How to Transition Your Cat to a New Food

All of us cat people has had to switch our cat's food at least once in their lifetime and surprisingly,  there is a right way to do it.

Cats and humans are not much different when it comes to transitioning to a new diet. When it comes to switching from a high-fat and protein diet to a low-fat and lean protein diet, our bodies need time to adjust to this type of change. Doctors recommend that we slowly transition by incorporating new foods in each of our meals to prevent our bodies from going into a nutritional shock. This same rule applies to our feline friends. Cats can experience diarrhea, loss of appetite or vomiting if they transition to the new food too quickly.

To prevent "nutritional shock", you must slowly incorporate the new food into a cat's current food.  Before starting, consult with your veterinarian. (Consult with your physician before starting a new diet). The transition time period should be between 7 to 10 days with the following mixture ratios:

- 3/4's of the current food and 1/4 of new food (Days 1-3)
- 1/2 of current food and 1/2 of new food (Days 4 - 6)
- 1/4 of current food and 3/4's of new food (Days 7-10)
-  New food = 100% (Day 10 and beyond)

Check your cat's bowel movements to see if they have loose stool/diarrhea. If they aren't eating as much or show signs of lethargy, etc, consult with your veterinarian. Follow this recipe for success in your next food transition. Ensure that you do the same when weening of the new food to either a new food or back to the current food.