Changing over to wet food diet

Hello all!

After reading many threads, I have decided that a wet food diet is the way to go. I have been giving them 1.5 oz of wet food everyday in the PM since Saturday and they love it! It's working out really nicely. So, starting this Saturday, I am going to start feeding them each the following everyday:

One Nutro Complete Care Adult Pouch 3 oz in the AM
1/4 cup Nutro Complete Care Adult Indoor during the day (they like to "snack" so I don't want to completely take away dry food)
One Nutro Complete Care Adult Pouch 3 oz in the PM

Both of my girls are approx 9lbs, so I figured 286 kcal daily for each. I called Nutro and each pouch is between 85-90 kal and the dry food is 382 kcal per cup. Therefore, the above will end being about 275 kcal....

Here are my questions, is this moving too fast? Should I slow down the transition? Am I even moving them in the right direction?

Thanks!!!

Nope, it should be fine. As long as your cats seem fine (i.e. no diarhea, puking, etc.) they should be fine. Have fun.

Apric0t, thank you so much.... you have been such a great help!

The only difference is stinkier, longer, and softer poops....but that's expected, right??

I moved to fast when I changed to all wet food and my little girl Sadie got horrible diarrhea.
If the soft, stinky stools continue, you may need to slow down the transition process.

Originally Posted by ncarpi75

The only difference is stinkier, longer, and softer poops....but that's expected, right??

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Do you think I should continue with the 1.5 oz a day for another week then?

Thanks!!

I would take it even slower.
I had to go back to partial wet and dry.
That is what they are still eating.
Think "slow" so that their digestive enzymes can adjust.
You can do a search in this forum about wet food.
There may be ideas additional ideas for you.
I hope other members answer with their experiences.
Keep us updated.

Originally Posted by ncarpi75

Do you think I should continue with the 1.5 oz a day for another week then?
Thanks!!

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Originally Posted by xocats

I would take it even slower.
I had to go back to partial wet and dry.
That is what they are still eating.
Think "slow" so that their digestive enzymes can adjust.
You can do a search in this forum about wet food.
There may be ideas additional ideas for you.
I hope other members answer with their experiences.
Keep us updated.

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I am so happy I wrote about that because I thought it was normal!! This is why I love this forum!!

I will search some and wait for more responses......I will definitely keep you posted!!

Thanks!!

I have been having feeding problems w/my senior over the past weeks and have started to feed him more moist food as a result. I defintely agree about going slow as its a good day when I don't have diarrhea to clean up!!

When switching foods you should use a progression the first number being the food they are used to getting and the second number the food you are switching to; 75% - 25% , 50%-50%, 25%-75%, 100% new food. A week or two for each level. Monitor the litter box and any time you see loose stools stay at the lever you are at until they firm up, then begin the progression again.

Of course you can break down the progression to smaller changes but the change should never be bigger then what is decribed above.

We've been very lucky - we just added wet food and although the pooh was stinky for a few weeks, the kits were fine with the change. We still give about 1/4 to 1/3 cup dry for them to snack on during the day.

Thank you so much for the advise!!

I think I am going to stick with the 1.5 oz and 1/2 cup of dry food for another week. Before this, I used to feed them 3/4 cup dry food only. So, I think they are receiving about 25% wet and 75% dry at this point. Then, I will go 50% and 50%, etc.... That makes the most sense at this point since one of my girls has an upset tummy because of the change!

I'll keep you posted on the progress!

Originally Posted by ncarpi75

Thank you so much for the advise!!

I think I am going to stick with the 1.5 oz and 1/2 cup of dry food for another week. Before this, I used to feed them 3/4 cup dry food only. So, I think they are receiving about 25% wet and 75% dry at this point. Then, I will go 50% and 50%, etc.... That makes the most sense at this point since one of my girls has an upset tummy because of the change!

I'll keep you posted on the progress!

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Excellent. Sounds like you are doing everything the way it should be done.

Originally Posted by Yosemite

Excellent. Sounds like you are doing everything the way it should be done.

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It's all because I am a member of TCS!!!

Double check the labels on the pouches. I don't remember exactly what their feeding recommendations are but I think it's something like two pouches per day per 5# of body weight, which would be 4 pouches per day for a 9# cat. Since you are feeding some dry it might be closer to 3 pouches. But either way, double check.

I saw that as well, but I interpretted that as being 2 pouches daily; one per every 5# . However, I am really determining the feeding by kcal.
I will call Nutro tomorrow and see what they say! It can't hurt to double check!

Thanks!

My experience has been that most pet food companies' recommendations are to much food for most cats. I don't have a solution for this problem except to modify each cat's diet by watching their weight and energy levels closely.
I also think that it is important to get base line blood panels so that if you sense a change in their health...you have a place to start.

Both of my kitties, who will be 6 years old in July, currently eat Nutro CC Weight Management pouches and dry kibbles.
Dexter weighs 15 lbs..
Sadie 10lbs...
They share 1 pouch AM/PM
Kibbles are free fed 1 cup shared per day.

I am not saying that is how you should feed your cat....just showing how I have modified the recommended amounts.

Their blood panels and health right now are fine.

Thanks for your input xocats! That makes sense!

Keep us updated about how and what you are feeding your kitties.
The more information we have the better for all of us.
Isn't TCS a great place?