ingredients
Chicken, Brown Rice, Wheat Gluten, Chicken Fat, Cracked Pearled Barley, Chicken Meal, Whole Grain Oats, Egg Product, Chicken Liver Flavor, Ground Pecan Shells, Lactic Acid, Potassium Chloride, Dicalcium Phosphate, Flaxseed, Dried Beet Pulp, L-Lysine, Calcium Sulfate, Dried Citrus Pulp, Fish Oil, Choline Chloride, Iodized Salt, DL-Methionine, Pressed Cranberries, Cysteine, vitamins (Vitamin E Supplement, L-Ascorbyl-2-Polyphosphate (source of Vitamin C), Thiamine Mononitrate, Niacin Supplement, Calcium Pantothenate, Vitamin A Supplement, Biotin, Pyridoxine Hydrochloride, Vitamin B12 Supplement, Riboflavin Supplement, Folic Acid, Vitamin D3 Supplement), Taurine, minerals (Ferrous Sulfate, Zinc Oxide, Copper Sulfate, Manganous Oxide, Calcium Iodate, Sodium Selenite), Magnesium Oxide, Mixed Tocopherols for freshness, Natural Flavors, Beta-Carotene.
Guaranteed Analysis
Nutrient |
Dry Matter % |
Protein |
38% |
Fat |
22.9% |
Carbohydrate / NFE |
29% |
Crude Fiber |
1.8% |
Calcium |
1.44% |
Phosphorus |
1.2% |
Potassium |
0.9% |
Sodium |
0.5% |
Magnesium |
0.143% |
Vitamin C |
122 ppm |
Vitamin E |
591 IU/kg |
Total Omega-3 FA |
0.61% |
Total Omega-6 FA |
4.47% |
Calorie Content: 4076 kcal/kg | 555 kcal per cup
How to Use
Recommended-Usage Chart
Weight of Cat - lbs (kgs) |
Under 4 Months - cups (grams) |
4 to 6 Months - cups (grams) |
7 to 12 Months & Pregnancy - cups (grams) |
1 lb (0.5 kg) |
1/4 (35 g) |
||
2 lbs (0.9 kg) |
1/3 (45 g) |
||
3 lbs (1.4 kg) |
1/2 (70 g) |
3/8 (50 g) |
|
4 lbs (1.8 kg) |
5/8 (85 g) |
1/2 (70 g) |
|
6 lbs (2.7 kg) |
3/4 (100 g) |
2/3 (90 g) |
1/2 (70 g) |
8 lbs (3.6 kg) |
7/8 (120 g) |
2/3 (90 g) |
|
10 lbs (4.5 kg) |
1 cup (135 g) |
3/4 (100 g) |
|
12 lbs (5.4 kg) |
7/8 (120 g) |
||
14 lbs (6.4 kg) |
1 cup (135 g) |
||
16 lbs (7.3 kg) |
1 1/8 cups (155 g) |
Disclaimer: Product information and usage guidelines are provided by the manufacturer. Always use products as directed on the label and consult your veterinarian before use if you have any concerns regarding your pet's health.
Directions for Use
- Adjust for Optimal Weight: Adjust daily portions as needed to keep your kitten at a healthy weight, and check with your vet if you are unsure about the right daily amount.
- Transition Gradually: When switching to this food, slowly increase the new food while reducing the old over 7 days to prevent digestive discomfort.
- Fresh Water Always: Keep fresh water available to the kitten at all times throughout the day.
- Nutritional Needs Change With Age: A kitten's needs shift at each developmental stage and into adulthood, so review the feeding plan with a vet at every routine checkup.
Additional Information
Precautions
- For Kittens and Pregnant or Nursing Cats Only: This formula is made for kittens from weaning to 1 year old and for gestating or lactating cats. It is not appropriate for general adult cat feeding.
- Not for Long-Term Adult Use: Long-term feeding of this formula to adult cats is not recommended unless a veterinarian confirms the cat has higher-than-normal energy requirements.
- Adjust Amounts as Kitten Grows: Daily portions change across age brackets, so updating the daily amount at each stage prevents under- or overfeeding.
Possible Side Effects
- Digestive Discomfort on Transition: Moving to a new food too quickly may cause temporary digestive upset, making the full 7-day gradual transition important before fully replacing the previous food.
Storage Information
- Keep Packaging Away: Store the bag and all packaging safely out of reach of both pets and children at all times to prevent potential suffocation hazards.
Shipping & Return
We offer ground, express, and priority delivery; see our shipping policy for details.
For return instructions or product concerns, please refer to our detailed refund policy.
Frequently Asked Questions
Q1: Is Hill's Science Diet a good kitten food for a first-time cat owner?
Ans: Yes, Hill's Science Diet Kitten Chicken Recipe is a well-established, veterinarian-recommended formula that is straightforward to feed and suitable from weaning through 1 year. The feeding chart on the bag covers all age brackets and body weights, making daily portioning straightforward even for owners feeding a kitten for the first time.
Q2: What does ActivBiome+ mean on this Hill's kitten dry food bag?
Ans: ActivBiome+ Multi-Benefit refers to Hill's proprietary blend of prebiotic fibers and antioxidants included in this formula to support three areas simultaneously: digestion, immune system development, and organ health. It is present in this kitten formula to help growing kittens build a healthy digestive foundation and immune response during their first year.
Q3: Does this Hill's kitten dry food need to be mixed with wet food?
Ans: No, this kibble provides complete and balanced nutrition on its own and does not need to be supplemented with wet food. However, mixing it with a Hill's Science Diet kitten wet food can add mealtime variety and increase daily moisture intake, which can be beneficial for kittens who do not drink enough water on their own throughout the day.
Q4: How much of this kitten kibble should I feed a 3 lb kitten under 4 months old?
Ans: A 3 lb kitten under 4 months old typically needs around 1/2 cup per day, or approximately 70 grams, as a starting amount. Adjust portions based on your kitten's individual body condition and growth rate, and check in with your vet at each visit to keep the daily amount on track.
Q5: Does this Hill's kitten dry food contain taurine?
Ans: Yes, taurine is listed as a separate added ingredient in this formula. Cats cannot produce sufficient taurine on their own at any life stage, making dietary supplementation essential. In growing kittens, taurine supports healthy cardiac muscle function and normal visual development during the first year when these organ systems are actively forming.
Q6: Can I feed this 3.5 lb kitten dry food to my cat during pregnancy?
Ans: Yes, this formula meets AAFCO feeding test requirements for both gestating and lactating adult female cats and growing kittens, so it is appropriate to feed during pregnancy and nursing. Switching a pregnant cat to this food should be done gradually over a full 7 days to avoid digestive discomfort during the changeover.
Q7: Why does this kitten food have more calories per cup than adult dry cat food?
Ans: At 555 kcal per cup, this kitten formula has a higher caloric density than most adult dry formulas because kittens have significantly greater energy needs per unit of body weight during rapid growth. The elevated caloric content ensures growing kittens receive adequate energy to fuel healthy muscle development, bone formation, and organ growth throughout their first year.
This Shipping Policy explains how orders are processed, shipped, tracked, and delivered.
1. Shipping Origin and Fulfillment
Orders are dispatched from our U.S.-based fulfillment center. We deliver to eligible addresses within the United States and to eligible international destinations shown at checkout.
If a destination, shipping service, or product is not eligible for delivery, checkout will not offer that shipping option.
2. Order Processing Time
Orders are generally processed within 1–5 business days before shipment. Processing time is separate from carrier transit time.
Our order cut-off time is 6:00 PM Pacific Time (PT). Orders placed after the cut-off time, on weekends, or on applicable holidays begin processing on the next business day.
Processing may include order verification and preparation for shipment.
3. U.S. Shipping Methods, Costs, and Transit Times
For eligible U.S. addresses, our current shipping options are:
- Priority Shipping: $5.99 — estimated carrier transit time of 1–2 business days after shipment.
- Standard Shipping: $2.99 — estimated carrier transit time of 3–6 business days after shipment.
- Free Shipping: $0 — estimated carrier transit time of 5–8 business days after shipment.
Total estimated delivery time includes both the 1–5 business day processing period and the applicable carrier transit time. The shipping service, cost, and delivery estimate available for your order are shown at checkout before payment.
4. International Shipping
We ship to eligible international destinations. Available international shipping services, shipping charges, and estimated delivery times vary by destination and are displayed at checkout.
For eligible international orders, applicable import duties and taxes are calculated and collected at checkout where required. When these charges apply, the order is shipped on a duties-and-taxes-paid basis so that the same import charges should not be collected again at delivery.
International delivery estimates may be affected by carrier operations, customs processing, local holidays, weather, or other events outside normal transit conditions.
5. Tracking
When tracking is available, you will receive shipment confirmation with tracking information after the order has shipped. Please allow up to 48 hours for tracking information to become active after the carrier receives the shipment.
6. Address Accuracy and Changes
Please review your shipping address carefully before submitting an order. If you notice an address error, contact us as soon as possible. We will try to help before shipment, but an address change cannot be guaranteed once fulfillment or carrier processing has begun.
Additional carrier or re-delivery charges resulting from an incorrect or incomplete address may be the customer's responsibility where permitted by law.
7. Delayed or Lost Shipments
If your shipment has not arrived within the estimated delivery timeframe, please contact us. We will review the tracking information, work with the carrier when necessary, and assist with an appropriate resolution based on the circumstances.
Delivery estimates are not guarantees and may be affected by carrier delays, weather, public holidays, customs processing, or other transportation disruptions.
8. Damaged, Defective, or Incorrect Deliveries
If an item arrives damaged, defective, or incorrect, contact us within 7 calendar days after confirmed delivery. Please include your order number and clear photos of the item, packaging, and shipping label when relevant.
Approved cases are handled under our Return & Refund Policy, including return-shipping assistance when the issue is our responsibility.
9. Policy Updates
We may update this Shipping Policy when our shipping services or operating requirements change. The current version will be posted on this page.
10. Contact Us
If you have questions about shipping or an order in transit, please use our Contact page or the current contact information displayed in the website footer.
This Return & Refund Policy explains when a return is eligible, how to send an item back, who pays return shipping, and how approved refunds are processed.
1. Return Window
You may request an eligible return within 30 days after confirmed delivery. Return requests submitted after the 30-day period are not accepted unless applicable law requires otherwise.
2. Return Eligibility
To qualify for a standard return, the item must generally be:
- Unused, unwashed, and in its original condition.
- Returned with the original packaging, tags, accessories, manuals, and other included components, when applicable.
- Not specifically identified as final sale or non-returnable before purchase.
Products that show use, alteration, avoidable damage, missing components, or other conditions outside the eligibility requirements may be ineligible for a refund.
3. Product-Specific Non-Returnable Items
Some products may be non-returnable for hygiene, safety, customization, final-sale, or other product-specific reasons. Any such restriction will be disclosed on the product page or before purchase when applicable.
4. No Direct Exchanges
We do not provide direct exchange service. If you want a different item, size, color, model, or version, return the eligible original item under this Policy and place a new order separately.
5. How to Start a Return
Returns are handled by mail. Before sending an item back, contact our customer support team through the Contact page or the current contact information displayed in the website footer. Please provide:
- Your order number.
- The item or items you want to return.
- The reason for the return.
Returns sent without required return authorization may be delayed or refused.
6. Prepaid Return Label and Return Shipping Cost
For eligible mail returns, a prepaid return label is included in the package.
For a standard return made for customer-choice reasons, the actual carrier postage charged for use of the prepaid return label will be deducted from the approved refund. We do not charge a separate restocking fee.
If the return is required because the item arrived damaged, defective, or incorrect and the claim is approved, we cover the return-label cost.
If you choose not to use the provided label when an alternative return method is authorized, use a trackable shipping service and keep your shipping receipt until the return is completed.
7. Original Shipping Charges
Original outbound shipping charges are non-refundable for standard customer-choice returns, except where required by law. If the return results from an approved damaged, defective, or incorrect item, applicable shipping charges will be handled as part of the resolution.
8. Refund Review and Processing
After the returned item is received, we inspect it and notify you whether the refund is approved.
If approved, the refund is issued to the original payment method. We generally process an approved refund within 1–3 business days. After the refund is issued, your bank or card provider may require an additional 5–10 business days to post the funds to your account.
9. Damaged, Defective, or Incorrect Items
If an item arrives damaged, defective, or incorrect, contact us within 7 calendar days after confirmed delivery. Include your order number and clear photos of the item, packaging, and shipping label when relevant.
After review, we will provide an appropriate resolution. When a return is required for an approved claim, we cover the return shipping cost.
10. Refused or Undeliverable Shipments
If a shipment is refused or returned because of incorrect or incomplete customer-provided shipping information, actual carrier return, re-delivery, or related shipping charges may be deducted from an otherwise eligible refund where permitted by law.
11. Policy Updates
We may update this Return & Refund Policy when our return procedures or legal requirements change. The current version will be posted on this page.
12. Contact Us
If you need help with a return or refund, please use our Contact page or the current contact information displayed in the website footer.
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