IAMS MY
What You Should Know About Changing Your Cat’s Diet
What You Should Know About Changing Your Cat’s Diet

adp_description_block286
What You Should Know About Changing Your Cat’s Diet

  • Share

Deciding when and how you should change your cat's diet takes some planning. Because cats are creatures of habit, it is not uncommon for them to prefer their current cat food to a new food. They, like humans, become accustomed to something, such as a particular food, and may not welcome a disruption to their routine.

 

Tips for Successfully Changing Your Cat’s Diet

The following tips should help you change your cat's diet and successfully transition your cat to a new food:

  • Introduce the new food gradually. This is the most successful way to ease your cat into the diet change. Start by mixing 25% new food with 75% current food. Slowly change the proportions over the next three days or so by gradually increasing the amount of new food and decreasing the amount of current food. At the end of this weaning process, you should be feeding 100% of the new food. You may encounter difficulties; for example, your cat might choose to eat only the old food, or not eat at all. However, a healthy cat can miss meals for a day or two with no ill effects.
  • Watch your body language. Bringing a new food into your home, placing it into a bowl, and declaring that your cat had better eat it might cause your cat to go on an eating strike. It is better to introduce the new food to the cat using a pleasant tone of voice. Gently encourage the cat to try the new food.
  • Don't give in to demands. It is important not to give up too soon. During the initial two-day period, do not give your cat treats or table scraps! Cats train us as much as we train them. Giving in to their demands only reinforces refusal behavior and makes it more difficult to make a nutritious dietary change.
  • Expect a challenge when changing from a moist food to a dry food. The biggest challenge in switching diets occurs when changing from a moist food to a dry food. If your cat continues to resist eating dry food, mix a little warm water with it. You may even want to put the moistened food in the microwave for a few seconds. If you mix the food with water it is important to discard the uneaten portion after 20 minutes. This prevents spoilage. The same rule applies for canned food. After the cat has become accustomed to the moistened food, you can wean him or her onto the dry food.

  • Kitten Basics: Enriched Environments
    Kitten Basics: Enriched Environments
    adp_description_block25
    The Power of Enrichment: Keeping Your Kitten Mentally and Physically Healthy

    • Share

    As a kitten parent, you want the best for your feline friend. One of the most important aspects of pet care is providing your kitty with a healthy environment that supports overall development. In fact, kitten enriched environment stimulates a happy and healthy life. It refers to providing cats with activities, toys, and other items that stimulate them mentally and physically. Enrichment can also help prevent behavioral problems such as scratching, biting, and destructive habits.
     

    Different type of kitten enriched environment to keep them mentally and physically stimulated
     

    1. Physical enrichment and play: Physical activity is important for cats of all age groups to stay healthy and fit. Providing plenty of opportunities for your kitten to run, jump, and play is key. You can use kitten enrichment toys such as balls, butterfly wants, laser pointers, and cat trees to encourage your kitten to move around. These toys provide physical exercise and mental stimulation as they challenge the kitten to figure out how to play with them.
    2. Environmental enrichment: Providing cats with different environments to explore and interact with can also be enriching. For example, you can create a cosy space for your kitten to relax or provide them with a scratching post and other items that they can use to mark their territory. You can also provide hiding spots like a box or a tunnel for your kitten to explore. This not only provides them with a sense of security but also gives them something new to explore.

    3. Sensory enrichment: Cats have a keen sense of smell, sight, and touch. Provide your kitten with toys and items they can smell, see, or touch. For example, you can use toys with different textures or provide your kitten with a catnip plant to interact with. You can also offer different types of food for your kitten, so it can explore different flavours and textures.

    4. Social enrichment: Cats are social animals and thrive when they have companionship. If you only have one kitten, you can ensure companionship using a stuffed animal or a mirror. This will provide your kitty with the social stimulation it needs. If you have more than one cat, you can provide them with a kitten-friendly environment where they can interact with each other. This can include providing them with a shared space and interactive toys.
       

      In addition to the above types of enrichment, you can also provide your kitten with various kitten enrichment activities to keep them engaged and stimulated. Some examples include:
       

    5. Training: Teaching your basic kitten commands like 'sit' and 'stay' can give them mental stimulation and a sense of accomplishment.
    6. Puzzle feeders: These interactive feeders require your kitten to figure out how to get the food out. They provide mental stimulation as well as physical exercise.

    7. Window seats: Cats love to watch the world go by because it helps them explore something new and stay entertained every day.

      Providing your cats with a kitten enriched environment is essential. It not only keeps them healthy and happy, but it also prevents behavioural problems. With your kitten training environment and other feline enrichment ideas, you can ensure that your cat is always engaged and happy. As a cat parent, it is important to take the necessary time to understand your kitten's needs and provide them with an environment that will help them thrive.

Close modal