Switching Cat Food: Facts You Need To Learn About It

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Irrespective of the purpose for switching cat food, it is the best to take time in switching your cat from a food to another. Further, cats tend to have sensitive tummies and might become sick or even stop eating in case their food’s abruptly changed. This may occur when a different food changes the environment of the intestine. What’s more, this might lead to vomiting, a repudiation to eat, and diarrhea. This is the reason why it is the best to slowly deter your cat off of its current food, as well as onto the new food. Read on to this article and learn more about switching cat food properly!

Importance of Switching Cat Food Gradually 

When possible, your cat must be switched in a gradual manner from a food to another. Moreover, the sudden changes in the cat’s diet may cause GI or gastrointestinal upset. This may result in reduced appetite for cats, vomiting, and diarrhea.

Idyllically, you need to plan on taking at least one week to switch your cat from a food to another. In case your cat isn’t finicky, you can start by adding a small amount of a new food with some old food. Moreover, you can gradually increase the quantity of the new food and reduce the old food by the same amount every day. Make sure that your cat is eating the food. When the transition goes smooth, you need to feed just the new food at the end of the week.

Unluckily, a lot of cats are picky on what they will eat or not. Further, there are also some cats that become accustomed to a certain type of diet and it may be so hard to transition them. Usually, it is possible to convince these cats to take a new food, yet it’ll take time, and a lot of patience.

Never ever try and starve your cat so that it eats the new food. Cats who don’t eat regularly may develop hepatic lipidosis. This is a health condition, which may become lethal. When your cat goes longer than 24hrs. With no ingestion, you need to worry. Furthermore, cats that are eating a great amount of food might take much longer to be sick. However, they may still develop hepatic lipidosis within days.

When Should You Try Switching Cat Food?                      

In order for you to change fully the cat food your pet is eating, read the following considerations first.

Cat’s Diet and Life Stage

The nutritional needs of a cat evolves as they age. One example of which is the protein. We know that kittens need so much of it, yet adult cats need lesser, in the senior cats, excessive amount of protein may actually harm the kidneys and livers.

Luckily, there is food out there for each of the life stages. A kitten formula might have enough protein, carbohydrates, and fat to satisfy the young kittens. On the other hand, the adult cat and the senior cat formulas have varying balances of ingredients. For instance, the senior food, might include supplements like chondroitin and glucosamine. These are essential in easing the stiffness in the older cat’s joints.

Diet and Food Sensitivities

When your cat has digestive issues, breathing conditions, or itchy skin, a food sensitivity might be the one to blame. The cats develop reactions to various ingredients in the food –often time even after eating that ingredient for many years with few to zero problems. In case your vet suspects that your cat is sensitive to a particular food, switching cat food is necessary. Your vet may suggest that you try novel proteins.

Diet and Wellness

Various foods are formulated in helping the cats to stay and get well. In case your cat has urinary problems, talk to your vet about it. Your vet may recommend some urinary-health cat food.

After neutering or spaying, the hormones of your cat will change. This may affect the nutritional needs, appetite, and energy. You should ask your vet if your cat must eat a neutered or spayed food formula after undergoing surgery.

Switching Cat Food: From Dry to Wet

The transitioning of cat food from dry to wet may especially be problematic. Moreover, the texture and the taste of the two kinds of food are a bit different and a lot of cats may find their new food a bit strange. Further, there are some tricks that you can try in making the switching a lot easier and the food more palatable.

For cats, which need to be switched from dry food to wet food rapidly because of some medical issues, adding a bit of Fortiflora may help in improving the palatability. The fortiflora is a kind of probiotic, which helps in enhancing palatability. Additionally, warming the wet food to near the body temperature may also help in improving the delectableness.

Moreover, encouraging the cat to engage in some interactive plays for a short amount of time before every meal may also help in increasing the appetite of the cat. As well as make the acceptance of the new food much easier.

You need to watch your cat’s weight thoroughly and carefully during any food switching. Incase your cat refuses to eat during the process or lose weight suddenly, you should pay your doctor a visit for some advice.

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