Switching to a new food

babyharley · Aug 30, 2005

I started Harley out on Meow Mix and I was told that because of the by-products that it wasn't a very good food to feed him, so now that his bag is getting quite low, I was wondering how to switch him over to a better brand without making him sick or anything? Any good thoughts would be much appreciated

emb_78 · Aug 30, 2005

Originally Posted by babyharley

I started Harley out on Meow Mix and I was told that because of the by-products that it wasn't a very good food to feed him, so now that his bag is getting quite low, I was wondering how to switch him over to a better brand without making him sick or anything? Any good thoughts would be much appreciated

Slowly mix in the new food with the old.

babyharley · Aug 30, 2005

Originally Posted by emb_78

Slowly mix in the new food with the old.

And just gradually not use the old stuff and put more of the new in?

rosiemac · Aug 30, 2005

Thats right!

It's just so their tummys get used to the new food

pat · Aug 30, 2005

As said above

sharky · Aug 30, 2005

Heres an exaple if kitty eats 1 cup meaow mix a day ... give 3/4 cup meow mix and 1/4 new stuff for 2-4 days then up amount of new ... if tummy upset occurs back down to an 1.8

lilycurly · Aug 31, 2005

I've got a question related to that....
I recently started to switch from Eukaneuba Low Residue to Nutro. I did it VERY gradually because both my kitties are sensitive. I mean, the first day I gave two bits of new food per feed, next day four bits,etc. They are now to 10 new food bits, I went very slowly, but their stool seem to get softer now, like when they're going on diarrhea again. Should I continue? Is Nutro not good?
If I continue the switch...is it possible that they'll get diarrhea but then adjust on the new food?

sharky · Aug 31, 2005

Originally Posted by Lilycurly

I've got a question related to that....
I recently started to switch from Eukaneuba Low Residue to Nutro. I did it VERY gradually because both my kitties are sensitive. I mean, the first day I gave two bits of new food per feed, next day four bits,etc. They are now to 10 new food bits, I went very slowly, but their stool seem to get softer now, like when they're going on diarrhea again. Should I continue? Is Nutro not good?
If I continue the switch...is it possible that they'll get diarrhea but then adjust on the new food?

They may need rx permantantly.. talk with your vet .. Also look at Natural balences venison and green pea... one meat one carb

pat · Aug 31, 2005

babyharley · Aug 31, 2005

Thank you for your help! Now I just need to go on the mission of finding a good food for him!

pat · Aug 31, 2005

Originally Posted by babyharley

Thank you for your help! Now I just need to go on the mission of finding a good food for him!

Consider Nutro Natural Choice Complete Care for Indoor kittens, or Natural Balance (for all lifestages), Felidae...of the 3, I might suggest trying the natural balance first. I'm sure others will chime in with opinions

lilycurly · Aug 31, 2005

Thanks!
Is "rx" the low residue food though? Also I would love to have them try "Natural balances venison and green pea", I heard only good about it, but can't find this brand in Canada...

talon · Aug 31, 2005

I just switched mine from Purina one to Nutro Complete Care Adult - I started off with two bowls, one for each. Then I went to one bowl - half and half. Yesterday I noticed that they are not eating much if any of the Purina one.

Here in the Talon household - 4 paws up for the Nutro.

babyharley · Aug 31, 2005

Originally Posted by Pat & Alix

Consider Nutro Natural Choice Complete Care for Indoor kittens, or Natural Balance (for all lifestages), Felidae...of the 3, I might suggest trying the natural balance first. I'm sure others will chime in with opinions

At what age do you stop feeding them kitten type food? Im going to go with the Nutro, but Im just wondering when to start feeding him 'adult' cat food and not the kitten?

sharky · Aug 31, 2005

if he is a regular kitty( not that any kitty is reg) not a maine coon or someone who grows till age two or three ... it is fine to get off kitten by 12 months..

I would go with the regular natural choice kitten over indoor since it has fewer ingrediants ,,,,

Is you doll baby a purebreed or a domestic

??

purrpaws · Aug 31, 2005

Originally Posted by babyharley

At what age do you stop feeding them kitten type food? Im going to go with the Nutro, but Im just wondering when to start feeding him 'adult' cat food and not the kitten?

My vet said to give my kitten the kitten food until she's one, and then she can start eating adult. The kitten food is more nutrient dense, since kittens have smaller tummies and are growing.

pat · Aug 31, 2005

I recommend feeding kitten until a year, but the fact is, many kittens begin trying to eat adult (if with other age kitties in the house) much younger, and I'd be comfortable with a kitten switching to adult at 10 months *if* they refuse their kitten food at that age.
I don't have a problem with new indoor variety of nutro natural kitten - mainly the extra ingredients are veggies, and they provide a per cent more in fiber in this formula, slightly less fat. Either formula would be good, imho.

sharky · Aug 31, 2005

Originally Posted by Pat & Alix

I recommend feeding kitten until a year, but the fact is, many kittens begin trying to eat adult (if with other age kitties in the house) much younger, and I'd be comfortable with a kitten switching to adult at 10 months *if* they refuse their kitten food at that age.
I don't have a problem with new indoor variety of nutro natural kitten - mainly the extra ingredients are veggies, and they provide a per cent more in fiber in this formula, slightly less fat. Either formula would be good, imho.

I like the indoor but there is some soy pritein so I dont recommend for tender tummys

Pat
Any tips for one that doesnt want off kitten

she is 18 months still growing but needs to taper

waddle · Aug 31, 2005

Originally Posted by Talon

Here in the Talon household - 4 paws up for the Nutro.

Here too--they were eating Iams when I got them from the foster and once I started mixing the two, they definitely picked out all the Nutro and only ate the Iams when the Nutro was gone. It was quite funny actually.

babyharley · Aug 31, 2005

Originally Posted by sharky

if he is a regular kitty( not that any kitty is reg) not a maine coon or someone who grows till age two or three ... it is fine to get off kitten by 12 months..

I would go with the regular natural choice kitten over indoor since it has fewer ingrediants ,,,,

Is you doll baby a purebreed or a domestic

??

Harley is domestic (and far from regular!!

) But I was wondering b/c when we got him, the owner was feeding all of the babies (and mother) regular adult cat food, is that bad for them?

When we took him in I started him out right away on kitty food, I didn't want to hurt his tummy!

Switching to a new food

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