Changing cat food: how to switch

Sometimes it’s time for a change. If your cat isn’t enjoying their current food, it’s time to make a change for the better. 

But making the switch to a new food can be a bit daunting. If your cat needs to change food, or if you just want to try something different to benefit their health, it’s actually quite easy to make the switch. Here is how you do it.

If you’ve already had a look at how to change your cat’s food, you’ve probably seen loads of places telling you to do it slowly. Well, stop right there. We do it differently.

We’ve done a bunch of research, spoken to other cat parents, and put out some surveys. And the results are interesting. Many KatKin cat parents have found that the best way to switch their cats over to our fresh food is to do it all in one go. So that’s the way we do it.

The first day of switching food is the most important. And it’s important to stick to your guns. Don’t waver even if your cat is meowing at you. You read that right. Feed only KatKin for the first 24 hours. No treats, no other food, no pandering. 

Step 1: 

Start with Cluck. Chicken is a good place to start. But if your cat can’t have chicken, choose a recipe close to their old food.

Step 2:

Serve half a tray for breakfast and half for dinner. Each tray is made up of two quick snap halves. Together these two halves make up 100% of your cat’s daily calorie and nutritional needs.

Step 3:

Warm up the food. A lot of cats prefer their food warm. Try putting their bowl in the microwave for 15 seconds or mix in a few tbsps of boiling water – this will boost its flavour.

Step 4: 

Sceptical cat? Top with a generous shake of KatKin Sprinkles. Our 100% freeze-dried meat food topper makes every meal mouth-watering and will tempt even the fussiest cats.

Step 5: 

Don’t feed anything else. We mean it. No other food. No treats. If they don’t eat at first, don’t rush to give them something else. They are designed to quickly adapt to changes in food availability so if they miss a meal, there’s nothing to worry about.

If they eat it all right from the start then you’re all set to continue feeding them KatKin. You can throw their old food out now.

Keep feeding them Cluck for 2-3 more days before switching to a new recipe. And repeat for each recipe after that.

If they don’t eat KatKin right away, don’t worry. Cats are naturally cautious and might take a while to try their new food. 

• If they haven’t eaten after 24 hours, put down half a serving of their old food alongside half a serving of Cluck to tempt them into eating again. 

• If they still haven’t tried KatKin after 3 days, try out a new recipe – they might not be chicken fans. 

• Play with them before meals to trigger their hunter instincts.

• Don’t give up if they only sniff the new food and walk away – they take a while to get used to new things. 

• Once they do start to eat KatKin, reduce their old food down until they are happily enjoying their new, fresh food.

When starting out on their KatKin journey, your cat might have runnier-than-usual poops. This is nothing to worry about. It’s just their digestive system getting used to a new food. Most cats will feel much better after 2 or 3 days.

If it lasts for more than a few days, or if you see blood in either their litter tray or vomit, make sure to take them to a vet. There might be an underlying issue.

Changing the food your cat eats is a big deal for them. But there are a number of reasons you might want to make a switch:

1. Your kittens are all grown up. When your kitten becomes older, about 1 year old, they need to be switched to adult food. Most cat food brands have separate recipes for kittens and adults but KatKin is suitable for cats of all ages, from kittens to seniors. Even more reason to switch them over.

2. Improved health. Switching food is one of the best ways to ensure your cat is healthy. By switching to KatKin, you’ll notice an improvement in your cat's coat, their weight management, and even their zoomies.

3. Smelly litter trays. No one enjoys cleaning the litter tray. Your cat’s food might be upsetting their stomach. Switching their food can help with digestion and banish the stinky litter trays.

4. Your vet says so. Sometimes your vet might encourage you to change your cat’s food. This could be because they have an allergy or sensitivity, or they’re just not thriving on their current diet. If so, it’s time to make the change. If you’re feeding your cat food prescribed by your vet, make sure you check in with them to make sure the change is okay for your cat.

Yes. Changing cat food brands can be really beneficial. Especially if your current brand uses an ingredient that disagrees with your cat’s stomach. Switching to KatKin is one of the best ways to help them live more healthily because it’s fresh 100% gently cooked meat – much closer to their natural diet than kibble.

Changing your cat’s food shouldn’t make them vomit. If they are vomiting after eating, slow down the process of changing their food over to KatKin. If it continues past a day or two, make sure to contact your vet as there might be an underlying issue.

Your cat shouldn’t have prolonged diarrhoea after eating new food, however, they can have a bit of an upset stomach for the first few days. It’s just their body getting used to the new food. If they have an upset stomach for longer than 3 days, take them to the vet.

After switching over to KatKin, you may find that your cat uses the litter tray less often. This is because on a 100% meat diet, your cat’s digestive system creates far less waste. Their poops will be harder than before (and much less smelly). But unless they are straining for a long time or hop in and out of the litter tray a lot without actually pooping, they aren’t constipated.

Thinking of making the switch to a new food? Choose fresh, 100% gently-cooked meat for your cat.

Did you know that commercial cat food can do more harm to your cat than good? More than 30% of cats will develop some form of kidney disease. And more than 85% will develop some kind of dental disease in their lifetime. Not to mention the 50% of overweight cats. Most of these cats also eat dry food – coincidence? We think not.

Cats were designed to hunt and eat meat. So make the switch to KatKin fresh cat food to help them jump higher, zoomie faster, and live healthier.