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Changing Cat Food

Changing Cat Food

Questions

  • Choose the new food wisely
  • Transition slowly over a week
  • Watch for signs of digestive upset
Switching your cat's food can be a delicate process. Whether you're transitioning from kitten to adult food or simply trying out a new brand or type, it's essential to handle the change with care. We might enjoy something new and novel for our dinner but abrupt alterations in a cat’s diet can lead to digestive distress. Switching up your moggy’s food too quickly can lead to symptoms including upset stomach, diarrhoea, and vomiting. To ensure a seamless transition and your cat's well-being, we have created a comprehensive guide to help you navigate this dietary shift. Now you can swap out your feline friend’s nosh without any guesswork to make sure they have a smooth switch and can enjoy their new diet without any hassle.  

Choose the new food wisely

There can be lots of factors that might cause you to want to rethink your furry friend’s diet including age, weight, health and sensitivities. If your best friend is showing signs of being allergic to gluten then you need to find them a good hypoallergenic cat food. 
The right diet is absolutely vital to keep your cat healthy and changing it up once in a while to something that is better suited to your fluffy family member can be a good idea. Selecting the perfect diet for your beloved pet will factor in lots of things that are individual to your cat. If they are sensitive to specific protein sources or if you need a diet that is specific to a health requirement. You might even just want to try feeding raw and seeing if your furry friend can benefit from the natural diet too. Whatever the reason you want to make a change, you should take into consideration the individual needs of your cat based on lifestyle and health factors.  
 
Cat posing.

Age isn’t just a number 

Kittens have unique nutritional needs to support their growth and development. When selecting their food, opt for formulas specifically made with kittens in mind. These foods typically contain higher levels of protein, essential vitamins, and minerals vital for their growing bodies. A kitten food like Lifestage Kitten Chicken With Fish & Rice Dry Food makes for a balanced diet packed full of energy to make sure your kitten has enough to grow up healthy and have fun playing. A good source of protein is important, especially as their muscles and joints are developing.  
When your furry friend gets a little older then they won’t need as many calories. As they become less active in their retirement they will need a diet specifically created for senior cats. Senior cat food will have extra supplements to keep them healthy but be less calorically dense so they can still eat enough to feel full but won’t pile on the pounds from it. 

Outdoor cats need more protein than indoor cats 

If your feline friend roams the great outdoors, their dietary needs may differ from those of indoor cats. Outdoor cats tend to be more active and require higher protein levels to sustain their energy levels and muscle mass. When choosing their food, prioritise options with higher protein content to meet their increased metabolic demands.  
Indoor cats and those who can go outdoors will often have different needs. Since indoor cats don’t spend most of their day exploring, they will have different pastimes and hobbies. Their main hobby is usually keeping themselves nice and clean. While it’s great to have a feline friend who takes good care of themselves, lots of cleaning puts them at a higher risk of ingesting a lot of their own fur. Many diets for indoor cats contain ingredients to help with this like Royal Canin Hairball Care. It’s high in fibre to help with digestion and aid in passing hair easily. 

High-quality ingredients to support your cat's health 

Regardless of your cat's lifestyle, prioritizing high-quality ingredients is paramount. Look for foods made with real meat or fish as the primary ingredient. These protein sources contain essential amino acids that contribute to muscle development, immune function, and overall well-being. Avoid products with fillers, artificial flavours, and preservatives, as they offer little to no nutritional value and may even pose health risks in the long run. 
A cat food like Nutriment Cat Food lists British beef heart as the first and main ingredient which consists of 63% of the entire food. Finding a diet with a high quality main ingredient will give your feline friend all the benefits of a top quality diet to keep them fit and healthy.  

Transition slowly over a week

Changing your cat’s diet will usually take around a week from start to finish but this can vary with every individual. If you are changing from dry to wet or from any food to raw, it can take a little longer for their digestive system to get used to it and so you might have to slow the process down. The easiest transitions tend to be between similar foods like one dry biscuit to another but that doesn’t mean you can’t change to a different food altogether, you just need to keep a close eye. You can split the transition process into three main steps which involve slowly feeding less of their old diet and more of their new diet to give their body time to get used to the new food.  

Cat food.

The first few days 

When initiating the transition, aim for a gradual shift over five to seven days. Start by mixing 75% of the old food with 25% of the new food. Thoroughly blend the two varieties to prevent your cat from selectively picking out the familiar pieces. This initial phase allows your cat to acclimate to the new scent and flavour without overwhelming their digestive system. Any leftover food should be cleared away, especially if you are incorporating wet or raw food into their diet. If you give them a meal where you have mixed a raw diet with dry biscuits, they may leave some biscuits and finish the raw but you will still need to throw away the leftover biscuits after they have touched the raw food to avoid bacteria.  

On days three to four 

Around the third and fourth days of the transition, adjust the ratio to a 50/50 mix of old and new food. During this phase, closely monitor your cat's stool consistency and appetite. Any signs of digestive upset, such as loose stools or decreased appetite, may indicate that the transition is too rapid. If necessary, extend this phase to allow for a more gradual adjustment. You only need to go back a step if the stomach upset is more severe than slightly soft stools.  

On days five to seven 

By the final stretch of the transition period, your cat’s dinner should mostly consist of their new diet. Gradually increase the proportion of the new food to 75%, while reducing the old food to 25%. Continue to observe your cat for any signs of gastrointestinal distress, making adjustments as needed to ensure a smooth transition. If your kitty gets any stomach upsets along the way, it’s normal to need to extend the process by a further week so you can double the time they have at each stage to get used to the new food or you can add some more increments to changing the feeding amount. 

Watch for signs of digestive upset

As you are switching over their food, there are some telltale signs that your beloved pet might need a slower transition. Signs of digestive upset include:  
  1. Flatulence  
  2. Diarrhea  
  3. Vomiting  
  4. Abdominal discomfort  
Depending on how severe any of these signs are will tell you if you need to slow down a little or even go back a step to allow them more time to adjust. You should only proceed to the next step when they are perfectly healthy and have no stomach upsets. If you slow down the process and they’re still showing symptoms of digestive upset, you may need to abandon changing their food for a period to work out what isn’t agreeing with them. At this point, you could need the help of your vet to identify what might be going wrong.  
With proper preparation and gradual transition between cat foods, you can successfully change your cat's diet without causing digestive distress. A healthy diet is key to your cat's well-being. To make sure your feline friend is being fed the very best, visit us in store or online to see our wide selection of top-notch nosh for your cat! Â