How To Shop For New Cat Food
Choosing new cat food comes down to understanding cat food labels.
AAFCO does not approve cat food. Instead, AAFCO sets rules for the pet food label packaging.
Pet food manufacturers must abide by these rules when naming their products and listing the ingredients.
The product name is just as important as the ingredients.
There are many ingredients in cat food to avoid. So its important to understand cat food label rules.
Additionally, you will have to use a carb calculator for cat food.
Carbohydrates are not required on the guaranteed analysis. So you have to figure that out yourself.
Dont even bother looking at kibble. Cats cannot survive and thrive on dry food only.
Check out my how to read cat food labels playlist to understand AAFCO guidelines.
How To Get My Cat To Eat Homemade Cat Food
It will be easier to switch a cat from canned food to raw or cooked. Typically, the transition takes about a week. You start serving food in 20/80 ratio, then 40/60, 50/50, and replace the old food gradually. However, the process of transition may take months dont give up. Some pet owners suggest starting with raw/cooked food treats, such as chicken wings.
How Much Does A Bag Of Friskies Cat Food Cost
After placing a bowl of some other, more expensive cat food in front of these two, they looked at the food, sniffed it, and then just stared at my son and I until we produced something else their favorite and the only food they will eat: Friskies Seafood Grille. The price for a very large bag runs around $14.00 at a warehouse-type grocery store.
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Evaluating When To Change Cat Food
Should I Switch My Senior Cat To Wet Food
Wet cat food is a great option for kittens, adult cats and senior cats as it has a high water content to aid in hydration, and is often lower in carbohydrates. Depending on health issues, you may want to transition over the period of a week or so the same way you would with dry food to avoid gastrointestinal issues.
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Why You Need To Change Food Gradually
Eating any new food has the potential to cause digestive upset for your fur-baby. And when we say digestive upset, we mean vomiting, diarrhea, and excess gas, which can obviously be unpleasant for you as well as for your cat. But when you introduce the new food slowly, this reduces the chance of any tummy troubles.
Cats also have a reputation as being finicky eaters. This isnt because theyre food snobs, but because some cats can display something known as neophobia. This is actually thought to be related to a survival mechanism that stops them eating tainted food in the wild, and it can potentially make your kitty wary of trying new foods. Thats why introducing new food slowly will help your pet adapt to their changing diet.
How To Switch My Cat From Dry To Wet Food
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A lot of cat owners struggle with what food to provide. The usual is dry kibble, and this is fine for most cats who are healthy and drink plenty of water.
Dry cat food is a little bit cheaper and more convenient. Plus, it can help to keep cats teeth clean and strong, as well as their jaw muscles.
But dry food is not always the best option for cats, as it has little moisture. Cats are built for high moisture and protein diets.
In the wild, cats would eat rodents and other small creatures which are very high in moisture, protein, and low and carbohydrates. Because of this, many cats need at least partially wet food.
Older cats and kittens benefit the most from a wet diet. Cats with health problems such as diabetes can greatly improve or simply maintain their health by switching to a wet food diet.
So how do you switch your cat from dry to wet food? It can be a difficult process but whether the method is cold turkey or a slow change that involves weeks of mixing foods, it can be done.
It is hard to resist the crunch of dry food, as us humans have trouble quitting chips and the like. Just because we like something, doesnt mean its the best for us. Luckily, cats have us to help them transition.
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Changing Our Cats Food: A Guide For Transitioning Between Dry And Wet Foods
9/29/2020
Cat parents love their fur babies, but they know how temperamental they can be. Cats like to have things their way, and they will absolutely let you know when they are unhappy. This can be especially true when it comes to food. They know what they like, and they don’t like a change in routine when it comes to feeding. So, how can we switch our cat’s food without disrupting the entire home? Check out the guide below to help make your cat’s diet transition a breeze.
Why Is It Bad To Switch Cat Food
It is advisable to gradually change the diet of a cat in the event of a pet food recall, etc. It is actually more effective to mix increasing amounts of the new brand of cat food with decreasing amounts of the old brand in five to seven days to prevent your cat from developing an upset stomach or refusing to eat the food.
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How To Please Your Finicky Cat
You will have to get sneaky here. Some cats will take to new food right away.
Other cats may take weeks or even months.
Regardless, dont give up.
Your cats health is your responsibility. Not your vets and certainly not pet food manufacturers.
Here are a few ways to transition your cat off kibble:
Take your time and be patient.
Work with your cat.
He can and will learn to love his new food.
If nothing above works
How To Transition Cat Food Safely
Making the transition from one food to another is likely to go smoothly as long as you take it slowly. We recommend doing this over a period of 7 to 10 days to give your cats digestive system time to adjust. Heres how to pace the switch:
Days 1 – 3: Begin with a mix of 25% of the new food coupled with 75% of the old food
Days 4 – 6: Increase the amount of new food so that you have a 50/50 mix
Days 7 – 9: Reverse the ratios from the first few days, giving 75% of the new diet mixed in with 25% of the old diet
Day 10: Give your kitty 100% of the new food
If you have a really picky eater on your hands, you may find you need as long as 14 – 21 days to get them on board with their new meal plan.
Remember also that every cat is different and its not unusual for digestive disturbances to occur at any point throughout the transition. If this happens, give your cat more time to adjust to their new food by stretching out each part of the process to four to six days instead of three.
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Importance Of Gradually Changing Your Cats Food
If possible, your cat should be transitioned slowly from one food to another. Sudden changes in your cats diet can cause gastrointestinal upset and may result in diarrhea, vomiting, and even a reduced appetite for your cat.
Ideally, you should plan on taking at least a week to transition your cat from one food to another. If your cat is not finicky, start by adding a small amount of the new food in with old food. Gradually increase the amount of the new food and decrease the old food by a similar amount each day. Be sure your cat is eating the food. If the transition goes smoothly, you should be feeding only the new food at the end of a week.
Unfortunately, many cats are picky about what they will eat. Some cats become accustomed to one particular type of diet and it can be very difficult to transition them. It usually is possible to convince these cats to consume a new food but it will take time and patience.
Never try to starve your cat into eating a new diet. Cats that do not eat regularly can develop hepatic lipidosis, a health condition that can become life-threatening. If your cat goes longer than 24 hours without ingesting any food, you should be concerned. Cats that are eating an insufficient amount of food may take longer to become ill but can still develop hepatic lipidosis within a few days.
Transitioning Your Dry Food Junkie To A Wet Food Connoisseur
There was a time when many veterinarians and nutritionists recommended feeding a dry food diet to help prevent tartar from forming on cats teeth. It is now believed that dental disease, in cats, is more an issue of genetics than of diet. An increasing number of American Veterinary Medical Association members are now strongly recommending the feeding of canned food instead of dry kibble.
Cats are different from dogs and dont like a lot of change, especially going from a dry, crunchy texture to a wet, soft texture. The dry food companies dont make the transition any easier as they coat the dry food with animal digest sprays which have a pleasing taste to a cat. The key is to make the transition very slowly and realize it may take a lot of patience. Some cats may take 3 or 4 months to make the entire transition. The most important issue is actually making the change, not how fast you accomplish it. All cats will eventually eat canned food if their caregiver is determined, methodical and patient enough.
The first step is to start measuring the amount of dry food that is typically eaten in a day and then split that amount into 2 or separate feedings . Leave the measured food out for 20-30 minutes and then remove any uneaten portion. Repeat this process again in 8-12 hours. Many cats wont try something new if their dry food is left out for them at all times. It may take 1-2 weeks for them to adjust to their new meal times.
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How To Choose A Wet Cat Food
There are many factors to consider when choosing a wet food for your cat. First, youll need to find a wet food that is appropriate for your cats species and life stage. Check the back of the can for the AAFCO Statement or the Statutory Statement which should say something like for the maintenance of adult cats or for growing kittens.
Homemade Cat Food Recipes Every Cat Will Love
Please note: These 10 recipes were reviewed and approved by Doctor of Veterinary Medicine Claudine Sievert. Our team cooked and tested all these recipes with our cats.
When it comes to a healthy cat diet, its almost impossible to make it ideal. Whether you use wet or dry cat food, there are always some drawbacks in formulas these can be ingredients, artificial components, flavors, or texture. Each cat has individual needs, and covering them all with mass-market industrial products isnt always the right decision.
Besides, cats are carnivores they eat raw meat and dont need grains. This is what many owners forget about when buying kibbles with wheat and corn. As a result, their beloved pets suffer from allergic reactions, stomach upset, sensitivities, poor digestion and metabolism, excessive weight, and so on.
Ideally, a feline diet should consist of what these hunters ate originally prey and fish. You can help your cat and create an ideal menu for it.
How?
Have you ever tried to make your own cat food? This option would be perfect, and its not as complicated as it seems. Actually millions of people are already cooking homemade cat food, homemade kibbles, and even homemade kitten formulas themselves!
Below you will find our 10 favorite recipes for homemade cat food.
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What Is The Healthiest Wet Cat Food Brand
Most premium wet cat food brands are nutritionally complete and are carefully formulated to meet your pets nutritional needs. Each brand has its formula, so you may have to try out several before finding one that your cat loves!
Premium wet cat food usually contains more meat than other types of wet cat food. It also often contains additional nutrients like taurine, which is essential for your cats digestive system.
Premium wet cat food usually costs more than other types of wet cat food but you may find that your pet eats less of it. This can help keep their weight under control!
Price often reflects the quality and level of nutrition in a product, so premium brands are often worth the extra cost.
Is Wet Food Too Rich For Cats
Another common misconception is that wet food is too rich and will cause an upset stomach or diarrhea if fed to your cat. While there are certainly some cats who may not be able to tolerate certain wet foods due to food allergies, inflammatory bowel disease, or other gastrointestinal illnesses, in general wet food is easily digestible for most cats.
If youre concerned about your cats ability to tolerate a wet food diet, start slowly and offer only small amounts of wet food at a time until you have had a chance to see how your cat reacts to it. If your cats stools are normal and there has been no change in his or her appetite or energy level, then it is okay to gradually offer larger portions of wet food until you reach your desired portion size.
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How To Switch To Wet Food
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Originally Posted by XandlynHave you tried mixing the wet food in with some of the dry food? It really doesn’t hurt to feed dry food. But if you really want to switch to wet food just add a little to each dry food feeding and increase the amount. Maybe she’ll get a taste for it eventually.
Originally Posted by XandlynHave you tried mixing the wet food in with some of the dry food? It really doesn’t hurt to feed dry food. But if you really want to switch to wet food just add a little to each dry food feeding and increase the amount. Maybe she’ll get a taste for it eventually.
Originally Posted by sharkySome will go for that ..I got my younger one eating by keeping up her dry food … It is hard but the end result is better for the cat as dry food no matter what kind is NOT the best for kitty
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Originally Posted by ahemHi, I offered wet food at every turn he took in the house. Also, I enticed him to eat from a smal spoon. When he turned the stiff nose I offered another brand, and another and another, and another. I kept a list of the ones he remotely liked or liked a little. 50- 60 varieties of wet food later he is happyly eating a rotation of about 10 wet foods . For us it was imperative that he change to 100% wet and that he gain weight. Both happened. He is cool, jumping, playing and definitely enjoying the variety. Hope this helps.