How to Get Your Cat to Eat a New Food

Slow and Steady Wins the Race

Changing your cat’s food should be a transitional process that takes time. If you go too fast, your cat may refuse the new food and the switch could be unsuccessful. Depending on your individual cat, gradually introduce the new food to the old food a little bit at a time until the ending mixture is fully the new food. Taking this process slow will be especially helpful to identify if your cat has any allergies or sensitivities to the new food. Whether it takes one week or an entire month, go slow and call your veterinarian if any questions or concerns arise.

Don’t Stray from Your Schedule

Updating their meal is going to be enough of a change, so be sure to stick to your cat’s feeding schedule as you transition their food. Not only will doing this keep your cat free from any additional changes, but it’ll also give them reassurance that the new food you're feeding them is something they’ll love! If your cat initially refuses to accept the new food, you might want to try removing any uneaten food after 20-30 minutes to show them that this new meal is their only choice.

Be Patient

Sudden changes in your cat’s diet can cause gastrointestinal concerns that could result in diarrhea, vomiting, and lack of appetite. In order to avoid these conditions, you’ll want to remain patient and make this transition as slow as your cat requires. In addition to being patient, you should keep a close eye on your cat’s weight and stool and contact your vet if anything changes drastically too quickly.

Add a Topper

If your efforts are falling short in the journey of getting your cat to eat a new food, it doesn’t hurt to add a familiar topper that they’ve proven to devour. From Marvelous Morsels that are gently kettle cooked in small batches and nutrient-rich Purrfect Pate to freeze-dried raw Marie’s Magical Dinner Dust, we have a variety of products for cats that can be added as a topper to their new food to make the transition a little easier.