Cats ·
How do you switch your cat's food? Plan a gentle changeover
Changing your cat's food too fast can upset their stomach, and many cats simply refuse the new bowl. Vet and welfare groups agree: go slowly, usually over one to two weeks, and sometimes longer.
Pick how your cat copes with change and get a day-by-day plan that shows how much new food to offer. You'll also learn what to do if your cat says no, and when to ask a vet.
Why a slow switch works
A cat's tummy gets used to the food it eats every day. Change it overnight and you can get an upset stomach, and many cats simply refuse the new bowl. PDSA and the Cat Care Center both advise changing food gradually, over at least a week and often two. PDSA adds: never change it suddenly unless your vet tells you to.
New food on a separate plate, a little more each step, and go back a step if your cat says no.
Build your cat's switch plan
Pick how your cat usually reacts to change. The plan shows what share of each meal to offer as the new food, day by day.
What each step looks like
PDSA describes a switch of roughly two weeks in three stages. At first, give the usual meal plus a small teaspoonful of the new food on a separate plate. Move on only when your cat has eaten it happily for a few days. Then slowly increase the new food and reduce the old, still on separate plates. Once your cat has eaten both foods reliably for about a week, offer only the new one. The Cat Care Center adds that some cats need up to three months, so patience beats pressure.
If your cat says no
- Go back a step. Refusing usually means the change was too fast. Return to the last share your cat accepted and stay there longer.
- Try another flavour or texture. Some cats just do not like that particular food. A different flavour, texture or brand may work better.
- Warm wet food a little. A few seconds of warmth makes the smell stronger. Stir it well and check it is not hot.
- Never starve a cat into it. Always leave their usual food available.
When to ask a vet
Ask a vet before changing food for a cat that is ill or on a prescription diet, or if you are unsure which food suits them. Cats Protection says to call a vet if your cat has not eaten for over 24 hours, or not drunk for 24 hours (for kittens, sooner: 12 to 24 hours without food). Also call if you see repeated vomiting, diarrhoea or unusual tiredness. Do not try to treat these yourself.