How to transfer a kitten to dry food from natural food: rules for transferring a cat to ready-made food

Mixed food is dangerous for the stomach and intestines, so veterinarians strongly recommend using only one type of food: natural or ready-made.

Despite this, it is not possible to choose a convenient option right away. For this reason, owners have to engage in retraining, which does not always go smoothly. Below you can find out how to switch a kitten or an adult animal to dry food and what to do in case of a hunger strike.

How to properly switch a domestic cat to dry food?

Both breeders and veterinary experts have been arguing about the benefits and harms of dry feeding for cats for a long time. However, today there is no consensus on this issue. Some owners find it more convenient and easier to feed their pets dry food, but opponents of feeding dry food point out that only natural food is beneficial for the animal’s body.

Sometimes situations arise when you have to radically change your pet’s diet. For this reason, the question of how to properly switch a cat to dry food is quite relevant for most cat lovers.

Transferring an animal from natural types of food to dry food is not an easy task and requires a specific approach.

The main feature of the process of transferring cats from one type of food to another is gradualism.

Important points

When accustoming an animal to drying, you should carefully monitor it. It is important, before transferring a kitten to dry food, to consult with a veterinarian and find out that the pet is healthy and can chew hard food.

During training, it is necessary to observe the behavior of the kitten. The main indicator of good digestibility is the animal's stool. If there is no diarrhea and no difficulties are observed, then everything is in order.

Ready-made dry food is enriched with all necessary vitamins and minerals. Therefore, without the advice of a veterinarian, there is no need to offer your pet various supplements.

The reasons why a specialist may recommend additional nutrition may be related to the health of the pet and its developmental characteristics. In any case, if the kitten is accustomed to dry food, it is necessary to deny him tasty morsels from the table. This can lead not only to the refusal of ready-made diets, but also cause stomach upset and problems with stool.

Any change in a pet’s life, including a change in diet, is stressful for the animal. It is necessary to surround him with care and attention.

Little tricks

When switching your cat to natural food, be sure to give him probiotics, this will help digestion and make the transition easier. Probiotics can be bought at a veterinary pharmacy, but it is better to first ask your veterinarian which drugs are best for your cat.

When giving natural food, remove it after 20 minutes, no matter whether the cat has eaten or not. During the transition and beyond, always give your cat vitamins. It’s best to ask your veterinarian which vitamins are right for your cat.

It’s best to ask your veterinarian which vitamins are right for your cat.

During the transition and beyond, always give your cat vitamins. It’s best to ask your veterinarian which vitamins are right for your cat.

Preventive fasting

If the pet turns out to be very capricious and demanding, then you will have to turn to the second method.
It is more strict and may seem cruel at first glance. But this method is more effective. The owner must muster all his willpower and be extremely strict. When your pet once again refuses a bowl of food offered, deprive him of it and any other food for a day. After this time, place the bowl again. Many, after such preventive fasting, understand the seriousness of the owner’s intentions and make concessions, accepting and gradually getting used to new food. And the most persistent go ahead. And everyone also stubbornly refuses new food. This kind of hunger strike can last 2-3 days. Most importantly, do not forget to provide your pet with plenty of water during this time. After all, you can live without food, but you cannot live without water. If the pet does not make concessions for all 3 days, you should seek advice from a specialist. Don't forget to praise and reward your pet for good progress and receptivity to the new food. Show him in every possible way how pleased you are with his interest in the new diet.

When changing cat food, you need to pay attention to the composition and quality of the product. The food must contain all the necessary minerals and trace elements to maintain the health of the animal. Meat must also be present in the diet.

Also, meat must be present in the diet.

A furry pet that appears in the house very quickly becomes a member of the family. And, of course, I want him to be healthy and delight his family with his purring for as long as possible. Each owner chooses for himself how and what to feed his cat. But there are situations when, for one reason or another, you have to switch your cat to a new food. First, let's figure out why there may be a need to change your diet.

The reasons for switching a cat to a new food can be very diverse. Let's look at the main ones. 1. Age of the cat. A kitten, an adult and an older animal need different amounts of nutrients. Kittens move a lot and grow quickly, but in an older pet, activity, on the contrary, decreases. Accordingly, feed should be selected taking into account the age and energy costs of the animal. 2. Pregnancy and feeding period in a cat. During this period, your pet needs more vitamins and minerals, as well as more calories. 3. Obesity or underweight. In this situation, it is necessary to adjust the caloric content of food, the amount of food consumed by the animal, or transfer the pet to special food that can solve weight problems. 4. Castration and sterilization. Having lost one of its basic instincts, the cat directs its interest towards food and rest, and the cat’s activity decreases sharply. Moreover, there is a pattern between castration and an increase in the risk of developing urolithiasis in cats; therefore, it is recommended to transfer your furry to a special diet for castrated and sterilized cats. 5. Diseases of the urinary system. Frequent cystitis, urolithiasis and kidney failure can become a real problem for the cat owner. Moreover, not only older animals, but also fairly young cats are susceptible to these ailments. It is easier to prevent the exacerbation of these diseases if you switch your cat to food specially designed for such animals, since going to the veterinarian not only takes a lot of time, but is also not a cheap pleasure. 6. Previous operations on internal organs and digestive organs. After surgery, it may be difficult for the animal’s body to digest its usual food. In this regard, it is worth considering the option of transferring your pet to a special diet until complete rehabilitation.

How to accustom a kitten to dry food: practical tips

We strongly recommend that the transfer be made no earlier than the pet is at least six weeks old. You shouldn’t hope that you can completely accustom a kitten to dry food in a couple of days: it will take a lot of time.

Sometimes animals begin to confidently eat “packed rations” only by the age of six months. In addition, at this time, ready-made foods (even premium ones) cannot completely replace breast milk. They are just a supplement to the main “ration”, nothing more.

In this case, diarrhea, constipation, and even intestinal blockage are guaranteed. In addition, under no circumstances should a kitten be switched to adult types of dry food early, much less given it from childhood. Ideally, adults begin to get used to dry rations from the age of one, but if this is not possible, then you should wait until at least six months.

In most cases, breeders who buy a kitten aged two months or older are completely spared the hassle of accustoming their pet to new food. In this case, the baby has already clearly been accustomed to the previous owner, who probably wanted to save money on feeding the increased number of cats in the house... But what to do if the pet is younger than a couple of months, or the previous owner for some reason did not accustom him to a new type of food?

How to properly introduce new food into a kitten’s diet?

Any new food should be introduced into your pet’s diet as follows:

Starting from the second month, dry food in small doses, previously soaked in water or meat broth, can be introduced into the cat’s diet. It is advisable to mix them with your usual food. This way the kitten will “get to know” the new food and get used to its taste.

For the next three weeks, you need to do the same, but the number of granules is gradually increased day by day. But do not forget that the intestines of a two or three month old kitten also need “normal” food.

Somewhere by the end of the third month, the kitten should have fully adapted to the new type of food, and therefore only this can be put in its bowl. From time to time, it is still worth “rewarding” your pet with its usual food. This is not only beneficial in terms of dietary diversity, but also improves the functioning of the animal’s digestive tract. But you shouldn’t go overboard in this matter, since the kitten may well become capricious, refusing to eat only dry rations.

By the fifth month, the amount of “natural” and canned food can be reduced to a minimum (but breeders still do not advise doing this)

Given the completely “dry” diet, continuous provision of clean drinking water to your pet is of particular importance. Dry food quite expectedly makes you thirsty, so your cat will drink a lot.

About once a week, your pet can be given “fasting days” by giving high-quality canned food or natural food.

What to do for digestive disorders

Any time a new type of food is introduced into a pet’s diet, it is necessary to strictly control the consistency of the animal’s stool. What should you do if it suddenly changes dramatically, or if the kitten shows signs of illness in some other way?

If the owner notices diarrhea or constipation in the kitten, the amount of dry rations must be reduced in favor of the usual type of food. In cases where the pet’s condition has returned to normal after this, you can reuse another food no earlier than after five or six days. By this time, the kitten's digestive system will have rested and recovered from stress.

Switching from pates and pouches

Veterinarians criticize the mono-nutrition of pates and meat pieces from spiders, since such food softens the gums, increasing their bleeding and the likelihood of premature tooth loss. If you have accustomed your pet to such a diet, then it should be changed to mixed or dry.

Alternation method

This method does not involve a complete transition, but it allows you to reduce the amount of wet food in favor of dry food. Such nutrition has a beneficial effect on teeth, as it does not overload the gums and cleanses the enamel of tartar.

Here you can choose 2 options: alternate food by day or meal. For faster adaptation, the granules should be soaked in meat juice from wet canned food for the first time.

Mixing method

The mixing methods when switching from wet canned food to natural food are similar. The only difference is faster adaptation, the mandatory choice of one brand of products and careful adherence to the standards indicated on the packaging.

In most cases, cats get used to the new type of feeding within 7 days. For the first 2 days, it is better to serve the croquettes in crushed form, so that the mustachioed picky eater is not too outraged by the unusual consistency.

How to switch your baby to ready-made food from natural food?

What to do if the kitten has already tasted dishes from the home table? It is much easier to retrain a small pet than an adult cat. As in the case of weaning, it is worth being patient and replacing food gradually.

How to switch a kitten from natural food to dry food:

• the optimal period for an animal to get used to new food is 14 days;
• you need to gradually reduce the portion of homemade food and increase the amount of ready-made food;
• At first, dry granules are mixed with the usual food - put in a bowl with porridge, cottage cheese, sour cream;
• The pads can be pre-soaked in milk; they will become saturated with the familiar smell and will seem like familiar food to the kitten.

Feed composition

It should be understood that the ready-made menu for cats is made from hydrolyzed meat. In addition to this, the composition must include:

• dried vegetables;
• mixture of cereals;
• medicinal herbs;
• mineral supplements;
• complex of vitamins.

It is clear that it is impossible to provide such variety by feeding a pet from a common table. The kitten may refuse vegetables, turn away from cereals, and he doesn’t like medicinal herbs at all.

Dry food has a pleasant taste and aroma. It will provide your pet with everything necessary for full development and growth. It is important to purchase only premium packaging.

Useful tips

Few people know that dehydrated pieces of meat in the diet of animals appeared 160 years ago in 1860. There is still debate about the disadvantages and advantages of this product.

Feed selection

Only those owners who purchased economy-class products for their pets could have a clearly negative opinion about industrial food. It contains components that are useless for regular consumption: soy, cereals, offal instead of meat. The attractive aroma of the lumps is created using chemical flavors and flavor enhancers.

When choosing a product, you should give preference only to high-quality products and a trusted manufacturer

It is important to carefully study the composition on the packaging. The following components should be listed there:

• fresh and dehydrated meat;
• eggs;
• vegetables and fruits, sometimes seaweed;
• fish fat;
• amino acids;
• cereals;
• vitamin and mineral complex.

Eating such granules will not only not harm your pet, but will also bring him benefit and satiation. Super-premium and holistic products do not require additional vitamins and microelements to be added to the menu.

We must not forget about the age and size of the individual. For example, a small breed dog or an elderly individual is unlikely to cope with large pieces of food intended for large breeds of animals.

Drinking regime

When using “drying”, the animal needs constant access to clean drinking water more than ever. It is necessary for the balance of nutrients in the body and normal digestion. Water should be next to the food plate so that your friend can quench his thirst not only after eating, but at any time.

Tricks and life hacks

If the dog owner knows some tricks on how to properly switch the dog to dry food, then the process of addiction will go faster and will not be accompanied by stress for the person and his four-legged friend:

1. If you use pieces of “drying” during training and education of your pet, then the gradual addition of these granules to the plate will not come as a surprise to him.
2. You should not immediately buy a large package of goods. There is a chance that the animal will not like it, and you will have to purchase a new pack.
3. You cannot replace pellets for four-legged animals with cat pellets. The needs of pets vary, although dogs have a particular appetite for kibble intended for whiskers.
4. If a pet refuses to eat for some time, and the owner does everything correctly and according to the plan, you should not follow the dog’s lead and give him his usual food. One or two fasting days will not harm a healthy animal, but when hungry, it will eat the contents of the bowl with appetite.

Patience and perseverance of the owner in accustoming the pet to new food is the key to success. If in doubt, it is best to consult with an experienced breeder or come to a veterinary clinic for a consultation.

Conclusion

You cannot switch your pet from one type of food to another right away. This, as a rule, leads to serious problems with the pet’s digestive system: allergic reactions and disturbances in the gastrointestinal tract are possible. The introduction of new food should be gradual and fully controlled.

The article is a recommendation!

Features of switching cats to another food at different periods of life

At different stages of a cat's life, the process of transferring to a new diet should be structured differently. It is important to choose the right time and choose the most suitable methods of accustoming to new food.

How to switch to a new kitten food

Kittens are switched to adult brands of food at 12 months of age. This must be done because older pets require more nutrients. The composition of brands marked “for kittens” is not suitable for adult cats.

Curious kittens love to discover new things, including tastes, aromas and textures. They may enthusiastically eat new types of food. Maintain your kitten's enthusiasm with a positive attitude, praise and affection. This positive experience will help in the future, if necessary, to wean the cat off food and switch it to other products.

Don't rush your pet. Even if he willingly eats new food. Give his digestive system the opportunity to readjust and get used to the changed composition. Gradually introduce new food over 5-7 days, gradually adding it to the usual food.

The transition from kitten food to an adult diet should be smooth and easy. Throughout the transfer period, make sure that the kitten has clean drinking water, monitor its appetite, stool and well-being. This will help determine the cat’s attitude towards new food and tell you about its health.

How to change the diet of shelter cats

Once you adopt an adult cat from a shelter, it can be tempting to quickly switch her to a different, better quality food. On the one hand, this desire is understandable - shelter food is usually not distinguished by quality and balance.

On the other hand, a cat that finds itself in a new environment experiences severe stress. Because of this, he may have digestive problems. Veterinarians recommend feeding the animal the food it is accustomed to for the first month. And only then try to gradually change your diet.

Sources:

• https://www.hillspet.com/cat-care/nutrition-feeding/switching-cat-food
• https://www.veazievet.com/feline-wellness/adult-cat-wellness/food-choices-maintaining-a-healthy-weight/transitioning-your-dry-food-junkie-to-a-wet-food- connoisseur/
• https://veterinarypartner.vin.com/default.aspx?pid=19239&catId=102902&id=4952909
• https://www.darwinspet.com/resources/transitioning/cat.html
• https://www.askthecatdoctor.com/switching-cat-food-brands.html

What manufacturers are silent about

When choosing industrial food, you need to be aware of some pitfalls. Manufacturers are often silent about them. Therefore, cats sometimes have to face troubles and endure them steadfastly. There are four important points that the owner should be aware of.

1. Regular food is designed for a healthy pet. A sick cat should not be fed regular dry food. This will make the problem worse. The pet must undergo a full examination and receive specific nutrition recommended by the veterinarian. This can be either medicinal food or natural food.
2. Your pet may develop allergies. Some unscrupulous producers, trying to increase production volumes, replace meat products with by-products (in middle-class feed) or waste (economy class). It is these products, generously flavored with aromas, flavorings and dyes, that lead to the development of allergies to drying.
3. The body may not accept food. Some pets tend to drink little water or have a naturally sensitive digestive tract. Such individual characteristics lead to poor absorption of feed. The consequences can be dire. The cat loses weight, the body does not receive enough nutrients, and diseases begin to develop.
4. The animal's teeth may deteriorate. This recommendation applies to all categories of pets. The dry food you give to a small kitten can ruin its bite forever. Therefore, breeders recommend soaking dry pieces. An elderly pet can break its last teeth on hard food. And if you completely abandon dry food in favor of wet food, you will very soon encounter diseases of the oral cavity. Insufficient load on the teeth will lead to the formation of stones, gum atrophy and loosening, and subsequently the loss of fangs.

Veterinarians recommend feeding your cat dry food, but only high quality food. Moreover, it is necessary to select products based on the characteristics and preferences of the pet. And in order not to make a mistake with your choice, you need to visit a doctor every six months and get tested. They will show exactly how much the right diet your tailed furry is getting.

How to help your cat switch to a new food

1. Feed your cat in a quiet, private place, away from people and other pets.
2. Offer new food to your cat by hand.
3. Talk kindly to your animal when giving him new food. Praise when your cat tries even a piece.
4. Slightly warmed food smells more fragrant, try heating new food to increase its attractiveness in the eyes of your pet.
5. If your cat likes the fishy smell, you can add a little tuna oil to the food.
6. Mix new food with old food so that the cat does not have the opportunity to choose the usual food and refuse the unfamiliar.
7. The main rule is that if a cat refuses new food, do not let him starve. Go back to the old food and try to switch to the new diet a little later.
8. Experiment with different tastes, find the taste that your cat likes best.

What can you give your cat?

The main components of natural cat food are:

• fish is a favorite product of fluffy beauties; marine varieties are recommended, both raw and boiled. Boiled fish should be cleaned of bones; they can be easily separated from the pulp; they can be swallowed unchewed or get stuck in the esophagus;
• meat - lean chicken, beef, lamb, rabbit, horse meat, scalded with boiling water, are allowed. Pork is banned;
• by-products - liver, lungs, heart, kidneys - are introduced into the diet 2 times a week - their nutritional value and usefulness are low. If there are signs of poor digestion: vomiting, diarrhea, by-products are excluded from the animal’s menu;
• fermented milk products - kefir, cottage cheese, medium-fat starters. Low-fat foods cause stool upset. Cats do not tolerate milk well - the number of enzymes that break down lactose decreases with age;
• vegetables - any are allowed: cabbage, carrots, peppers, pumpkin. A combination is possible. They are given in crushed raw form and can be mixed with meat. Potatoes - excluded;
• eggs - chicken or quail are suitable. The yolk and white are mixed. Serve separately or with kefir and cottage cheese.

A pet’s illness or surgery is a reason to contact a veterinarian to correct the animal’s nutrition.

Chicken necks have proven themselves well for natural feeding of cats. They are prepared as follows: mince twice through a meat grinder to grind hard bones, add a little boiled rice or buckwheat, and grated carrots. They mix.

Natural food is natural healthy nutrition for your feline. With good care, a kind attitude, a positive attitude of the owners, and a well-designed feeding diet, the animal will be healthy, happy, and will live a long, fulfilling life next to its owners.

How to choose food for a kitten

Choosing ready-made food for pets is not an easy task, regardless of the age of the cat, since the composition of the product must be correct and contain all the substances that are necessary to maintain life and health. Under natural conditions, cats are carnivores, that is, the basis of their diet is meat (proteins and fats), and in addition they require minerals, carbohydrates and vitamins. Another feature of their body is that the ancestors of these animals lived in the desert, obtaining moisture from food, so when feeding the cat requires enough liquid, otherwise serious problems with the urinary system are possible. Most often, cat owners choose dry food for their pets as the simplest and most convenient product to use, but in addition to the usual granules and “crackers”, modern manufacturers offer four-legged consumers so-called wet food (holistic) and canned food.

Kittens require special dry food

Dry food

The range of brands of dry cat food is very wide - similar products can be bought at any grocery store. The key rule that you need to remember when buying products for a kitten is that food intended for adults will not suit babies - for the first time they need special food with small granules.

Dry food for kittens consists of small fractions, making them easier to chew

There is food for kittens in the line of every manufacturer, so the next step is to choose the right brand of food, taking into account its composition and the breed characteristics of the pet. Dry cat foods are divided into three categories, depending on their cost, and each of them has certain features.

Table 1. Categories and features of dry cat food.

When purchasing food for a kitten and subsequently feeding the growing baby, it is important to take into account not only the class of the product and its composition, but also the breed characteristics of the animal. Ideally, food should be chosen once and for all, but different breeds of cats require an individual approach to the preparation of the diet. For example, it is not recommended to constantly feed Siberian cats the same food, as this leads to disturbances in the functioning of the genitourinary system and gastrointestinal tract.

Attention! Veterinarians and experienced breeders categorically do not recommend feeding cats and especially kittens with food from the owner’s table, even to pamper them - in this way, loving owners do a disservice to their pets and provoke serious health problems.

What “surprises” may lie in wait for you?

The transition to natural raw food occurs differently for different dogs. The age and health status of the pet plays an important role in this. The older the animal, the more difficult it is for its body to accept a new feeding scheme. Such animals need more time to get used to and learn to assimilate foods “unknown” to the body.

So, what can change when switching your pet to a raw diet?

Detoxification

The transition from commercial food to natural raw food causes the body's need to remove waste and toxins. Excretion occurs through the intestines, skin and glands.

Depending on your health condition, the detoxification period may last one or several weeks and be accompanied by the following symptoms:

• Nausea.
• Diarrhea.
• Hair loss.
• Dermatitis and dry skin.
• Copious discharge of earwax.
• Discharge from the eyes.

If one or more signs appear, you should not immediately panic and think that the dog is sick. In fact, these are the first signs that the body is getting rid of harmful toxic substances, the ears and anal glands are being cleansed. A little time will pass and you will see noticeable changes for the better: shiny coat, firm muscles and elasticity of the skin, good appetite and excellent physical activity.

Changing the stool

After switching the dog to a natural raw diet, there will, of course, be a change in the quality of the stool. Since natural food contains more high-quality and useful microelements, they are perfectly absorbed by the body, leaving a much smaller pile volume at the output than you are used to seeing with dry feeding.

The quality of the stool will directly depend on what your pet ate. Don’t be alarmed if you find pieces of undigested carrots in your poop, for example!

The color of the stool may also vary in color and consistency. If the dog has eaten more bone products or cottage cheese, the stool will be light, almost white. But excessive consumption of offal can cause disorder.

It should be remembered: if diarrhea lasts for a long time, this is a reason to consult a veterinarian. However, you should also not confuse diarrhea with “soft” stools. Over time, you will learn to control the process of combining products, and the stool will become “uniform”.

Reduced water consumption

Don't be alarmed if your dog drinks less water when switching to a natural diet. The fact is that the pet begins to eat fresh, moisture-filled foods. Barbos may not go near a bowl of water for several days. But this does not mean that it should be removed. Fresh, clean water should always be freely available and in sufficient quantity.

Components included in dry food types

Compared to any natural food, ready-made granulated food has a whole range of advantages. The main ones among them are the following:

1. Balanced feed composition. Dry cat food must necessarily contain carbohydrates, proteins, fats and plant fiber. It is best to purchase these types of feeds in specialized stores.
2. Easy dosing of pet food. The volume of feed is calculated depending on the age and weight of the animal.
3. Using a dry variety of food makes it possible to eliminate the possibility of poisoning.
4. Availability of various food options that allow you to choose the optimal variety for a pet of any age and weight.

The volume of feed is calculated depending on the age and weight of the animal.
Any dry type of food, even the most expensive, includes the following components:

• carbohydrates;
• proteins of plant and animal origin;
• fat;
• dietary supplements that enhance taste;
• bioactive substances;
• vitamins.

Economy class food contains no more than 6% protein. Dry food, which belongs to the premium class, contains up to 50% protein.

Cat food contains large quantities of carbohydrates obtained from corn or potatoes.

Cat food contains a large amount of carbohydrates.

Important rules for transferring a pet to dry food from other types of food

When switching a cat to another type of food, you must follow several important rules:

• Taking into account the needs of the pet. The cat's preferences should be taken into account before offering another food. If your pet is a big fan of chicken, then it is unlikely that he will eat meat crackers. But indicating the type of meat on the package is not an advertising ploy, as many people think. A self-respecting manufacturer provides truthful information, which cannot be said about budget food. They use flavorings that are identical to natural ones. In addition, high-class industrial food is initially designed for the specific needs of the pet: to facilitate the removal of hairballs, for sterilized cats, for active cats. You should immediately take these nuances into account so that your pet receives a diet that suits its needs.
• Gradual means a gentle introduction of industrial feed into the diet. A sudden change is harmful and even destructive. It is enough to replace 1/10 of the usual portion with “crackers” and increase it daily by 1/10.

  Every day you should replace only 1/10 of your pet’s usual diet with dry food.

• Time. The transfer from one type of feed to another should be carried out within 10–14 days. During this time, the cat will already taste new food. After this time, only the industrial product should be in the bowl.
• Unobstructed access to water. This is the most important rule when feeding commercial food.

The nuances of switching to dry food from different diets

Depending on what the cat ate previously, there are some nuances when switching it to dry food.

From wet industrial food

If the cat ate canned food, that is, wet industrial food, then everything is simple. In the first 2-3 days, crackers must be pre-soaked to the desired consistency. Gradually, soaking can be replaced with light moistening with the sauce from these canned foods. That is, mix the granules into a bowl, let it brew, and then offer it to the cat. At the last step, you can simply stir in either just the sauce or just the pieces. And after complete adaptation, leave only dry food.

From natural homemade food

The same rule applies here as with wet food. But cats are very suspicious animals and can easily recognize deception. Experts recommend starting with mixing canned food into natural food, and only then switching from wet industrial food to dry food. By the way, it will take the same amount of time: about two weeks.

There is another, simpler way: offer a dry food pellet as a treat. And specifically for a hungry pet. If no problems arise, then pour the food into the bowl during feeding hours.

My mother decided to switch her cat to dry food. I bought him a pack of Royal Canin. But the pet did not appreciate the taste or smell of the new food at all - he simply buried it with his paw, twitched his tail and walked away. Mom tried to soak it and mix it in, but the cat had no intention of even trying the new treat. Then they bought him a banal “Friskies”. It was he who ate him by both cheeks. But, of course, you can’t feed an animal with this product all the time. The next experiment was with Purina Van food. It fit perfectly too. And finally, the final product in this chain was Purina ProPlan food. Both the owner and the pet settled on it; it suits them in all respects. So if your cat refuses dry food, he may simply not like the taste or smell of this product. And never buy large packs of expensive food at once - there is a chance that you will have to feed it to street cats.

In case of partial replacement of other feeds with dry food

Many cats are not particularly mischievous and happily eat both wet and dry food. This is quite normal, especially if there is only one manufacturer. As a rule, problems with replacement do not arise here. The owner should only strictly decide at what hours he feeds dry food and at what hours he feeds wet food.

Why is a sudden change in diet harmful for a cat?

Changing a diet is always stressful for a pet. It looks about the same as if a meat eater was forced to become a vegetarian, and vice versa. But this is not the only problem. If you turn your gaze towards physiology and anatomy, you can see the following fact: the body produces those digestive enzymes that are required to digest familiar foods. Consequently, a sudden change in diet will lead to the fact that the necessary enzymes simply will not be available. The result will be digestive problems and all the ensuing consequences:

• constipation;
• diarrhea;
• vomit;
• metabolic disorder;
• development of vitamin deficiency;
• allergic reactions.

And this is only a small fraction of the troubles. A cat can suddenly change its behavior. The simplest thing is to refuse food. Cats are very patient and stubborn creatures. There are many examples of how these animals emerged victorious from the “fight for food,” albeit with sad consequences for themselves. Veterinarians know that when an extremely emaciated pet is brought to them, the reason for this is often a radical change in diet.

The psychological aspect is also important. A cat may simply begin to make a toilet in places where it is definitely not allowed. “Surprises” can become permanent, moreover, they can change the attitude towards the litter box forever, and the cat will simply become uncontrollable.

How does the class of dry food affect the process of changing nutrition?

Before you start switching your pet from natural food to industrial food, you need to decide what class of food the cat will receive.

If you plan to feed economy class, then there will be no problems. These foods are so heavily flavored that cats never refuse them. The danger lies elsewhere. Budget-class food is so poor in nutrients that it is better to leave the cat on its usual diet. Well, problems with digestion have not been canceled. Most likely, the cat will experience discomfort, the owners will decide that the cat does not like the food, and in general, “crackers” are evil, and will return the cat to its previous diet. And you get a vicious circle: a sharp change in diet in both directions, lack of enzymes for digestion, disruption of the gastrointestinal tract.

Animals eat economy-class food with pleasure, but such a diet is unlikely to improve their health.

Higher category feeds (premium, super premium and holistic) will require effort on the part of the owner. Pets do not always immediately eat them with pleasure. But if everything is done correctly, the owners will notice a general improvement in the animal’s condition. Owners note that the waste products of the cat’s body become different: dryness, whitishness disappear, and the smell changes. All this suggests that the digestive system is working well. Improving the functioning of the gastrointestinal tract leads to normalization of metabolism. This can be seen by changes in the coat. It becomes thicker, shiny and silky. The cat's behavior may also change, of course, for the better.

The dangers of dry food

Often the true composition of a product is hidden by the manufacturer. Poor quality food often causes many side effects:

• poisoning with chemicals: dyes and flavors;
• the development of urolithiasis due to an excess of salts as preservatives, especially dangerous for neutered cats;
• the occurrence of vitamin deficiency due to the lack of necessary vitamins and microelements;
• heart failure, allergic reactions;
• Dysbacteriosis is the death of beneficial intestinal microflora, manifested by indigestion, metabolic disorders, skin and coat problems.

Wet food

Wet food, also called holistic food, is the standard of the new generation. These are optimal products for animals, which contain exclusively natural ingredients and are able to provide the cat with all the nutrients without harming its health.

Holistics are an ideal, but quite expensive nutrition option for kittens and cats.

Wet food manufacturers include:

Innova

Acana

Orijen

Almo Nature Holistic

Unfortunately, in Russia holistic treatments are not as widespread as in Western countries, and most breeders of expensive cat breeds use the domestic Superpet brand. A small minus is that due to the lack of flavors and flavoring additives, pets are not too keen on eating holistic foods and eat them without pleasure. In addition, unlike dry food, which can be bought for future use and placed anywhere, wet food must be stored in the refrigerator.

Superpet

Canned food

Canned food for cats has a composition and texture close to natural, a wide variety of flavors, and also contains almost 75% water, unlike dry food. They can be called the optimal product for feeding animals, if not for the high cost and difficulties during storage - canned food cannot be left without a refrigerator and should not be stored for more than 2 days in an open form.

Canned food can be offered to kittens as a treat.

Table 2. Canned food for cats: common brands and their features.

Important! You cannot mix dry and wet food, since different enzymes are needed to digest them, and their simultaneous production leads to disruption of the gastrointestinal tract and liver problems.

Is it acceptable to soak dehydrated feed?

According to most veterinarians, soaking freeze-dried (dry) food is acceptable and absolutely safe, since this simply restores the moisture content in the product.

Dry food can be diluted with water

When should dry cat food be soaked?

Dehydrated food is a complete and balanced food that does not require any preliminary preparation. But sometimes it becomes necessary to resort to softening it by soaking.

Situations may be as follows:

• The pet consumes little liquid, as a result of which the solid granules do not completely dissolve in its stomach. Dry ingredients have difficulty moving through the gastrointestinal tract, which can lead to constipation and even obstruction. Stagnant and decomposing food releases toxic substances that lead to intoxication of the cat's body.
• An aging animal begins to have problems with its teeth, which makes it unable to chew dry pieces of food.
• Kittens undergo age-related changes in their dentition and cannot fully chew hard kibble.
  Small kittens cannot chew dry granules when changing teeth
• An animal greedy for food eats very hastily, practically does not chew the food, but swallows the pellets whole. Large hard pieces injure the mucous membranes of the gastrointestinal tract, against this background gastritis can develop, and subsequently a stomach ulcer.
• About 10–15 minutes after eating, the cat vomits, during which large dry pieces of granules are expelled from the body. This means that the digestive system cannot digest such food.
• When switching from feeding natural foods or wet (canned) food to dehydrated kibble.
• The pet is weakened by illness.
  The cat's body spends all its energy on eliminating toxins, spending a large amount of fluid on this. A cat weakened by illness simply does not have the strength to chew solid food.
• After surgery, the animal simply does not have the strength to chew the granules.

Veterinarians and breeders consider feeding cats with soaked food only as a necessary measure or a transitional stage to another nutritional option. Only in exceptional cases is it permissible to use it on an ongoing basis.

Our cat came to us as a very small child. Then she still didn’t really know how to drink herself, much less chew dry granules. Since it was decided to feed her only dry food, we had to work hard to accustom her to this specific diet. At first, we soaked dry kitten food in sterilized baby milk; this capricious one flatly refused to consume other dairy products. And sometimes they mixed in (for the smell) a little wet food from bags. At first, the food had the consistency of liquid porridge, then gradually the mixture became thicker. When they started giving just swollen food (not mashed), they added dry granules a little at a time. At first, the cat carefully left them untouched on the saucer, hugging the wet food around it. Then she started eating everything and the need to soak the food disappeared.

Can soaked food cause the formation of tartar?

Some manufacturers of freeze-dried pet food authoritatively claim that chewing hard granules trains teeth, promotes self-cleaning and prevents the formation of plaque. But this is just a publicity stunt. In fact, with this type of nutrition, some teeth (fangs, for example) are not used in the chewing process. Any experienced practicing veterinarian will confirm that when a cat eats pelleted food, harmful plaque also forms. Stone formation is promoted by the microflora in the mouth and the mineralization of saliva, which depend on a balanced diet.

Tartar can form in a cat due to an unbalanced diet.

Why transfer an animal to drying: pros and cons

Dry food is often viewed with skepticism, as many owners are sure that such food causes urolithiasis. In fact, kidney stones are formed due to insufficient fluid intake or low-quality products. The main disadvantages of “drying” are associated specifically with economy class.

If you choose food thoughtfully and correctly, you can find the following advantages:

• variety of lines (food for kittens, pregnant women, the elderly, castrates, allergy sufferers);
• balanced composition that does not require independent calculation of BZHU;
• saving time;
• no risk of parasite infection;
• prevention of tartar formation.

If we put aside banal convenience, then the main reasons for the forced transfer to “drying” are illnesses and excess weight. The menu of a therapeutic diet with natural products is usually very meager and takes a lot of time to prepare, so most veterinarians recommend not torturing yourself and your pet - and just buy the right food.

Review of the most popular and popular dry food for kittens

Almost every pet food manufacturer has specialized dry food for kittens. Let's look at some of the most popular and sought-after foods.

Comparative table of the main parameters of kitten food

Recipes for cats

Required:

• 1 kg of meat;
• 500 gr. vegetables that your pet prefers;
• 2 tbsp. spoons of a mixture of 5 cereals.

Preparation:

1. It is necessary to boil the meat until cooked, then remove it and leave to cool.
2. Boil the vegetables in the resulting broth until half cooked.
3. Pour the broth over the flakes and let it brew.
4. When the grains are ready, place them and the vegetables in a blender and blend well.
5. Cut the meat into small, uniform pieces that are convenient for your cat to eat.
6. Mix the resulting mass from the blender and chopped meat, add 300 ml of broth.

Our dish is ready! It can be immediately divided into small portions for your cat to eat and frozen in the freezer.

Lazy dumplings

Required:

• 1 glass of purified water;
• 2 eggs;
• 500 gr. wheat or corn flour;
• 300 gr. chicken liver.

READ What should cats eat with kidney failure?

Preparation:

1. Grind the raw liver in a blender or grind through a meat grinder.
2. Mix water, eggs, flour and the resulting liver mixture.
3. Mix the dough.
4. The consistency of the mixture should be very soft.
5. Roll out a long sausage and cut into small pieces that look like cherries.
6. Next, we place our pieces in boiling water, and as soon as they float to the surface, they can be removed.

It is better to cook for 1-2 servings. The rest of the mixture can be placed in the refrigerator. Cool the resulting lazy dumplings and, while warm, serve to the cat.

Biological substances and trace elements

Let's look at the list of biological elements and the products in which they are found. All of the listed substances are extremely important for the active functioning of the pet.

Squirrels

The most important building material for soft and bone tissues. In addition, proteins are converted into additional energy, which is necessary for active animals.

Meat products that contain proteins: chicken, turkey, rabbit. Low-fat fish stands apart. It is better to serve the meat boiled, excluding the bones. Seafood is not a typical cat food. You should not overuse shrimp or mussels. You can pamper your pet no more than once a week.

The necessary microelement can be obtained not only from meat, but also from fermented milk products: low-fat cottage cheese, bifidok, fermented baked milk. If for some reason the cat does not like these products, try egg yolks or semolina porridge.

ATTENTION! Fermented milk products are easily absorbed by the body and have a beneficial effect on microorganisms living in the pet’s digestive tract. Separately, experts note cottage cheese, which is rich in calcium for the growth and strengthening of the pet’s skeletal system

Vitamins

A lack of vitamins weakens the immune system and opens the way to viral diseases. Let's look at products that will help keep your pet in good shape:

1. fresh green grass;
2. fresh fruits;
3. legumes;
4. some milk;
5. egg yolk.

There are situations when it is not possible to provide your pet with the proper vitamin supplement. In this case, you can go to the pharmacy where you can purchase vitamin complexes. It is better to give them after consultation with a specialist, otherwise hypervitaminosis may develop, which will lead to complications.

Carbohydrates

Carbohydrates are the main energy element that balances a cat’s diet. Most often, plant foods are the source of carbohydrates. Pets are often distrustful of the inclusion of various types of herbs in their predatory diet.

There is some trick: add a drop of vegetable oil to the food or chop the plants into a small salad. As a rule, the animal will not refuse gruel from meat products and greens. Let's note a few foods that are rich in carbohydrates:

• salad;
• broccoli;
• pumpkin;
• beet;
• carrot;
• zucchini.

It is strictly forbidden to give your cat tomatoes or eggplants in any form: raw, stewed, mixed with meat. Abuse can lead to serious food poisoning.

What consequences can a cat experience when changing its diet?

It’s worth saying right away that if negative side effects occur when introducing a new food, you need to immediately remove it from your pet’s menu. 1. Since cats have a very sensitive digestive system, you may encounter various negative reactions. Diarrhea or, less commonly, vomiting may occur. 2. Various allergic reactions may also appear in the form of skin rashes, hair loss and dullness, and purulent eyes. 3. Complete lack of interest in new food. A cat can go on a hunger strike for several days and not even go near the bowl. Or, on the contrary, an increase in appetite, when your pet will literally sweep food off the plate and diligently demand more.

Changing cat food

- this is a process that, sooner or later, every owner of a mustachioed tabby 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.

Example menu

Having selected suitable foods for your cat, look at their calorie content and calculate how many grams of such food can be given to the cat. The calorie content of foods popular with cats is shown in the table.

Thus, for the cat Vaska with a daily requirement of 282 kilocalories, you can create the following menu:

• 1st meal: 1 boiled egg, 60 grams of 5% cottage cheese - 141 kcal;
• 2nd meal: 75 grams of boiled chicken fillet, 15 grams of buckwheat, 20 grams of carrots - 141 kcal.

The total is 282 kcal, which is exactly Vasya’s daily requirement. In this case, the ratio of proteins, fats and carbohydrates is 50, 30 and 20 percent, respectively.

Another menu example:

• 1st meal: 100 grams of boiled cod, 20 grams of dry rice - 145 kcal;
• 2nd meal: 90 grams of lean boiled beef - 141 kcal.

Cats' taste preferences vary just like people's. One cat will eat 1-2 types of food and be afraid to try new things, while another will demand a daily variety of food. The owner will have to experiment to find out his cat's favorite foods.