your kitty is getting older, you want to try a different brand or flavor, or you want to switch to a special diet to address health issues; anything can be a reason to change your cat’s diet. It is always better to make such changes gradually.
Cats are creatures of habit, they love routine, and any change in it can cause them great anxiety. Regardless, if you need to change their diet as the situation demands, the investment can be difficult. In this blog, we’ve discussed the importance of changing your cat’s food and described why and how to do it.
Why change a cat’s diet?
There are several reasons why you may decide to change your cat’s diet. Some of them are:
- Your cat’s nutritional requirements change with age. As kittens, they are more active and therefore need more calories and nutrients to benefit their growing bodies. Calorie and nutrient needs change with age. Adult cats will need a nutrient-dense diet that supports their health. Older cats may be less active, so they need fewer calories and different nutrients. They need diets that can support their immune systems, joint health, and more.
- To maintain your cat’s optimal weight, you need to make changes to his diet. This includes increasing calorie intake if they are underweight or reducing calories if the cat is overweight. Consult your veterinarian to determine your cat’s daily caloric intake based on age, weight, and breed.
- If you feed your cat only dry or wet food, you may feel the need to change their diet. Dry food contains more calories and less water than wet food, so choose the right option for your cat’s needs. You can choose dry food, wet food or a combination of both.
- In addition to age, weight, and nutritional requirements, some health conditions also require dietary changes. For example, if your cat has food allergies, a sensitive stomach, or dry and itchy skin; giving them food that meets their needs should be a priority.
Sometimes the need to change their diet may simply be because they don’t like the current food you’re serving, then you can switch to something you think they might prefer to eat.
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Important factors to consider when changing your cat’s diet
The key to changing your cat’s diet is patience. Being patient with your cat, allowing him time to adjust to the change and gradually familiarize himself with it is essential to success in the task. Experts recommend that the transition takes place within 7 to 10 days; it may vary with the cat’s personality. A slow transition helps your cat adjust to the new food more easily and prevents indigestion and rejection of the new taste and texture.
Here’s a rough guide you can follow to change your cat’s diet without causing them distress:
Days 1-2. Feed your cat a mixture of 75% old food and 25% new food
Days 3-4. Combine 50-50% of each food
Days 5-6. Switch to 25% old food and 75% new food
Day 7: In most cases, it is possible to start feeding the new food exclusively.
When making the change, make sure your cat is willing to accept the food mixes, if you feel they are rejecting any of the combinations, then reduce the amount of the new food and try again. It may take longer for some cats, so don’t despair. Be patient and don’t rush the transition. never skip a step or make changes to their diet too quickly. This may result in rejection and you may have to start over.
hint: Pour tuna juice or fish oil over food. You can also mix in their favorite treats with the new food to ease the transition. Try different textures until you find the one your cat likes best.
Rotating diets
From a young age, you can try rotating diets to ensure your cat doesn’t become attached to one taste or texture. Try to change the food every day, week, fortnight or month. With a constant change of food, your cat will not be upset when fed with a different formula.
bottom line
Like everyone else cat parents You know, cats are ordinary creatures and don’t like change. So understanding their behavior and letting them dictate the pace of change is imperative for a smooth transition. With time, patience and lots of love, your puppy will learn to enjoy the new food. Just beware of indigestion. It may be a sign that the transition happened too quickly. try to slow down and approach it gradually. You can also talk to your vet for advice on a smooth switch.
David joined CanadaVetCare in 2013 as a Product Analyst and Veterinary Assistant. As a passionate pet lover and avid animal health researcher, David was always finding ways and solutions to help pet parents improve the health of their pets. She is always happy to answer pet health questions and advise pet parents on the right products for their furry companions.