FAQ: I'm new to raw feeding - how do I switch my cat to a raw diet?
FAQ: I'm new to raw feeding - how do I switch my cat to a raw diet?
So you want to change your cat’s diet for the better and switch to raw.
Cats are habitual creatures. In the case of their food this is because they tend to default to whatever they were fed as kittens and are naturally suspicious of
anything new. They also have highly addictive, conservative appetites and they crave salt, fat and carbs, or even the specific shapes of their dry processed food!
So, while we’re not going to say that making the switch is going to be as easy as it is with dogs (being a cat owner you’ll have already guessed that), switching a cat to raw food is always worth it. And with Tabby’s Table it’s easier than most.
This is because our unique Meatballs offer an easy, convenient and mess-free way to portion out the food and gently switch your cat over to wholesome, healthy raw meals. And as our Meatballs are just 30g each, this means you won’t be defrosting and potentially wasting whole packs of mince they won’t eat.
You may find your cat is happy to try it and happy to switch straight over. If so, hurrah! It’s worth just giving it a go to save time and effort. But if that doesn’t work then read on.
If you do have to take it slow, start small
This is going to be a step-by-step process, offering small bits of raw food first and building up to whole bowls.
Take out an individual Meatball and defrost to room temperature - in some cases eating cold food can upset a cat’s stomach. However, never be tempted to put the food in the microwave to defrost or warm it! The food contains bone and heating or cooking it can be dangerous.
You will probably need just one Meatball at a time for a while, before you graduate to a couple, and eventually get to the point where you can take out a pack at a time - or more if you have multiple cats. The great thing about Tabby’s Table is that there is so little wastage, which makes switching a lot easier and less stressful.
First offer a few small bits of the raw food as a taster when they are hungry. Don’t put it in their food bowl, put it somewhere neutral - on the floor, outside, or on a plate. They are likely to be more excited by an illicit bit of ‘off menu’ food than something unexpected arriving in their bowl at meal time. Try doing this when you are cooking and they are hanging around, attracted by the nice smells (thinking like a cat will help you get the best results).
See how they react - what comes next depends on how ready they are to accept these samples of food. Keep going! Some cats may need more time to give their new food a try. Once they accept these new food offerings, then you can start introducing raw to their meals.
If you have a REALLY fussy cat:
Don’t get stressed! It doesn’t have to be a big deal. And if you try too hard you and your cat will become stressed. In the end this has to be their decision - and you know perfectly that they will not it have it any other way.
Here's our top 5 tips to make the switch as easy as possible
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If you can, always serve raw cat food at room temperature - so leave it covered on the side to warm up. This will enhance the natural smell of the meat, making it more appealing which will encourage your cat to eat it. Cats don’t generally accept cold food - and certainly won’t eat it straight out of the fridge
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Try all the varieties - you may find they like some proteins much more than others
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Mix up the smell and texture with our SUPER SPRINKLES or TASTY BROTH
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Keep on offering raw food to your cat even if they initially turn their nose up. Some cats need time to get used to this new raw stuff, so repeated exposure will be key
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Never allow your cat to starve themselves (as this can lead to dangerous kidney and liver problems). If at first you don’t succeed and they are refusing raw completely, then feed them what they need of their existing food and try again another day
Once you have fully switched to raw you will have given your cat the best gift possible - a natural, healthy diet with all the associated benefits.
If you have any questions, or need our help, please email paws@poppyspicnic.co.uk or go on our website to use the chat
