May 1, 2012
Posted in How to, Pet Food

In the wild, cats are strictly carnivores, meaning they eat a diet of solely meat. Cats' bodies are still made to process meat and have requirements that come only from meat. Cats need meat for vital organ health, and wet pet food is closer to this than dry food. Feeding a diet that is high in carbohydrates has been linked to a number of digestive issues in cats and can lead to obesity and diabetes in cats, since they are nutrients the cat can't use.

When to feed dry food

Wet food tends to have higher levels of protein and lower levels of carbohydrates than dry cat food. Dry food also has lower water content, which does not help keep your cat hydrated. Still, there are a number of dry cat foods on the market that are highly nutritious for felines that prefer the crunch. If your cat loves dry food or won't eat canned food, at least choose a variety that is high quality. Now Fresh Grain Free Dry Cat Food is one type that is very good for felines because it contains real, butcher-quality meat and no grains. Instead, it uses fruits and veggies to give the feline vitamins and minerals to nourish its organs. It also contains ingredients to promote a healthy digestive tract, urinary tract and high levels of energy.

How to switch to wet food

Because wet food is closer to what a cat would eat in the wild, it is good to try and switch your cat to this type. Choose a highly nutritious type like Petcurean Go! Natural Grain Free Canned Cat Food and establish set feeding times instead of allowing free-feeding. If your cat is not grazing on its dry food all day, it will be hungry come dinner time and will be more likely to try the wet food.

During the first meal, offer canned food in addition to the dry food. Leave all the food down for 30 minutes, then remove any uneaten portions. Repeat this process every eight to 12 hours to see if your cat eventually chooses the wet food. Once you have established mealtimes with the two types of food, it's time to sell your cat on the wet food. If your feline continually chose the wet food over dry during the previous step, then you are done! However, if your cat seems to prefer dry food, you might want to mix the wet food into the dry to transition, or sprinkle the food with other tasty ingredients like parmesan cheese or tuna to entice your feline.

Once you have made the switch, watch your cat to ensure the digestion is going smoothly. It may take several weeks for the cat's body to adapt to the change in food, and diarrhea, soft stool or vomiting may occur. Talk to your vet if this continues and you are concerned. 

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