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The cat food market offers cat owners a wide range of options: there is both wet and dry food for cats from numerous brands in several quality categories, flavours and varieties. This large selection of cat food presents cat owners with a big challenge. Which food is suitable for cats and in what quantity? There is also the possibility to follow the BARF diet and to provide home-cooked food. As well, the cat food market is constantly growing, so it’s not surprising that cat owners sometimes like to change the type of food or to try out a new one. If the cat develops a food intolerance or has to eat a special food due to medical reasons, changing its diet is unavoidable.
However, cats are often very fussy and tend to opt for one type of food and reject all other varieties. Hence, getting them used to a new type of food is anything but easy. As a result, you should proceed cautiously with changing the diet. This allows the cat to get used to the new flavour without irritating the stomach and bowels through a quick change. Also, you will avoid your cat completely rejecting the food.
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A little patience is often needed until your cat has got a taste for the new food. Hence, a change of diet should take place over at least eight to ten days. Mix an increasing quantity of the new food with the usual one: on the first day, the food bowl should be made up of at least 80% of the usual food and a maximum of 20% of the new one, then gradually add a little more of the new food until it has completely replaced the original one.
My cat rejects the new food – what to do?
Unfortunately there are cats that reject even the smallest quantity of a new food in their normal one. Cheating is allowed here! In order to make your cat’s new food even tastier, you’re allowed to dig deep into the box of tricks. Many cats love the taste of salmon oil or beef fat powder – if you sprinkle or drizzle it over the new food or a mix of both types of food, the somewhat unusual taste of the food will soon be forgotten.
If the change of diet was successful
So your cat has finally got a taste for the new food? Congratulations, you’ve mastered the change in diet! Keep the change between two or three brands or varieties. This means you aren’t just on the safe side when choosing your favourite type of food, but are also spared your cat’s exclusive demands. The more food brands and varieties your cat is familiar with, the less it will limit itself to a certain food and reject everything else.
By the way, there is wet and dry cat food as well as supplements and special food for cats in the zooplus cat store! Along with an extensive product description, here you will also find a precise analysis and declaration of ingredients so can look for the perfect cat food.
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