How to transition your cat onto a new food

When you first get your cat or kitten, try to obtain some of their original food to use while they settle in and, if you choose to change their food, to help them gradually transition to their new diet. A change of home, owner and environment can be stressful and can sometimes cause an upset tummy, so a gradual change of diet is best. 

If you are getting your new pet from a breeder they are usually happy to give you some of the diet they were being fed. If this is not possible, just buy enough of the old diet to last two or three weeks. 

If your new pet has been on an unsuitable diet, weigh up the risks of remaining on the old diet for a bit longer against the risk of a possible tummy upset caused by a sudden change in food at an already stressful time. 

Many diets we feed our cats are called “life-stage” diets. These have been designed to meet the nutritional needs of a pet for their age and activity level: as a kitten grows through adolescence to adulthood, and then into their senior years, their nutritional requirements change and they will benefit from being fed a food appropriate to their life-stage. 

Some health problems may benefit from a change in diet to help manage the condition - these are prescription diets and are specially formulated to provide the nutritional needs of specific conditions. As well as prescription diets, your vet might recommend other types of diet, for example, if your cat develops an allergy to chicken and it might need to eat a fish-based food. 

If it’s necessary to make a more sudden switch from an old food to a new one e.g. to a prescription diet, your vet will explain the best way to do this, weighing up the risks and benefits of suddenly changing to a new diet.  

Occasionally your vet might suggest waiting to change to a prescription diet so that the transition occurs when your pet is feeling better - being unwell can reduce appetite and put them off the new diet. 

There is a variety of high-quality complete pet foods out there at a range of different prices and we know that feeding the best quality pet food is important to you, so if you would like advice on which food to choose, speak to your veterinary team or book a free Pets at Home nutrition consultation.

We can help you find a good quality pet food at a price that is affordable; helping you to save money while maintaining your pet’s health.  

If your pet is overweight or underweight it’s best to seek the advice of your vet or veterinary nurse before making changes to their diet: for weight loss, simply reducing the volume of food they are given could result in them receiving inadequate levels of some nutrients, and might mean your pet is constantly hungry. And, whilst it’s encouraging to see your pet lose weight, losing too much, or losing it too quickly, can be detrimental to their health.

There are plenty of specially formulated foods on the market that can help our pets lose weight whilst ensuring they are still getting the right nutrients, in the correct amounts, to stay healthy.

Always speak to your veterinary team if you have any questions or concerns. 

If your cat won’t try their new food, don’t worry. Offer a small amount with each meal. You could try putting the new food down shortly before you offer your cat’s usual food to encourage them to try it when they are still hungry.  

If your cat eats the new food but then goes off it, try reducing the amount of the new diet until your cat is eating it again, and then gradually increase it once more. 

If, after several days, your cat still isn’t interested in their new food, consider changing to a different new diet.

When offering wet food, remember not to leave it down for long periods, as it can attract flies, it can go off and it can dry out. Ideally, serve regular, small helpings throughout the day. This can help keep the food fresh and more attractive to your cat.

Sometimes sudden changes of diet can upset a cat’s digestive system. Symptoms might include vomiting; soft faeces or diarrhoea; flatulence; or just not seeming themselves, especially if they go outside to toilet. They might also lose interest in food. 

Other things can cause tummy upsets: if you are concerned about your cat’s digestion, your vet team is there to help. Sometimes veterinary treatment may be required to settle things down.

If this happens during a food transition, try reducing the amount of new diet and then monitoring your cat closely to see whether their tummy is settling down. They should start to improve after a day or two at the most. If your cat still seems to have a tummy upset, you may need to remove the new diet altogether. If your cat is back to normal once they’re eating their original diet, try re-introducing the new food after a few days. However, if this also results in an upset tummy, you might need to find an alternative food.