Did you know that cats are obligate carnivores, meaning they need meat to survive? Unlike humans or dogs, cats cannot thrive on a plant-based diet. They require certain nutrients, such as taurine and arachidonic acid, that are only found in animal sources.
Unfortunately, many commercial cat foods are loaded with fillers, additives, and artificial ingredients that can compromise your cat’s health. These foods may cause digestive problems, skin and coat issues, weight gain, and even chronic diseases such as diabetes or kidney failure.
That’s why feeding your cat a natural diet is one of the best things you can do for their well-being. A natural diet consists of fresh, raw, or lightly cooked meat, organs, bones, and other ingredients that mimic what cats would eat in the wild. By feeding your cat a natural diet, you can provide them with optimal nutrition, improve their digestion, enhance their skin and coat, maintain their ideal weight, and reduce their risk of certain diseases.
In this blog post, we will discuss why a natural diet is essential for your cat’s health and provide tips on how to successfully transition them to such a diet.
The Benefits of Natural Diets for Cats
A natural diet for cats is one that is based on their evolutionary and biological needs. Cats evolved from desert-dwelling predators that hunted small prey such as rodents, birds, and insects. Their digestive system is designed to process raw meat, bones, and organs, and they have a low tolerance for carbohydrates and grains.
By feeding your cat a natural diet, you can ensure that they get the right balance of protein, fat, vitamins, minerals, and other nutrients that they need for optimal health. Some of the benefits of feeding your cat a natural diet include:
- Improved digestion: Raw or lightly cooked meat is easier for cats to digest than processed or cooked foods. It also contains natural enzymes and probiotics that support a healthy gut flora and immune system. A natural diet can help prevent or alleviate common digestive issues such as vomiting, diarrhea, constipation, or inflammatory bowel disease.
- Healthier skin and coat: A natural diet can provide your cat with essential fatty acids, such as omega-3 and omega-6, that are vital for maintaining a healthy skin and coat. These fats can help prevent or reduce dryness, itching, flaking, shedding, or allergies. A natural diet can also make your cat’s coat shinier, softer, and more vibrant.
- Better weight management: A natural diet can help your cat maintain a healthy weight by providing them with high-quality protein and fat that keep them satiated and energized. A natural diet can also help prevent or reverse obesity, which is a major risk factor for many diseases in cats.
- Reduced risk of certain diseases: A natural diet can help prevent or manage certain diseases that are linked to poor nutrition or inflammation. For example, a natural diet can help lower the blood sugar levels and insulin resistance in diabetic cats, or reduce the strain on the kidneys and urinary tract in cats with chronic kidney disease or urinary tract infections. A natural diet can also help prevent dental problems, such as plaque, tartar, or gingivitis, by providing your cat with natural chewing and cleaning action from raw bones and meat.
Common Mistakes When Transitioning Cats to Natural Diets
While feeding your cat a natural diet can have many benefits, it is not something that you can do overnight. Cats are creatures of habit and may resist or reject new foods that are unfamiliar to them. If you try to switch your cat’s diet too quickly or abruptly, you may encounter some challenges, such as:
- Food aversions: Some cats may be finicky or have strong preferences for certain foods or textures. They may refuse to eat new foods or spit them out. This can lead to frustration, stress, or hunger for both you and your cat.
- Digestive upsets: Some cats may experience digestive upsets, such as vomiting, diarrhea, or gas, when they are introduced to new foods. This can be due to the change in the pH level, bacterial composition, or enzyme activity in their stomach and intestines. This can also cause discomfort, dehydration, or loss of appetite for your cat.
To avoid these common mistakes, it is important to transition your cat to a natural diet gradually and patiently. Here are some tips on how to do that successfully.
Overcoming Food Aversions During Transition
If your cat is a picky eater or has a strong attachment to their current food, you may need to use some tricks to get them to try new foods. Here are some ways to overcome food aversions during the transition period:
- Gradual introduction: The key to a successful transition is to introduce new foods gradually and in small amounts. Start by adding a small amount of new food to your cat’s current food and increase the ratio over time. For example, you can start with 10% new food and 90% old food, and then increase to 20% new food and 80% old food, and so on, until you reach 100% new food. This can take anywhere from a few days to a few weeks, depending on your cat’s acceptance.
- Mixing new food with familiar flavors: Another way to entice your cat to try new foods is to mix them with familiar flavors that they like. For example, you can mix new food with tuna juice, chicken broth, or cheese. You can also sprinkle some dried bonito flakes, nutritional yeast, or catnip on top of new food to make it more appealing.
- Warming up new food: Some cats may prefer warm food over cold food, as it mimics the temperature of fresh prey. You can warm up new food by placing it in a bowl of hot water for a few minutes, or by microwaving it for a few seconds. Make sure the food is not too hot or too cold, as it can burn or hurt your cat’s mouth.
- Offering new food in different ways: Some cats may have preferences for different forms or textures of food. You can try offering new food in different ways, such as chopped, minced, ground, or whole. You can also try offering new food in different containers, such as bowls, plates, or toys. You can also try offering new food at different times, such as before or after your cat’s regular meal, or as a treat or reward.
Dealing with Digestive Upsets During Transition
If your cat experiences digestive upsets during the transition phase, do not panic or give up. This is a normal and temporary reaction that will subside as your cat’s digestive system adapts to the new food. Here are some ways to deal with digestive upsets during the transition period:
- Adding probiotics: Probiotics are beneficial bacteria that can help balance the gut flora and support a healthy immune system. You can add probiotics to your cat’s food or water to help ease the transition and prevent or reduce digestive issues. You can use a probiotic supplement designed for cats, or use natural sources such as plain yogurt, kefir, or fermented vegetables.
- Consulting with a veterinarian: If your cat’s digestive issues are severe or persistent, you may need to consult with a veterinarian for advice or treatment. Your veterinarian can rule out any underlying medical conditions that may be causing or worsening the symptoms, such as parasites, infections, or allergies. Your veterinarian can also prescribe medications or supplements that can help soothe your cat’s stomach and intestines, such as anti-nausea drugs, anti-diarrheal agents, or digestive enzymes.
Steps for Successfully Transitioning Your Cat’s Diet
Now that you know the benefits of a natural diet for your cat and how to avoid common mistakes when transitioning them, you may be wondering how to actually do it. Here are some steps for successfully transitioning your cat’s diet:
Assessing your cat’s current diet: The first step is to evaluate your cat’s current diet and identify any potential issues or deficiencies. You can do this by reading the labels of your cat’s food and treats, and comparing them to the nutritional requirements of cats. You can also use online tools or apps that can help you analyze your cat’s diet and provide recommendations. You should look for the following information:
- Ingredients: The ingredients list shows what is in your cat’s food, in order of weight. You should look for high-quality animal protein sources, such as chicken, beef, lamb, or fish, as the first or main ingredients. You should avoid low-quality or by-product sources, such as meat meal, bone meal, or animal digest. You should also avoid ingredients that are not suitable for cats, such as grains, corn, wheat, soy, or artificial colors, flavors, or preservatives.
- Guaranteed analysis: The guaranteed analysis shows the minimum or maximum percentages of crude protein, crude fat, crude fiber, and moisture in your cat’s food. You should look for high protein (at least 40%), moderate fat (around 20%), low carbohydrate (less than 10%), and high moisture (around 70%) levels. You should avoid foods that are low in protein, high in carbohydrate, or low in moisture, as they can cause health problems for your cat.
- Calories: The calories show how much energy your cat’s food provides per serving or per 100 grams. You should look for foods that are appropriate for your cat’s age, size, activity level, and health condition. You should avoid foods that are too high or too low in calories, as they can cause weight gainor weight loss for your cat.
Researching natural diets for cats: The next step is to research different types of natural diets available for cats, such as raw food or homemade options. You can do this by reading books, articles, blogs, or forums that provide information and guidance on feline nutrition and natural diets. You can also consult with a veterinarian or a feline nutritionist who can advise you on the best diet for your cat based on their age, size, activity level, and health condition. You should look for the following information:
- Types of natural diets: There are different types of natural diets that you can choose for your cat, such as raw food, lightly cooked food, or homemade food. Each type has its own advantages and disadvantages, and you should weigh them carefully before deciding. For example, raw food can provide the most natural and complete nutrition for your cat, but it can also pose risks of bacterial contamination, parasites, or bone splinters. Lightly cooked food can reduce these risks, but it can also destroy some of the nutrients and enzymes in the food. Homemade food can allow you to customize the ingredients and portions for your cat, but it can also be time-consuming, expensive, or unbalanced if not done properly.
- Sources of natural foods: Once you decide on the type of natural diet for your cat, you need to find reliable and safe sources of natural foods. You can buy natural foods from pet stores, online shops, farmers’ markets, or local farms that specialize in producing or selling raw or natural foods for pets. You can also make your own natural foods by using fresh, organic, or human-grade ingredients that you can buy from grocery stores, butcher shops, or fishmongers. You should look for sources that are reputable, trustworthy, and transparent about their products and practices. You should avoid sources that are questionable, shady, or unknown.
- Recipes and guidelines: Finally, you need to find recipes and guidelines that can help you prepare and feed your cat a natural diet. You can find recipes and guidelines from books, articles, blogs, or forums that provide detailed instructions and tips on how to make and serve natural foods for your cat. You can also create your own recipes and guidelines by following the basic principles of feline nutrition and natural diets. You should look for recipes and guidelines that are balanced, varied, and appropriate for your cat’s needs. You should avoid recipes and guidelines that are incomplete, inconsistent, or inappropriate for your cat’s needs.
Gradually introducing new foods: The third step is to gradually introduce new foods to your cat’s existing diet. This is the most crucial and challenging step, as it requires patience, persistence, and flexibility. Here are some instructions on how to gradually introduce new foods to your cat:
- Start with a small amount of new food: Begin by adding a small amount of new food to your cat’s current food. The amount should be about 10% of the total portion, or about a teaspoon for an average-sized cat. You can increase the amount gradually over time, as your cat gets used to the new food.
- Mix the new food with the old food: Mix the new food with the old food well, so that your cat cannot easily separate or pick out the new food. You can also use a blender or a food processor to blend the new food and the old food together, to create a smooth and uniform mixture. This can help your cat accept the new food more easily, as they cannot detect the difference in taste or texture.
- Offer the new food first: Offer the new food first, before your cat’s regular meal, or as a treat or reward. This can help your cat associate the new food with something positive and desirable, and increase their curiosity and appetite for it. You can also offer the new food when your cat is hungry, such as in the morning or after a play session, to make them more willing to try it.
- Reduce the old food gradually: Reduce the amount of old food gradually, as you increase the amount of new food. The reduction should be about 10% of the total portion, or about a teaspoon for an average-sized cat. You can decrease the amount gradually over time, as your cat gets used to the new food.
- Repeat the process until the transition is complete: Repeat the process of adding, mixing, offering, and reducing the new food and the old food, until the transition is complete. The transition should be complete when your cat is eating 100% new food, and no longer eating any old food. This can take anywhere from a few days to a few weeks, depending on your cat’s acceptance and tolerance.
Monitoring your cat’s progress: The last step is to monitor your cat’s health and well-being throughout the transition period. This is the most important and rewarding step, as it allows you to see the results and benefits of feeding your cat a natural diet. Here are some ways to monitor your cat’s progress:
- Observe your cat’s behavior and appetite: Observe your cat’s behavior and appetite during and after the transition period. You should look for signs of successful transition, such as increased interest, enthusiasm, and enjoyment of the new food, and normal or improved appetite and energy levels. You should also look for signs of unsuccessful transition, such as decreased interest, reluctance, or refusal of the new food, or reduced or abnormal appetite and energy levels.
- Check your cat’s weight and body condition: Check your cat’s weight and body condition before, during, and after the transition period. You should look for signs of successful transition, such as maintaining or achieving a healthy weight and body condition, and having a lean and muscular physique. You should also look for signs of unsuccessful transition, such as gaining or losing too much weight or body condition, or having a fat or skinny appearance.
- Examine your cat’s skin and coat: Examine your cat’s skin and coat before, during, and after the transition period. You should look for signs of successful transition, such as having a healthy skin and coat, and having a shiny, soft, and smooth fur. You should also look for signs of unsuccessful transition, such as having an unhealthy skin and coat, or having a dull, dry, or coarse fur.
- Inspect your cat’s stool and urine: Inspect your cat’s stool and urine before, during, and after the transition period. You should look for signs of successful transition, such as having a normal and consistent stool and urine, and having a firm and odorless feces and a clear and odorless urine. You should also look for signs of unsuccessful transition, such as having an abnormal or inconsistent stool and urine, or having a loose, watery, or smelly feces or a cloudy or smelly urine.
- Seek veterinary advice if needed: Seek veterinary advice if needed, before, during, or after the transition period. You should seek veterinary advice if you have any questions or concerns about your cat’s diet, health, or well-being, or if you notice any signs of illness or injury in your cat, such as vomiting, diarrhea, lethargy, fever, or bleeding. Your veterinarian can help you diagnose and treat any problems, and provide you with professional guidance and support.
Conclusion
Feeding your cat a natural diet is one of the best ways to ensure their health and happiness. A natural diet can provide your cat with optimal nutrition, improve their digestion, enhance their skin and coat, maintain their ideal weight, and reduce their risk of certain diseases. However, feeding your cat a natural diet requires patience and careful planning, as you need to transition them gradually and monitor their progress. By following the steps and tips outlined in this blog post, you can successfully transition your cat to a natural diet and enjoy the benefits of having a healthy and happy cat.
If you care about your cat’s health and well-being, you should prioritize their diet and feed them a natural diet. A natural diet can make a huge difference in your cat’s quality and longevity of life, and in your relationship with them. Don’t wait any longer, start transitioning your cat to a natural diet today!