Some owners worry about changing their pet over to a new food – cats in particular are known for being a little picky! Cats definitely love routine and familiarity, so getting them to change food can be a little challenging.
The important thing to remember if you need to change your cat’s food is to do it slowly and take your time. Changing their food too quickly could put them off it or upset their stomach. It might take a couple of weeks to fully change your cat’s food.
Start by putting a little of their new food out with their usual meals (but in a separate dish!) so they can get used to the smell and try it when they feel ready. Don’t expect them to eat it straight away – they might eat it sometimes then not touch it for a few days.
Once your cat is happy with a small amount of the new food, start to put slightly more of it out and gradually decrease the amount of their old food you put out. Remember to wait until your cat is eating all of their new food before increasing the amount you put out.
Never try to mix the two foods together – texture is really important to cats and this might put them off their food altogether! Read our full advice on how to safely change your cat’s food.
There aren’t many flavours of this new food – won’t my cat get bored?
Having a variety of food isn’t actually that important to our cats. We might enjoy having lots of different meals and flavours, but for the most part cats are happy with the same nutritious food every day. Some brands will have dry food and wet food for cats with kidney disease, so you may want to give your cat both (giving them wet food will help keep them hydrated and the dry will help their teeth).
If your cat is eating their food well, there’s no need to worry. If you want to include variety, usually food for kidney disease will come in a few different flavours so try changing between flavours a little.
If your cat stops eating their food, it’s more likely to be because their kidney disease is making them feel poorly. It’s best to go and see your vet if your cat stops eating their food. For more information on kidney disease in cats, visit our Pet Health Hub.