How to wean a cat from cat food?

To feed a cat with dry food is convenient, practical. When using economy-class products, this solution also looks profitable. The benefits to the animal itself remain in doubt. Owners are thinking about changing the diet and switching to natural food, but cats are reluctant to go for it. Changing the diet should be carried out correctly, so as not to create excessive stress on the animal.

When people notice the reluctance of the cat to approach the new food, they begin to doubt the advisability of replacing. There are more reasons to refuse dry food than you might think.

1. Even a very expensive brand has chemical elements in it, but it’s scary to think about cheap options. Among the additives are those that cause addiction. Such an impact harms the animal as well as man.
2. The result of constant eating dry food can be problems with teeth. There is an opinion that solid particles help to clean the mouth. In practice, cats practically do not chew on granules, so the jaw muscles do not develop properly.
3. Feed additives can provoke food allergies. When feeding with natural food such risk is reduced to a minimum.
4. There is practically no moisture in the granules, which can lead to urolithiasis. The risk is small, but with a natural diet it is not at all.

To transfer an animal from one type of food to another is necessary gradually, with the lion's share of patience. Allocate such methods.

1. Hard - a radical replacement of dry food for regular food.
2. Mixing - the combination of both options for the development of addiction.
3. Gentle - gradually reducing portions of food with drawing attention to normal food.
4. Going through wet food. Dry food is replaced by canned food, and they are already homemade food.

The last two options are considered the most correct. The animal is not subjected to additional stress, and the body does not suffer because of a change in diet.

Wet food is not a natural product, but it is more moist and fragrant. The best option for the transition are canned meat. Their flavor is slightly weaker than that of dry food, but also attractive to the cat. You need to start with a gradual substitution. Reduce the number of pellets, increase the amount of portions of wet food. At some point, completely remove the dry food and feed a little canned food.

Alternately intake in the diet of natural products. Start with fragrant meat, healthy vegetables and cereals. Consider everything in advance so that the animal receives the right amount of vitamins and nutrients. The size and shape of the pieces of regular food should resemble canned food. Over time, begin to reduce the amount of wet food. Here the scheme is similar to the very beginning of weaning. This method allows you to loyally wean the cat from dry food for 1-2 months.

The method allows you to accustom to homemade food for the month, but the exact timing depends on the nature of the animal. It is necessary to act carefully and slowly. Of course, some animals easily agree to something new in food, but most cats are skeptical. It is not necessary to manipulate hunger. As a result, you can get a nervous, aggressive animal with a lot of diseases and a tendency to overeating.

When it comes to a radical change of products, you need to think not only about psychological factors, but also about physiological. The animal simply can not drastically rebuild on the usual food, because the digestive tract simply can not digest it. The body is accustomed to cereals and produces a certain amount of necessary enzymes. The restructuring will occur gradually, the stomach does not tolerate haste. Act like this.

1. The first 3 days, think over everything so that the cat ate 90% of feed and 10% of natural products. Everyone knows that a combined diet harms animals, but in this case it is the safest solution. It is better to begin acquaintance with new food with small pieces of fowl. It is important if you give a large piece, the cat simply does not understand how to eat it.
2. If the previous stage was successful, then from 4th day, redistribute the food so that organic foods make up 25% of the diet. Observe the state of the cat during this period with special care. With increasing portions of regular food, be guided by the well-being and health of the animal. The stage can take about 10 days.
3. If everything goes according to plan, then feed the animal with natural products for 6-7 days in the morning and in the evening, and at lunch provide access to dry food. Portions of granules should be small, enough 1 tbsp. l When changing the diet, there is a training both to new products and to new regularity of meals. Give organic foods at the same time to develop a habit. Access to dry granules allows the cat to remain calm, helps to understand that it is not deprived of anything.
4. When 10 days pass, reconsider the diet. At this time, dry food should remain 25%. It happens that the animal simply can not completely abandon the dry food. Veterinarians are advised in this case to allocate a separate meal and give the cat literally a couple of pellets. Do not mix dry food with regular products or soak in milk. Such an action can lead to problems with digestion.

The method helps to translate from cat food for 3-15 days, depending on the characteristics of the animal and the composure of the host. You can not use when weaning little kittens up to 1 year, otherwise you may encounter a lot of diseases of the gastrointestinal tract. Before you start you need to consult with a veterinarian.

1. Mix the usual granules with the analog, which is less addictive. Feed so a week.
2. Diversify nutritional supplements, which are advised by a doctor. It is necessary to improve the function of the gastrointestinal tract.
3. Throw away all dry food. It is important to remove the granules from the house so that the cat does not smell.
4. Just wait for the animal to fully eat normal food. Do not indulge even on hunger strikes. This is the cruelty of this method, you need to firmly defend their position in front of a cat.

Hunger strikes can lead to gluttony, so you need to monitor portions of food. Possible violations of the gastrointestinal tract, which is also worth discussing with a veterinarian. If the animal itself is nervous or aggressive, then abandon this method of changing the diet.

The main goal is to deceive the visual perception. The transition in this way occurs in 21-36 days. Act like this.

1. At the very beginning, add about 20 ml of water to a portion of the granules to soften everything. In the second bowl, place dry food without liquid.
2. Gradually reduce the contents of the latter, until the animal begins to increasingly eat wet crackers.
3. The contents of the first bowl leave the same, but in the second place natural products. You can put a couple of granules for the look and smell. Over time, they will have to clean up, which may slightly increase the time of getting used to.
4. Now reduce the number of wet crackers so that the cat eats more and more food from the second bowl.

It happens that cats do not want to change their eating habits. As a manipulation, the animal can even resort to starvation, which always scares the owners.

1. Do not push on a pet. Do not try to force-feed or force the animal to eat what you give.
2. Consult an experienced veterinarian. A cat's health condition can influence his stubbornness.
3. Once again, carefully review the menu, which made up for the animal. Add there more of his favorite products. Responsibly approach the issue of the distribution of servings and useful microelements.
4. Hunger strike is permissible, but not more than a day. At this time you can remove the food bowl, leaving only clean water. Allowing a long stay without food is not worth it. In general, such a measure is considered extreme.
5. Let's only fresh products in a slightly warm condition. A piece of meat should be soft, juicy and with a pleasant aroma. If the cat does not like something with the mind, then natural food can cause disgust.
6. Experiment with the dishes. Perhaps the cat just does not want to eat meat for breakfast, and porridge - for dinner. Swap places to understand your pet's preferences.

How to wean a cat from a dry feed, look in video.