How can we switch our cats cat food?

Colene

Our cat loves the cheap cat junk food. Actually we give her Iams, which is a step above purina, et al. However, she only eats the crunchy stuff. Shes interested in the wet stuff, but she just licks it for 10 minutes then walks away. Shes also 7 years old and the vet says that dehydration is causing her bladder and urinary tract problems. He told us that cats should be able to get more of their moisture from food, and told us to get her on a wet food diet. The only problem is, even if we dont give her the dry stuff, she wont eat more than a bite of the wet. Well, shell lick it, but then shell go looking for the dry stuff when she gets hungry. Do we just keep leaving out wet stuff and stop the dry stuff cold turkey? She doesnt like us to mix wet and dry. She sniffs at it and goes on a hunger strike. Any tips?



Kerry

Keep offereing it but do not leave it out. They hate it when its not totally fresh and dont give it to her cold out of the fridge. Try a few flavors..I didnt believe it myself for a long time that cats canactually like anddislike the different flavors but we had a cat that totally wouldnt eat hmmm I cant remember the exact flavor but it was in a purple can, lol. So keep it fresh and try to find a flavor she likes. Good luck. and there are dry food for urinary health issues..maybe get her to just drink more liquids. Fresh water allways of course but maybe when its time to eat give her the dry food she likes and some chicken or beef broth to drink? Just watch the sodium. I did this for a cat that was sick and needed to re-hydrate.



Kandi

Well the vet can inject water under her skin to temporarily help with the dehydration. Maybe shed eat the food if it was all you offered for a few days. But this might not work, cats are more apt to just refuse to eat. Dogs would give in.



Alvina

If the cat is hungry, it will eat whatever cat food is in front of it. The cat has trained you to respond with the good stuff when it goes on the "hunger strike" for a while. I dont know of any cat that has died because it refused to eat. If your cat dies because it refuses to eat the cat food you put down, take comfort in knowing it had a good life and go rescue a new kitten at the local shelter.



Chasity

Do it gradually. feed her dry stuff, then gradually mix it with the wet stuff. So she will get used to it. Thats what I did with my Dog.



Cody

Switch it gradually mix it in with your cats other food



Aleen

Cats are funny... when they get use to a type of food they will go on a hunger strike as you say. One of the reasons for this is they are use to the shapre of their food. When it changes suddenly, it becomes forgein to them and they will not eat it. What you could try doing is mix the wet food with the dry for a few week and slowly cut back on the dry food until it is solid wet. This is the same thing that ou would do when switching brands of food. Or you too could try warming the wet food up * not too hot tho* So that it has more of a smell to it... cats ike like and that is how you could help them eat when they are sick too. But bottom line having the cat on solid wet food is not going to be good for their teeth. They are going to need something to simulate their gums and to remove plaque. So really what I would do is just keep mixing the wet and dry food together and feed at certain times of day... not leaving food out all the time. Best Wishes!!!!



Donya

That is a strange situation to be in...I have tried to switch my cat from Meijer brand cat food and he wont eat! Just walks away from other food...he will also starve himself for days! I would ask a vet for more info!



Roberto

Check the recalls on pet food your cat might be smarter then you think.



Luther

Fish. if she loves fish, she will eat it, you can get the cod steaks that you mircowave, what i do with my cats, i put some cod or coley steaks in mircowave and puts some water in it. You will need to introduce her slowly to a new diet. But make sure they boneless fish. Anything smelly of fish should whet her appetite.



Latrina

Mix old food with new food



Korey

First off i wouldnt get rid of the dry food because that helps fight tarter and you re chances of having teeth/gum problems and slim-er. the wet food you should try different flavors and brands to find out what he will like, its all trial and error. leave the wet food out all day and place just enough dry food so he can be content but not full.



Emily

Try giving her tuna or sardines to start with and gradually add a little other wet cat food until she is only eating cat food



Gigi

Mix cheap can food with water, like soup



Belle

Dehydration...wow Both my cats drink so much water they will never be dry! When I switched them from a cheap dry food to an indoor variety I just added a little at a time until they stopped throwing it up. Now they seem to like it just fine! I would throw up if I had to give them wet food so I will be no help here!



Katy

Interesting.......anyway if u want to change food then all you have to do is add the new food to the old food and gradually add more of the new food then the old food. just dont all of a sudden change food right away with out adding some it can hurt her stomach



Rosana

I totally understand where your coming from i had a cat who had UTIs. we had him on a prescription food called c/d, its formulated just for cats prone to urinary problems. they make a wet and dry version. i would feed her the dry food since she prefers it and buy her a drinking fountain cats love fresh flowing water. you can buy a cheap small one @ malmart. also try giving her table food that has some moisture to it. i would try to give wet food one whole week she will eat it but only if you dont leave access to the dry food. buy the c/d in both versions and alternate, itll be o. k to give her the dry c/d cuz its good for her urinary tract problems. hope this helps, good luck!



Garry

If she wont let you mix it then you have no choice but to change her cold turkey, A cat will not intentionally starve theirselves. She might not eat for a day but believe me, she will eventuallly start eating it...Good Luck



Classie

Difficult problem. Try mixing catnip into wet food. Maybe its the first bite that she needs.