Cat Diet - From Croquettes to Meat

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Domestic cats behave very similar to that of spoiled children.
Intervening on feline addiction to kibble can be more difficult than it seems.
In more complex cases, the transition process requires time, patience and some tricks.

almost identical to normal commercial lines and which differ in some negligible details.

total; vice versa for the amount of fat.
If the cat is overweight, the portions should be reduced. If the feline is underweight, portions should be increased slightly (very rare event with a diet based on kibble).
Unfortunately, the canned meat label never lists the specific calorie content.
On the other hand, the energy intake for most wet foods is about 100kcal per 100g of product (varies from 80 to 120 based on the percentage of water and fat); the humidity is approximately 78%.
During the transition from kibble to canned food, almost all cats lose weight. Since most felines are overweight at the time of the transition, this reaction is considered a positive effect. Keep in mind that a slender cat with appropriate muscle mass also becomes much more active (just like humans).
Weight loss becomes harmful or potentially harmful only when the weight loss exceeds 1-2% in a week. If the cat in transition is over 10 years of age, it is advisable to weigh it on a scheduled and regular basis to avoid complications.
Cats that like meat right away statistically don't take more than 3 weeks to get used to it completely.

. Some cats need a slower and more progressive change than normal; this is not a worrying condition.
Cats "refractory" to change tend to fast. It is necessary to exploit the feeling of hunger that will hit them inexorably to induce them to eat the new food.
Recall that felines do NOT need food available 24 hours a day. On the contrary, for a predator the "appetite is a" positive experience.
That said, it is often very difficult to have to listen to your cats "begging" for food. Moreover, initially large quantities of meat will be wasted which, remaining outdoors, will dry up and go to waste.
It is different for the most extreme cases.

and fasts for more than 48 hours, it can face even serious health complications; for example hepatic lipidosis.
These can also occur with an energy consumption equal to or less than 50% of the daily caloric needs for a period of several days.
According to the experience of some veterinarians, hepatic lipidosis should NOT arise with an energy consumption of 15kcal per kilo of weight per day.
A cat with a normal weight of 4kg has a safety margin of 60kcal / day, which corresponds to just over ¼ of the average requirement (200kcal / day).

steadfastness and firmness.
Always keep in mind that There is NO cat whose eating habits cannot be changed.

As anticipated, it is essential that the cat reluctant to meat perceives greater appetite or even hunger. In this way, the survival instinct will induce him to adapt.
Most cats prefer food at room temperature; not heated and even less cold "from the refrigerator".
For "home" felines, it helps to make them move more. Physical activity (even just play) promotes calorie expenditure and stimulates appetite.
Better to divide the cat's diet into 3-4 meals a day. Small portions of the novel food help the pet accept it more quickly.
It is useful to structure meals with both products. Even just getting used to the smell of meat is a far from negligible progress. Portions need to be adequate, and if the cat does not eat, they will have more appetite for the next meal. You must NOT increase the share of kibble for any reason.
Experimenting with different tastes and formulas can help "spot" the animal's preferences.
Dry food should be used in the opposite way from usual. It should not be left in the bowl for more than 20 ". When the cat finishes the meal, all residues must be removed.
It may be useful to choose different treats than usual. Especially those rich in fat and low in carbohydrates are suitable. The advantage is to "break" the routine by offering a different taste. Moreover, the nutritional profile is closer to that of meat. Having a greater energy intake, the portion should be smaller.
With their sense of smell, cats are able to perceive the presence of treats inside the house and refuse to eat anything else. It is advisable seal off hermetically dry food to make the animal understand that "there are no alternatives".
Sprinkling the canned meat with a small part of an acceptable food (for example tuna, parmesan cheese, the prebiotic "FortiFlora Felino", freeze-dried meat, etc.) can help you get used to the new flavor. The initial goal is that to accustom the cat to non-crunchy foods, which is why any type of meat or fish is welcome; however, this is an interim solution.
Dip the crunchies in the preserving liquid of the canned meat. Some cats tend to reject it immediately but otherwise the transition becomes very fast. As we have said, the "habituation of" the smell of meat is a very important starting point.
Offer wet food from the hand.
Gently smudge the pet's gums or use a needle-free syringe to inject the blended food into the pet's mouth (like medicine).
In animals with a "difficult" character, instead of the gums, it is better to dirty the hair of the paw; the cat will immediately lick and savor the new food.
It may help to let the cat eat in a quieter room than usual.
If there are more individuals, it is better to separate them.

Once the feline converts to canned food, it is advisable to let him manage his daily meat resources on his own. Wet food can be safely stored for up to 12 hours at room temperature and the bowl can be refilled only a couple of times.