Transfer the cat to another food. How to transfer a cat from natural food to dry food. How to transfer a cat to another food
3It often happens that the food that we buy for our cat does not suit her. There can be many reasons: allergies, lack of nutrients and trace elements, or intolerance to any of the ingredients. In the end, it also happens that a loving owner can no longer afford to provide his pet with the usual diet and is forced to look for alternatives, which is especially important during various kinds of crises.
But these changes don't always go smoothly. Any animals gradually get used to what they eat. An analogy can be drawn here: if a person loves junk food, it is difficult for him to refuse it, even when he understands that it is about his own health.
If it is difficult for us to force ourselves to do the right thing, then it is still harder with our smaller brothers. Try to explain to a noble and proud descendant of ferocious saber-toothed tigers that his favorite food will no longer be given to him. This is a deadly insult!
That is why the first thing you need to do is to be patient. All members of the feline family have an innate cunning that they are sure to use to sabotage your food change plans. You are most likely waiting for the “burrowing” trick, which unambiguously compares the new diet with filler for the tray. Do not forget the pained expression of the muzzle, sad looks and heart-rending meow - your pet will do everything to put pressure on pity and create the impression of a poor and starving creature. But you can’t give in to provocations! Reluctantly, we stand our ground.
The procedure itself for changing the feed is simple to disgrace. Ideally, you should have about ten days for the transition, during which you will slowly accustom the domestic predator to new food. In the early days, we mix 25% of the new diet with the old diet. If everything goes smoothly, then gradually increase the ratio to 50/50. At the last stage, you can already give 3 quarters of the new food. And so on until the end. If this period drags on or even worse - the purring bandit decided to ignore your efforts altogether, then you should resort to more drastic measures.
Here we immediately make a reservation that all owners love their cats. But love is not only pampering and stroking, sometimes it means once again making a difficult decision and taking responsibility. And here is just such a case. If a smooth replacement does not work out: your cat eats out the granules of the old food, and leaves the new one in the bowl, or flatly refuses to approach the food in principle, then you will have to starve.
The most effective way is to arrange preventive fasting for your cat. And no, we are not monsters and not sadists: this is done not for the purpose of torturing the pet, but for the sake of his health. If suddenly seditious thoughts arise in your head, pushing you to surrender into the clutches of a tailed tyrant, then remember - no cat has yet died of starvation in front of a bowl full of food. Remind yourself often that cats, especially domestic and sterilized ones, fast fasting days are even useful - they will help to cope with excess weight.
The essence of the procedure is simple: remove the bowl for a day and do not give the cat any food (even if he asks and is offended), and the next day put a bowl with new food. Many advise not to embarrass the animal and not to stand around the bowl with the whole family in anticipation of a miracle - a proud caudate may not like public recognition of defeat in the war for food.
In general, the period depends on the obstinacy of a particular representative of the cat family, but should not exceed three days - then it will definitely be harmful. Remember that for this period the starving person must be provided with water, otherwise it will really become torture. In the end, the result is the same - your pet will carelessly eat new food, despite the fact that before that he showed fierce hatred and disapproval in every possible way.
The only thing is, when switching to a new diet (especially if this is done for reasons of economy), you should not ignore the issue of quality. Firstly, there should be a lot of meat in the diet, because the cat is a predator. Secondly, look for probiotics in the composition, they will help with digestion. Phytocomponents (fennel, yucca schidigera) will help eliminate toxins, and a vitamin-mineral complex will provide your animal with the right balance of trace elements. In this vein, the line of cat food from Blitz shows itself very well, which includes diets with chicken, dietary turkey and hypoallergenic lamb.
None of the owners of cats is immune from the possible need to change the habitual diet of their purr. The circumstances that force you to change your usual feeding are not as important as knowing how to transfer a cat to a different food.
The reasons for changing the power supply may be:
- an allergy that has appeared in an animal to dry or, conversely, natural food
- intolerance to one of the components of the feed
- nutritional deficiencies or micronutrients.
In some cases, the replacement of food is associated with a change in the financial condition of the owner, due to which the cat can no longer receive the usual expensive food. Thus, the financial crisis is also affecting cats, who are forced to switch to alternative food sources.
The nuances of transferring an animal to alternative feed
In most cases, dietary changes do not go completely smoothly. An animal accustomed to a certain feeding gets used to constant feeding and it is quite difficult for him to refuse it. In this case, even if you know how to properly switch a cat to a different food, this does not mean that your pet will be delighted with the change and immediately switch to a new food, giving up their favorite treats.
The main thing that a cat owner will need in order to make the transition to a new food is patience. The innate cunning of cats allows them to quite successfully manipulate their owners, clearly showing their negative attitude towards the new food. Some animals strive to “bury” the new food offered to them, thus comparing it with the filler for their toilet. Other animals, ignoring the food in the bowl, make a pained muzzle or meow in pain, demonstrating their hunger.
Thus, the cat tries to arouse pity in the owners with all its appearance, positioning itself as a terribly unhappy hungry creature. Here, in no case should you give in to the animal, you should firmly stand your ground.
How long does it take to change food
Ideally, the owners, who have gained patience, have up to ten days to gradually change the cat's usual food to a new one. In order to injure the animal as little as possible, the transfer is carried out gradually. At first, in the first days, about 25% of the new feed is added to the animal's diet. When a cat has eaten several times and gets used to the new food, the amount of new food is increased up to 50%. After a week of changing the diet, the new food may well be three-quarters of the total amount of food.
Thus, day after day, by increasing the amount of new food, we achieve the transition of the animal from the usual food to the new one. However, unfortunately for many owners of especially capricious animals, everything does not go so smoothly. What to do in this case?
Radical dietary changes
In some cases, transferring a pet from one food to another according to the above scheme is not possible. The animal, experiencing some kind of stress, may stubbornly refuse to touch the new food and accompany the hunger strike with heart-rending meowing.
One of the ways is not to feed the cat, especially compassionate owners will not like it. However, in many cases it is the only possible one. An owner who loves his pet must be patient and responsibly approach the issue of changing the diet.
Such drastic measures should be taken when the cat, using the fact that there is at least a little bit of the usual food in the bowl, eats only it, and simply ignores the new food. In such cases, the owner has no other way to correctly transfer the animal to a new diet, except to starve him out.
For especially kind-hearted owners, let's pay attention to the fact that death from starvation near a bowl filled with new food is absolutely not threatened by an animal. To quickly cope with cat whims, first of all, the pet needs to fast. Such a preventive diet will reduce his arrogance, and make him more interested in evaluating the new food offered by the owner.
If remorse becomes simply unbearable, we recommend that you remember that. That fasting days are extremely useful for domestic cats and diet. On which you put the cat, it will only benefit him. The main thing at this time is to show firmness of character and not capitulate in advance. Having sensed the weakness of the owner once, the cat will continue to wait for a pause, and it will be much more difficult to transfer it to a new food.
The essence of preventive fasting
So, having decided that prophylactic fasting is the only way to transfer the animal to a new food, it is necessary to correctly perform the procedure. Its essence is quite simple.:
- We remove the food completely for the day
- We put a bowl with new food
First of all, remove the cat's bowl for a day and give the cat absolutely nothing. The main thing here is to resist the begging look of a pet. After a day of forced abstinence, the cat is given a bowl of new food. At the same time, experienced breeders advise leaving the premises when transferring to a new food and leaving the cat alone with food. It is believed that alone, a proud animal will quickly cross its principles and start eating new food.
If the animal continues to refuse to eat, the bowl is taken away and offered again to the cat after a few hours. In most cases, the stubbornness of the owner outweighs the stubbornness of the pet, and the fight is won. However, there are also staunch fighters of the cat tribe who prefer a hunger strike to new food in a bowl.
Here, the owners should note that it is not recommended to keep the animal on a forced diet for more than three days. This is already fraught with unpleasant consequences for the health of a pet. By the way, do not forget that for the period of prophylactic fasting, the animal must be provided with fresh drinking water.
Also, do not forget that when transferring a cat to a new diet, you should select good quality food. Given the predatory nature of the animal, a sufficient amount of meat and prebiotics should be included in the natural diet of a cat.
How to transfer a cat to another food and why this may be required? It often happens that the food that we buy for our cat does not suit her. There can be many reasons: allergies, lack of nutrients and trace elements, or intolerance to any of the ingredients. In the end, it also happens that a loving owner can no longer afford to provide his pet with the usual diet and is forced to look for alternatives, which is especially important during various kinds of crises. But these changes don't always go smoothly.
Any animals gradually get used to what they eat. An analogy can be drawn here: if a person loves junk food, it is difficult for him to refuse it, even when he understands that it is about his own health. If it is difficult for us to force ourselves to do the right thing, then it is still harder with our smaller brothers. Try to explain to a noble and proud descendant of ferocious saber-toothed tigers that his favorite food will no longer be given to him. This is a deadly insult! That is why the first thing you need to do is to be patient.
All members of the feline family have an innate cunning that they are sure to use to sabotage your food change plans. You are most likely waiting for the “burrowing” trick, which unambiguously compares the new diet with filler for the tray. Do not forget the pained expression of the muzzle, sad looks and heart-rending meow - your pet will do everything to put pressure on pity and create the impression of a poor and starving creature. But you can’t give in to provocations! Reluctantly, we stand our ground and transfer the cat to another food.
In addition, an important point is that cats, unlike dogs, are born gourmets, most of them simply need a constant change in taste rations. And some of the most fastidious are even willing to go hungry for a change of food.
Step-by-step rule for switching to another food
How to transfer a cat to another food? Switching to a new pet food is always stressful. How to do it right without harming the animal?
The most powerful translation technique
The procedure for changing food is extremely simple. Ideally, the transition should take you about ten days, during which you will slowly accustom the cat to the new food. In the early days, we mix 25% of the new diet with the old diet. If everything goes smoothly, then gradually increase the ratio to 50/50. At the last stage, you can already give 3 quarters of the new food. And so on until the end. If this period drags on or even worse - the purring bandit decided to ignore your efforts altogether, then you should resort to more drastic measures.
Here we immediately make a reservation that all owners love their cats. But love is not only pampering and stroking, sometimes it means once again making a difficult decision and taking responsibility. And here is just such a case.
We starve or healthy starvation
If a smooth replacement does not work out: your cat eats out the granules of the old food, and leaves the new one in the bowl, or flatly refuses to approach the food in principle, then you will have to starve. The most effective way is to arrange preventive fasting for your cat. And no, we are not monsters and not sadists: this is done not for the purpose of torturing the pet, but for the sake of his health.
If suddenly seditious thoughts arise in your head, pushing you to surrender into the clutches of a tailed tyrant, then remember - not a single cat has yet died of exhaustion in front of a bowl full of food.
Remind yourself often that cats, especially domestic and sterilized ones, fast fasting days are even useful - they will help control the problem of excess weight.
The essence of the procedure is simple: remove the bowl for a day and do not give the cat any food (even if he asks and is offended), and the next day put a bowl with new food. Many people advise not to constrain the animal and not to stand around the bowl with the whole family in anticipation of a miracle - a proud caudate may not like the public admission of defeat in the war for food, which can only prolong the procedure for transferring a cat to a new type of food.
In general, the period depends on the obstinacy of a particular representative of the cat family, but should not exceed three days - then it will definitely be harmful. Remember that for this period the starving person must be provided with water, otherwise it will really become torture.
In the end, the result is the same - your pet will carelessly eat new food, despite the fact that before that he showed fierce hatred and disapproval in every possible way. The only thing is, when switching to a new diet (especially if this is done for reasons of economy), you should not ignore the issue of quality.
- Firstly, there should be a lot of meat in the diet, because the cat is a predator.
- Secondly, look for probiotics in the composition, they will help with digestion. Phytocomponents (fennel, yucca schidigera) will help eliminate toxins, and a vitamin and mineral complex will provide your animal with the right balance of trace elements. In this vein, the line of cat food from Blitz shows itself very well, which includes diets with chicken, diet turkey and hypoallergenic lamb.
Cat food change- this is a process that, sooner or later, every owner of a mustachioed-striped will have to face. And, alas, things are such that simply pouring new food into a bowl will not work, a more thorough and serious approach is needed.
Change of food in cats: when is it necessary?
There is no consensus among veterinarians on how often to change cat food. Most people think that you should feed the same type of food, one flavor and one brand of food for as long as possible, changing it only when necessary. However, some modern Western veterinarians believe that food (or rather, the main source of protein meat / poultry / fish) is not only possible, but necessary, about 3-4 times a year to prevent food allergies and provide a more balanced diet.
However, there are a number of situations when a change of feed is inevitable:
1. Growing up
During the period of active growth (up to 1-1.5 years), kittens need high-calorie food with a large amount of micro- and macroelements. When a cat stops growing, the need for such a rich diet disappears and extra calories, like “extra” vitamins, can do harm, not good.
2. Aging
In the case of older cats, there is no consensus on whether to change their food? Which one? And when? Most senior cat foods are formulated for pets over 7 years of age and are a low-calorie, low-protein diet. Indeed, cats between the ages of 7-10 years are most susceptible to obesity and related diseases, as well as kidney problems, however, after 10 years, the need for protein and calories increases, because. food is less digestible, which is why some veterinarians recommend switching cats aged 10+ to kitten food.
3. Pregnancy
Pregnant cats need a fortified, high-protein, high-quality diet. They are usually fed kitten food or special food for pregnant cats.
4. Castration
In fact, it is necessary to transfer a castrated animal to special food only if it is naturally prone to laziness and a sedentary lifestyle. But even under such conditions, it is possible to get by with a decrease in portions and feeding according to the regimen, especially since the feed for castrates is usually of poor quality.
5. Obesity
If your cat has gained or is rapidly gaining excess weight, then she simply needs a special diet, although here everything can be reduced to a regimen and reduced portions, especially if the case is not running.
6. Allergy
7. Individual intolerance to feed components
Your particular cat, for one reason or another, cannot digest individual components or a component of a particular food (taste), which is expressed in diarrhea / constipation and / or vomiting. The main thing here is to distinguish intolerance from allergies and other diseases.
8. Disease
There are a number of diseases that require special diets: endocrine (diabetes, hyperthyroidism), urinary tract (cystitis, ICD, CRF), pancreatitis, hepatitis, etc. Some suggest switching to medicated feeds, others a specifically balanced natural diet. Also, medicated food can be prescribed for prevention, after surgery or in the acute course of the disease.
9. Negative reaction to food
Roughly speaking, you don't like the way the cat looks (watery eyes, dull and/or brittle coat, etc.), or you don't like the smell from the mouth/tray. Here, as in the case of intolerance, it is important not to miss a serious illness, blaming everything for food.
10. Feed discontinued/not imported/not supplied
Like it or not, but you have to change, there are no options.
Feed change in cats: general principles
1. In most cases, food should be changed gradually over 7 days for healthy, adult cats and over 10 days for picky/older cats and kittens. Switching from dry food to natural/canned food and vice versa can take up to a month.
2. It is possible and necessary to change the food immediately, drastically in cases of switching to a therapeutic food/exclusion diet, when food intolerance is detected and when switching from homemade food (shchi, borscht, porridge) to a balanced diet, because. a gradual change in this case will hurt more than a sharp transition.
3. In the process of changing food, the cat can starve (refuse the new food) for no more than 24 hours; after 48 hours of fasting, cats begin hepatic lipidosis (fatty liver) - a deadly condition, which, however, is reversible in the early stages.
4. Cats may find dry food unattractive after wet or even improper home food, especially cats do not like medicated food. To attract the attention of such fussy eaters, you can sprinkle it with chicken / fish broth or tuna juice (these substances can be called natural attractants). And you can also try to feed the cat with your hands - so the novelty will cause her more confidence.
5. When switching to another food, especially if the type changes (dry-wet), you can use pro- and prebiotics, as well as food enzymes (it is better to consult a veterinarian before use)
6. You should constantly monitor the condition of the cat and see how it reacts to the new food (feces, appearance, absence/presence of itching/vomiting, etc.); in case of detection of negative reactions, you need to stop the transition process and contact your veterinarian.
7. When changing food, especially when switching between types of food (dry-wet), an imbalance of nutrition, calcium / phosphorus, vitamins and minerals is almost inevitable, consult your veterinarian on this issue.
How to transfer a cat to another food?
The easiest way is to transfer a cat from one dry food to another, for this it is enough to gradually mix the new food with the old one for 7-10 days.
As a rule, serious problems (diarrhea) can occur when switching a cat from a low-class food (high in carbohydrates and fiber) to a high-class food (grain-free). In this case, it is recommended to make the transition even smoother - between the original and the desired food, place 1-2 “transitional” foods with an average content of carbohydrates and fiber, and first switch to the first, then to the second, and only then to the desired one. The number of transition foods should be approximately equal to the number of classes separating the initial food from the desired one.
Without a smooth transition, you can change different tastes within the same brand line (chicken-beef-fish).
How to transfer a cat to dry food?
If your cat ate natural/canned food, then for a competent transition you need to calculate the daily calorie intake for the pet. And break this rate into 2-3 doses, give natural/canned food at one time, and dry food at the other. Gradually, the proportion of drying should be increased, and the “moisture” should be reduced. A bowl of new food should be available for no more than 30 minutes. If the cat does not touch it during this time, it is necessary to offer a new food again no earlier than after 6-8 hours. Forward
