Learn how to Transition Your Cat to a Uncooked Meals Food regimen (4 Simple Steps)

Final Up to date on: March 1, 2023 by Crystal Uys

Uncooked meals is usually a very pure method to feed your cat. Nonetheless, that doesn’t imply that each one cats take to it simply. Switching your cat instantly to a uncooked meals weight-reduction plan could cause abdomen upset—in case your cat even eats it in any respect. Whilst you could also be excited to your cat to change to a uncooked meals weight-reduction plan, it’s very important that you just slowly switch your cat to uncooked meals.

Fortunately, this isn’t too difficult. The primary concept is to go slowly and backtrack in case your cat experiences any destructive indicators of discomfort. The period of time this transition takes relies on the cat. Some will take to it properly and be capable to eat 100% uncooked meals in solely a few weeks, whereas others might require a month-long transition.

Comply with the steps under to assist your cat transition to uncooked meals.

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The 4 Steps to Transition Your Cat to a Uncooked Meals Food regimen:

1. Adjusting from Dry to Canned

Transitioning from canned to uncooked meals is far simpler than from dry to canned. Subsequently, in case your cat is presently on dry meals, we advocate switching them to canned meals, first. Most canned meals packages have transition directions. Normally, this entails beginning with 25% canned and 75% dry, after which slowly rising the quantity of canned meals as your cat tolerates it.

Once more, this transition can take fairly some time. Older cats which have at all times eaten dry meals might discover this transition tougher. Subsequently, you ought to be very affected person with older cats.

That doesn’t essentially imply that youthful cats will transition quick, although. Some cats merely have a tougher time with meals transitions. Including a probiotic might assist your felines throughout this era, however it’s best to communicate along with your vet earlier than including any dietary supplements to your pet’s weight-reduction plan.

As soon as your cat is fortunately on canned cat meals, you possibly can start the transition to uncooked meals.

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2. Get on a Feeding Schedule

In case your feline was beforehand free-fed, you’ll want to begin a feeding schedule earlier than you transition to uncooked meals. Cats typically aren’t used to consuming all at one time when free-fed. Nonetheless, you can not depart uncooked meals out, or it shortly goes unhealthy.

To stop your cat from getting too overwhelmed by switching a bunch of feeding components without delay, we advocate beginning a feeding schedule first.

Begin by feeding your cat no less than 4 occasions a day. Portion out the cat’s meals into 4 equal parts based on how a lot they should eat. Your cat might complain lots on the primary day. Nonetheless, after a couple of days, the feline ought to begin to anticipate meals at sure occasions. Then, you possibly can start lowering the variety of meals till you discover one thing that works for you.

We advocate feeding grownup cats no less than twice a day. Kittens might have three meals to forestall blood sugar points as a result of their smaller dimension.

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3. Add Uncooked Meals

Transitioning your cat to uncooked meals might take anyplace from 10 days to three months.

Begin by mixing 25% uncooked meals with 75% of your cat’s regular weight-reduction plan. You’ll want to calculate the quantity based mostly on the variety of energy. In case your cat wants a cup of dry meals however solely half a cup of uncooked meals, then you ought to be feeding ¾ cup of dry meals and 1/8 cup of uncooked meals.

Do that for 3 days. Reactions on the primary day are widespread, however they shouldn’t be extreme. (Diarrhea as soon as is okay, but when your cat is having accidents all around the home, it’s best to scale back the quantity of uncooked meals.) Ideally, your cat should not have any extra indicators of discomfort after 3 days, and minimal reactions throughout this era. In case your cat is clearly in quite a lot of discomfort, scale back the uncooked meals by half no less than.

In case your cat will get via this era tremendous, then begin mixing their meals 50/50. As soon as once more, some reactions proper after the primary mealtime is regular however scale back the quantity of meals in case your cats’ indicators of discomfort are extreme. You might have to return to the earlier ratio for a time earlier than making an attempt once more. Most cats with out problem would require one other 3 days of this ratio.

For cats that don’t have a lot discomfort from the elevated uncooked meals, swap to 75%/25%. At this level, your cat might be consuming extra uncooked meals than canned meals. Typically, cats change into extra finicky at this stage, so it isn’t odd for it to take longer. As soon as once more, feed this quantity for no less than 3 days, keeping track of your cat for indicators of discomfort.

Lastly, on the ten^th day, many cats might be consuming 100% uncooked meals.

This course of could seem quite simple, however it hardly works out this manner in follow. In lots of circumstances, your feline might require sticking to at least one stage longer—the times we gave had been minimums, in any case. Subsequently, it hardly ever truly takes 10 days.

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4. When Issues Come up

There are numerous events when issues might not go as deliberate. Typically, choosy cats, kittens, and seniors have a tougher time adjusting to a brand new meals. Subsequently, you’ll have to regulate your plan to accommodate these difficulties.

Some cats additionally simply appear to have a tougher time with uncooked meals than others. This doesn’t essentially imply they are going to by no means alter to uncooked meals, however it might probably point out that you have to go slower.

Listed here are some suggestions which will allow you to when issues don’t go as deliberate:

• Gently prepare dinner the uncooked meals. In case your cat doesn’t take properly to the uncooked meals, think about cooking it gently, no less than for now. Very younger kittens or immune-compromised cats might notably want this additional security step to forestall parasites and food-borne sicknesses. Past security, although, cooking the meals might make it gentler in your cat’s abdomen and extra like what they’re used to consuming.
• Serve your cat’s meals someplace “secure”. Ideally, this needs to be an space that’s out of the way in which, and even on a small desk. Stress as a result of meals site visitors could make cats reject meals extra typically.
• Hand-feeding. In case your cat received’t attempt the uncooked meals, you possibly can attempt hand-feeding—simply make certain to scrub your palms earlier than and after. Many cats usually tend to eat meals once they suppose it’s a deal with.
• Eradicate treats. Choosy cats might replenish on treats between meals, after which not really feel hungry sufficient to offer uncooked meals an opportunity. Eradicate treats to forestall this downside. You possibly can add them again in after your cat adjusts to the brand new weight-reduction plan.
• Use a flat meals dish. Uncooked meals might require extra effort to eat, and a raised bowl might complicate this. Subsequently, think about getting a flat dish to your cat’s meals, particularly if they’re younger or have mobility points.

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What’s Regular?

Adjusting to uncooked meals is usually a bit annoying. Some indicators of discomfort are regular elements of the transition. Nonetheless, others could be troublesome. The most typical modifications are diarrhea and elevated gasoline. These indicators are merely associated to your cat’s dietary modifications and will clear up inside an affordable period of time. Correct transitions can stop digestive discomfort, however it doesn’t at all times result in them being utterly eradicated.

Extreme shedding, dry pores and skin, and continual well being points might briefly worsen. Normally, the cat experiences some quantity of stress in the course of the transition, so the physique will react accordingly. All the things ought to resolve inside a couple of days. If issues persist for every week or extra, we advocate taking your cat to the vet.

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Conclusion

Uncooked meals is usually a wholesome meal choice to your cat. Nonetheless, most cats aren’t used to consuming uncooked meals, so they might expertise some issues when first making an attempt this new weight-reduction plan. Slowly transitioning your feline is the best choice. You don’t need to abruptly swap their meals, as this could trigger worse digestive upset and comparable indicators of discomfort.

Many cats will transition inside 10 days if you happen to comply with the steps above. Minor abdomen upset might happen, like unfastened stools. Nonetheless, these indicators ought to disappear inside a few days.

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Featured Picture Credit score: ophiecat, Shutterstock

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