Switching food in cats

In this article you can expect the following contents:

My cat won’t eat their new cat food
Fancy some more variety?
How can you successfully switch cat food?
How long does it take to switch food?
Helpful tricks for fussy cats when switching their food
Side effects of switching food: Diarrhoea or vomiting
What do you need to pay attention to when it comes to healthy cat food?

My cat won’t eat their new cat food

Does your cat not eat the food you have chosen with so much effort and love? Rest assured, you are not alone in this. There are few happy cat owners for whom switching food works without any problems. So you're in good company, and you're not the first to look around for tricks to help with the switch in food either. Important to know: Cats are very particular about their food. They will not eat every cat food and once they have found a food, it is difficult to get cats used to it again. Cats are specialised prey eaters and at the same time absolute creatures of habit, they do not eat everything out of instinct and also have no need to try unfamiliar things at all costs. In the wild, cats learn during their formative phase that they can easily digest a mouse, for example. In this way, they avoid the imminent danger of ingesting something toxic or difficult to digest. If you have been giving a cat a certain food for a long period of time, that food has proven itself to be tasty and non-toxic. Your cat would not think of changing cat food because another one might be healthier. It therefore usually takes consistency and perseverance to convince a house cat to eat a different food.

If cats refuse a food, it does NOT mean that the food does not taste good, but that the cat is not used to it and does not want to take a risk. A cat would therefore never switch to a better or healthier cat food. This responsibility for proper nutrition lies with us as cat owners.

Most of the time, there is a good reason why you have changed your cat’s food, and you shouldn’t lose sight of this. Motives for changing the food might be:

Age of the cat (from kitten to adult)
Sterilisation
Diseases
Food allergy
Hypersensitivity
Intolerances
Switching from dry food to wet food
Switching from industrial food to high-quality food

Changing the cat's diet

Fancy some more variety?

Cats have a different sense of taste than humans. We would hate to eat the same thing every day and transpose this desire for variety in our food to our four-legged friends. But if you look at their natural diet, you will find mainly birds and mice. Many food manufacturers therefore offer cat food in a wide range of types. This is more of a marketing ploy, as this variety is more in line with the cat owner's ideas than those of the cat itself. The meat content is much more important for cats. Cats are carnivores and their organism, including digestion, is designed for this. It is therefore better to invest in high-quality cat food with lots of fresh meat instead of constantly offering your cat a variety with new types of food.

How can you successfully switch cat food?

It doesn’t matter how good your intentions are, you can expect resistance from most cats. A slow-paced switch is therefore very important so that the cat can get used to the taste and also the smell of the new food. This means that you add a small amount of the new cat food to the tried and tested cat food and increase the amount continuously. Start with small steps: on the first day, start with a spoonful of the new food mixed in with the old food. For small portions or particularly fussy eaters, just use half a spoonful. In the following days, slowly increase the ratio of new food. If your cat refuses food in the meantime, simply reduce the amount by one step.

The reason why the cat distrusts the new food can have several reasons besides innate instincts. Your cat may not like the consistency if, for example, she has only had paté before or you want to change from dry food to wet food. Besides the taste, it can also be the smell. However, with a slow and consistent changeover, the cats get used to the new food step by step.

Important!!! Switching food or the process for fussy dogs is much easier: the saying “a healthy dog won’t starve in front of a full bowl” applies here. This means that if a dog refuses to eat new food, it will consider the new meal as its hunger increases. It is very important to know that this approach to changing food in cats is not effective. On the contrary: you must NEVER let your cat starve, this could be life-threatening for your cat. As described, it is better to make the change consistently in small steps.

How long does it take to switch food?

It is clear from the outset that you cannot switch food overnight and you need to be patient. By using the method of slowly increasing the amount of the new food, which is suitable for the change of food, the cat slowly becomes accustomed to the new taste. You can usually expect two to three weeks until the cat has got used to the new food and likes to eat it. However, this depends on your pet. If your furry companion is fussy, it can take six to eight weeks to switch their food.

Other circumstances can also play a role in the switch in food. For example, whether your cat is used to a varied diet or how long the cat has been eating the previous food.

Time taken to switch your cat’s food

Helpful tricks for fussy cats when switching their food

There are also a few tricks that help when switching from one cat food to another and make the switch in food easier for you and your cat. After all, you don’t want the new cat food to end up in the bin:

You can warm up wet food and offer it lukewarm, which creates an intense and delicious meaty smell.
Try adding tuna water or chicken broth as well. Parmesan or brewer's yeast flakes can also win a cat over.
When switching to dry food, you can moisten it and gradually reduce the amount of water added.
If your cat is hungry, they are more likely to be willing to eat new food. To achieve this, you should avoid treats for snacks during the switch.

Introducing fixed mealtimes can also be helpful when switching food. Cats’ digestive systems are also adapted to eating smaller portions several times a day. You can therefore give your cat three to four meals. If they don’t eat their food, take it away after a certain period of time. Of course, this relies on you being at home during the day and therefore able to consistently enforce the new meal plan.

Cats are sometimes stubborn and persistent and can be quite vocal about their displeasure. Just keep reminding yourself that very few cats will eat the new food straight away. Be patient, it will take some time. How long depends on the cat. Remind yourself why you are making the switch. A cat cannot judge whether the new food is healthier or more nutritious than the one it is used to. And even though cats like to call the shots, you have the animal's best interests at heart.

If your pet still refuses and complains loudly and almost heartbreakingly about the new menu, always remember that the cat isn’t doing this because he is starving, but instead because he wants to have his way. But as the owner, you are responsible for your cat's well-being and the change of food is for its own good. Once you have made the switch in food, your cat will also love to eat the new food and will not give the old food a second thought. So everyone’s a winner: You will have a happy, satisfied and healthy cat and your furry companion will also enjoy their food.

Side effects of switching food: Diarrhoea or vomiting

The entire organism, including the intestinal flora, must first get used to the new cat food. It is therefore not only advisable to switch food slowly to promote acceptance by the sensory organs through taste, smell and consistency, but also to help the digestive system to get used to it. Therefore, if your cat shows side effects such as Diarrhoea or vomiting, take a step back with the switch and reduce the additional quantity to the last amount that your cat still tolerated well. When increasing the new cat food again, you can then take smaller steps in the future. If the side effects still occur, contact your trusted veterinarian to rule out an intolerance or other causes.

Side effects when switching cat food

What do you need to pay attention to when it comes to healthy cat food?

As already explained, the taste test is not the deciding factor for the cat with regard to whether it is a high quality cat food or not. These little creatures of habit would also stick to their cheap canned food. Finding the best cat food to provide the basis for a healthy and happy cat life is clearly up to us as cat owners. But how can I recognise a high-quality cat food? It is important to know that cats are carnivores and they need to have meat in their bowl every day. If you and your cat prefer dry food, pay particular attention to the meat content. Cheap alternatives favour cheap ingredients such as wheat as well as animal meal. Also make sure to avoid additives such as attractants, colourings and flavour enhancers. These are added to low-quality food to artificially improve the taste of the food.

A successful food
change thanks to
MeatCrisp

Become a MeatCrisper now

Finally, one more tip: When switching from cheap industrial food to high-quality food, be sure to follow the manufacturer's feeding recommendation, as this food is usually more nutritious and therefore goes further. This means that you need to feed less to avoid weight gain.