Switching cat to wet food

Hi,

I have 4 cats, and because the older two cats (they are about 8) have been having uti problems, I have decided to switch all the cats to wet food. 3 of my cats love this idea, but the fourth who is also one with uti problems does not like wet food at all. I'm trying to switch slowly, and just add some wet food on the side of her bowl with the dry so she gets used to the smell.

I saw those new Fancy Feast appetizer things, which seem like just chicken or fish pieces, and I was wondering if it would be ok to try adding just a bit of like plain canned tuna to her food or to wet food to get her to try it. I don't plan to do this long term, but during transition.

Does this sound ok? Does anyone have other suggestions for switching from dry to wet, or other suggestions to help with the uti problems. (The vet put her on antibiotics and she seems better now, but its been a chronic issue, and I'm hoping to find a better solution than just meds frequently and hoping to avoid this problem with my younger cats.

I'd prefer to feed store meat than the expensive appetizers! Also parmesan cheese may help.

Don't give a lot of tuna.  Even the best can have higher levels of mercury in it.  Tuna are predator fish, and the mercury accumulates.

Someone advised me that small fish are okay, since they don't grow big enough to get a high mercury content. I personally prefer adding chicken to be on the safe side of the whole mercury issue. My boys love their chicken and yours might like it too. 

Since you are already dealing with urinary issues, I would not use the tuna, BUT...you could use the WATER (not oil) from the tuna to entice them to the wet. You can dilute it some and sprinkle it over the food.  ANY wet that you can get them to eat, is better then dry. Try to stay away from those containing fish. Once you find a wet they'll all eat and they are accustomed to wet, you can work on working in a better quality. Usually the stinkier the wet the more attracted to it they'll be. The key is getting more water into them. Invest in water fountains.

Here is a good site for info on transitioning your kitties off dry:

http://www.catinfo.org/#Transitioning_Dry_Food_Addicts_to_Canned_Food_

Then read this:

http://www.catinfo.org/

Good luck and welcome to TCS!

Thanks! I'll have to try the tuna water idea. So far she won't even touch her dry food if there is wet food on her plate at all. I'll have to try the Parmesan cheese and chicken ideas too.
I think I'm going to try the pioneer stainless steel raindrop fountain or the cat mate one with various drinking heights.

If she won't eat the dry, good for her, just take it out of her diet. Really, she knows what she wants and whats good for her.
 

try to avoid any thing with fish in it

and do pate wet instead of the gravy n bites kind because the gravy n bites or shredded etc has wheat gluten in it<not counting the grain free wets

have you tried mixing a little wet in her dry? that worked on another cat i had

my cat Spirit wanted dry only and i couldn't get her to eat wet so i put some wet on my finger and stuck a little on her tongue i did that for like 3 days now she loves wet and hardly well touch the dry and i tried every thing else on her didn't really work

JackeyBender said:

Thanks! I'll have to try the tuna water idea. So far she won't even touch her dry food if there is wet food on her plate at all. I'll have to try the Parmesan cheese and chicken ideas too.
I think I'm going to try the pioneer stainless steel raindrop fountain or the cat mate one with various drinking heights.

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OOps, Misread that a bit. Kinda stopped at "so far she won't eat her dry food" missed the "if there is wet food on her plate" Sorry about that.

Is the dry food down all the time? Do you have set meal times? It takes a lot of patience, time and resolve to switch a stubborn kitty. Read the link I posted, it's written by Dr. Pierson a vet. So, so good and reassuring.

Transitioning from dry to wet can be especially frustrating if one has a kibble addict for a cat :nod: There are dozens of articles and written on the subject and just as many different opinions. I have found this site useful when answering some of the questions posed, the site is http://catinfo.org/ and on the right side of the page is an excellent link for transitioning from kibble to wet food.

Some people mix the wet with the kibble to transition and are successful. Cats tend to examine their food by smell so if a can of cat food does not smell like "food" to the cat, it won't eat it. There is a new grain free wet out that actually sticks to the cat's tongue which may, or may not, be helpful but might be worth a try. It's the Nutro Natural Choice Adult Soft Loaf Formula. My cat's new favorite is the duck. You can find it at http://www.nutro.com/natural-cat-food/natural-choice-cat-food.aspx

Best of luck to you during this transition time. I know it can test your patience but will be well worth it in the long run!