Changing Your Cat's Food Successfully

By Connie Limon

Cats may not welcome a change in their food. If you need to change the food consider the following tips:

• Be sure to introduce the new food gradually for the most successful change. This way the cat is eased into the change.

• Start by mixing 25% of the new food with 75% of old food

• Change the amount of food you give over the next three days by gradually increasing the new food and decreasing the old food

• In the end of this weaning process, you should be feeding the new food 100%

• During the first two days of the weaning period, do not give the cat treats or table scraps

Negative affects might include:

• Your cat picks out the new food and just eats the old food

• The cat refuses to eat

Don't be upset if this occurs; just continue with the weaning process until you are feeding the new food 100%. Cats can miss meals for a couple days with no adverse effects.

Also be aware of how you bring in the new food and present it to the cat. Introduce the new food using a pleasant voice and don't demand your cat eat the new food right away. Just stay calm and positive about the entire process. Cats can read your body language even if you cannot understand what they say to you.

I have been reading a lot about raw diets and I have decided not to try them for my cats. I am going to stick with the commercially prepared dry cat foods. I fear bacteria from raw diets will cause sickness in my cats.

One of the biggest challenges in switching diets is when there is a switch from moist food to dry food. My cats do just love the Fancy Feast moist foods, however, I fed them this all the time, they would not have firm stools and the feces sticks to their coat around the anal area, which is something they hate to have cleaned away, so I avoid giving them too much of the moist food and stick with the dry food.

If you have a cat on moist food and you want to change him or her to the dry food, try mixing the dry food with a little warm water if the cat resists changing over. You can even put the moistened food in the microwave for a few seconds. If you mix the food with water is sure to throw out the uneaten portion after 20 minutes. This prevents food spoilage. Apply this same rule to canned food. When you have your cat accustomed to the moistened food, wean him or her onto the dry food.

If you notice your cat is not eating the cat food as usual, take a look at whatever else you are feeding before you decide the cat is a finicky eater. Do you give just a few table scraps or treats throughout the day? This can really make a difference in how much cat food is eaten. Extras can drastically change the cat's normal intake of cat food. Consider how you feel after eating too much candy or potato chips. Are you really interested in a three course meal? Neither is the cat interested in the nutritious food if you fill him or her up with treats and this and that throughout the day.

It is not true that cats need variety in their diets. They normally eat to meet their energy requirements. Their ancestors ate meat in the wild. Domesticated cats thrive on routine and really do not tire of one particular flavor of food. However, there are different formulas to address different needs such as obesity and hairball remedies.

Always keep plenty of fresh water out for your cat and provide a comfortable place to eat away from a lot of family confusion. For mental stimulation you might try hiding a few dry kernels of cat food under a small cup and place the cups in different areas to stimulate the hunting instinct. In the wild, cats spend most of their day just hunting for their food.

Disclaimer: The information in this article is not meant to diagnose or treat any kind of health problem in your cat. You should always consult with a trusted veterinarian for all health problems.

Written by: Connie Limon. I raise the beautiful, emerald green-eyed shaded and chinchilla silver Persian cat from champion and grand champion lines. For more information about us and to be added to our contact list, please visit http://www.fairydewsilverpersian.vpweb.com For a variety of reprint articles visit http://www.camelotarticles.com