While giving your cat dry food may seem convenient, it may not be the best option for their long-term health. Eating too much kibble causes many cats to suffer from dental disease, obesity, and urinary tract problems. Cats shouldn’t naturally consume large amounts of carbohydrates, such as those found in dry food, because it depletes their body of moisture, which is necessary for proper hydration.
If you’ve determined that it’s time to wean your cat off of dry food, you should proceed cautiously and gradually. Because they can be finicky eaters, cats may object to abrupt dietary changes. A gradual changeover helps to minimize gastrointestinal discomfort while ensuring they get used to the new diet.
| Reason to wean a cat off dry food | How to do it correctly |
| Dry food can lead to obesity and health issues | Gradually mix in wet or homemade food, increasing the ratio over time |
| It can cause dehydration | Provide fresh water and offer moisture-rich foods like wet cat food or raw meat |
| May lack necessary nutrients in the long term | Ensure the new diet is balanced with proteins, fats, and vitamins suitable for cats |
| Dry food often contains too many fillers | Switch to high-quality, natural food options without artificial additives |
- Why it is difficult to wean a cat off store-bought food
- Why it is still worth weaning an animal off dry food
- Effective methods and useful tips for weaning a pet off dry food
- What mistakes should an owner avoid when changing the diet
- Basic principles of feeding with natural products
- Table: what products can be included in the cat"s diet and which ones cannot
- Video on the topic
- Is it possible to soak dry food? If so, then in what cases
- HOW MUCH DRY FOOD TO GIVE AND HOW TO STORE IT?
Why it is difficult to wean a cat off store-bought food
It can be challenging to wean a pet off of dry industrial food. When the animal’s diet is changed, it frequently exhibits previously unheard-of stubbornness. Why does this occur? Dealing with members of the feline family presents greater challenges because their habits are more stable than those of humans. The fact that most food brands contain different additives to improve flavor and aroma adds yet another challenge. Especially with regard to food that is considered budget class. Even the best cuts of meat seem unappealing to animals after consuming such food.
Dry food is a type of food "drug" for many cats.
Why it is still worth weaning an animal off dry food
The owner should educate himself about the drawbacks of using industrial dry food if he is unsure if it is worthwhile to wean the pet off of it:
- Addiction. Even super premium dry food contains chemical elements, and in economy category products "chemistry" is present in overwhelming quantities. Among the artificial additives are attractants and additives that cause addiction.
- Dental problems. Contrary to popular belief, dry granules do not help clean teeth – the animal simply swallows them without chewing, without training the jaw at all.
- Risk of allergies. A number of elements included in industrial feeds can cause allergies in animals – with a natural diet, the risk of food allergies is practically absent.
- Risk of developing urolithiasis. It occurs due to the low moisture content in dry granules.
The main reason owners feed ready-made food is to save time and money; they don’t have to specifically purchase high-quality products, spend time preparing balanced meals, or figure out portion sizes.
Effective methods and useful tips for weaning a pet off dry food
First and foremost, you must exercise patience after deciding to switch your cat from store-bought food to natural food. Initially, the animal refuses to eat even the most delicious-looking pieces of meat in the owner’s opinion and will persistently plead for the standard dry granules. You can use one of the following techniques to wean a pet off of prepared food and transition it to a natural diet:
- Alternating dry food and natural dishes. When choosing this method of changing the diet, the animal needs to be fed 3-4 times a day. The usual food for him should be given in the first half of the day, and natural products – in the second. The cat, of course, will be indignant and ignore such food, but the owner should not succumb to “provocations”. If the animal after 30 minutes did not touch food, then it should be removed.
- Mixing dry granules and natural products. This method provides for the simultaneous supply of natural products and industrial feed with the predominance of the latter. Before serving, dry food is soaked in water, which is then drained. First, dry granules need to be taken 5 parts, and natural food – 1 part. After 7 days, the number of store feed must be reduced and so on until the pet is accustomed to the food prepared by him.
A cat switched to wet food is a variation of the second diet modification technique. Ordinary food will seem unappetizing even in appearance to an animal that has only ever experienced dry granules. It will therefore be simpler to transition the pet to a natural diet after it has become accustomed to wet food.
It will be simpler to transition your pet to a natural diet once it has become acclimated to wet food.
What mistakes should an owner avoid when changing the diet
After deciding on a strategy for weaning an animal off of commercial food, you should proceed cautiously and according to the original plan:
- No need to rush. A sharp change in diet will not only lead to a so-called boycott, but will also provoke health problems in the animal. The transition from one diet to another can take at least 2 weeks.
- You should not give in to provocations. A pet"s hunger strike and loud demand for favorite treats should be completely ignored. No animal has ever died of hunger near a full bowl of food. Even one concession can nullify all efforts – the animal will understand that sooner or later it will get what it wants.
Convince any children that your actions are the right ones if you have any. Feeling sorry for their "starving" pet, they can surreptitiously feed the animal, negating the effect of any dietary modifications.
It is imperative that you disregard your pet’s vocal requests for their favorite treats and hunger strike while making dietary changes.
Basic principles of feeding with natural products
When changing the diet, you should know that natural food is not the food that a person prepares for himself, but specially prepared dishes for cats from permitted products, without salt and spices. A balanced diet is important for normal well-being, health, and proper development of all animal body systems. Proper nutrition is not only the right choice of products. A responsible owner should also follow the recommendations for organizing a feeding regimen. Very young kittens should be fed often – up to 5 times a day, from four to five months – 3-4 times, after six months – 3 times, and from a year – 2 times a day. In order to prevent vitamin deficiency, experts advise enriching the diet of pets with vitamin and mineral supplements, such as Canina Canivita, Gimpet, BEAPHAR KITTY’S TAURINE + BIOTIN, Doctor ZOO.
The following guidelines should be used to determine the daily portion volume: an active, healthy animal’s weight should contain at least 10 grams of protein, 2 grams of fat, and 2 grams of carbohydrates per kilogram. A growing cat needs a diet with an energy value of 200 kcal, while an adult cat only needs 80 kcal.
The pet should always have unrestricted access to a bowl of water during any feeding schedule. Since it needs to be changed twice a day to stay fresh, it must always be.
Table: what products can be included in the cat"s diet and which ones cannot
| Allowed | Prohibited |
| Beef, lean poultry meat – chicken, turkeys |
Fatty meat – pork, duck, goose |
| Boiled offal 1-2 times a week | Cow"s milk |
| Fish, only sea varieties, boiled – 1-2 times a week | River fish |
| Cottage cheese, kefir | Any flour products, sweets |
| Yolk | Potatoes, legumes |
| Vegetables, except for those on the list of prohibited | Mushrooms |
| Cereals | Onions, garlic |
| Oil – regular vegetable or flaxseed | Spices |
| Any canned, pickled and sausages |
Food from the human table is not a natural diet for cats.
Meat (either raw or boiled) and fermented dairy products should make up 60–70% of the daily food volume. You can give the yolk and boiled fish at the same intervals of every seven days. Make sure to thoroughly boil the cereals and give the pet warm food at all times. Add half a teaspoon of oil to the main dish two to three times a week. Boiling is the only method that is suitable for processing food for cats.
Shifting your cat from dry food can have a positive impact on their health in a number of ways, such as increased digestion, healthier teeth, and increased hydration. The long-term health of your cat justifies the switch, even though it might require some time and patience.
Small amounts of raw or wet food should be combined with the dry food to begin the process gradually. Gradually increase the wet food ratio while giving your cat time to get used to it. Facilitating a diverse range of novel tastes and textures can aid in facilitating a seamless transition.
Keep in mind that each cat is unique, so some may require more time to adjust than others. Along the way, be patient, watch your cat’s reaction, and see a veterinarian if you have any concerns. In the long run, the aim is to make sure your cat has a healthier, more balanced diet.
Getting your cat off of dry food can help them stay healthier overall because wet or homemade meals provide more balanced nutrition and more hydration. In cats, dry food can cause urinary tract troubles, obesity, and dehydration. Wean them off by gradually increasing the proportion of the new food you gradually mix in with their dry kibble. This method relieves their anxiety as they get used to the new taste and texture. In the long term, the effort can result in a healthier, happier pet, so be patient—some cats may resist.
