Change your cat's food: Here's how

It may happen that you have to change your cat's food. However, a radical change of food is not recommended under any circumstances. After all, cats are "creatures of habit", which is why a lot of patience is required to prevent your pet tiger from developing digestive problems. You can find out what to look out for when making the change here.

Possible reasons for a change of food for cats

There are various reasons why it may be necessary to change your cat's food. Age can be one reason. If your velvet paw has turned one year old and no longer needs kitten food, you can start. It is then necessary to switch to a complete diet for adult cats. However, a possible illness may also be a reason. This also applies if the vet has diagnosed an intolerance in your cat. You may also be acting on your own initiative - simply because you want to switch from an inferior food to a high-quality food. Perhaps you simply think it's time for a new variety, or you want to get your pet tiger used to dry food after wet food.

Switching your kitten's cat food: What you should bear in mind

Cat food: how to switch? Many cat owners ask themselves this question when it comes to acclimatising their little gourmet to a different food. There are basically 2 different methods available to you.

Method 1: Slowly add the new food to the old food

This process is known as the substitution method, whereby the old food is gradually replaced with the new food. Add the new feed gradually. In this case, the food is added gradually, giving your cat enough time to get used to the new food. You will need some patience. Although there is no general answer to the question of how long it will take, as every pet tiger reacts differently, you should allow at least 2 weeks for the changeover.

Method 2: Offer your cat a choice

Place a small bowl with the new food next to the food bowl with the usual cat food. This will give your cat time to get used to the smell of the new food. Then she will certainly try it. True to the motto: curiosity wins. This allows you to change your cat's food without too much effort. Here you can use a simple trick to make the new food even more palatable to your cat: Dilute the old food with a little water so that the smell of the new food is more intense. This will ensure that your furry friend pays more attention to the new product.

When to change kitten food: The right time

Changing your kitten's cat food: Here, too, owners are usually unsure when the right time has come. If you get your little kitten from an animal welfare organisation or buy it from a breeder, you will be given a few tips on what, when and how often the kitten should eat. If you are still of the opinion that the food should be changed, proceed very slowly and with a lot of patience.

It is important that you stop the change if you notice that the little velvet paw is struggling with digestive problems. In this case, it is important to observe very closely, as kittens can also react negatively to a change in food in other ways. In this case, you should return to the usual food recommended by the breeder or animal welfare organisation. After all, moving into a new home is a big change for the new arrival. A change of food can mean too much change. The little kitten has settled in after about 4 weeks and feels comfortable in its new home. Now is the best time to change their food.

When to change kitten food?

Another change of food is due when the cat is about 1 year old. Then the food is no longer suitable for kittens. Now your cat needs complete food for adult animals. Again, you can use the methods described above to slowly acclimatise your kitten to the food for adult cats. The following table gives you a good overview of what a kitten food change plan might look like:

Day 1 to 3: 80% old food and 20% new food
Day 4 to 7: 60% old food and 40% new food
Day 8 to 10: 40% old food and 60% new food
Day 11 to 14: 20% old food and 80% new food
From day 15: 100% new food

How to change your cat's food correctly

If you think that simply presenting your cat with its new food is enough, you're wrong. It may well be that your cat is not fussy and accepts the new food without further ado. However, this does not mean that this is the right change of food. Even if your cat eats the new food without any problems, the following digestive problems may occur:

Flatulence
constipation
diarrhoea
Stomach cramps

In addition, your cat may like the new food but not tolerate it or react sensitively to one or more of the ingredients. With gradual addition and your keen powers of observation, you can easily ensure that your cat gets on well with the new food.

Changing your cat's food in case of diarrhoea

What should you do if a change of food is necessary due to intolerances but your cat is suffering from diarrhoea? Most cases of cat diarrhoea are not very dramatic and can be attributed to the change of food. These are only treated symptomatically. This means that only the clinical signs are alleviated.

A combination of a light diet, electrolytes and plenty of fluids will ensure that your furry friend gets back on its feet quickly. If vomiting occurs at the same time, the vet will usually prescribe "anti-emetics". These are preparations that relieve nausea and vomiting. You can use them to encourage your cat to eat at the same time. The irritated bowel should be rehabilitated at the same time. Intestinal regulating agents are used for this. Charcoal tablets as well as pre- and probiotics are particularly useful. You can mix healing clay or psyllium husks into your cat's food to support this.

Conclusion

In theory, you can change your cat's diet overnight. After all, not all cats are sensitive gourmets and creatures of habit. However, to avoid complications and recognise intolerances at an early stage, the changeover should ALWAYS be made slowly and with a lot of patience. Only if you give your cat and its digestive system enough time to get used to the new food and to utilise it appropriately will you protect your furry friend from unpleasant digestive problems. This is especially true when switching cat food for kittens.

Our recommendations for your four-legged friend:

Tasting packs for cats

BIO cat food