How to Switch Cats to a Raw Food Diet

Cats are carnivores by nature, so if they're fed raw meat, grains, vegetables, fruits and fatty acids, it's similar to the diet they would be getting in the wild. Yet though a raw-food diet is more natural and organic for cats, they need to be switched over slowly, so as not to distress their digestive system. As a plus, you the owner will know exactly what you are feeding your cat, because it's been freshly prepared. Read on to learn how to switch your cat to a raw-food diet.

Instructions

1

Stop allowing your cat to feed whenever he wants throughout the day. Use the same kibble he is eating and begin feeding it to him two to three times a day. This will get him used to getting food at certain times. Let the cat eat as much as he can for 15 to 20 minutes. Eventually, he will understand that he has limited time to eat.

2

Keep kibble in a sealed plastic container so the cat cannot smell it or break into it. The point is to switch her from kibble to raw food, so you don't want her to be begging for the kibble. The kibble should only be available to her during the two to three meal times that you have established. Give the cat a week or more to get used to this new feeding schedule.

3

Feed the cat small portions of canned pumpkin or unsweetened yogurt if he continues to beg for food in between meals.

4

Purchase a canned food that does not contain seafood. You don't want the cat to eat the canned food simply because of its tuna scent. Add a spoonful of the canned food to the kibble during each meal. Depending on how well the cat adjusts, you might be able to add more canned food to the kibble each day or each week. The goal is to eventually have the cat eating canned food during all two or three meals.

5

Slowly add ground turkey to the canned food during each meal time. Follow the same process as in Step 4, so that the cat will eventually be eating ground turkey during all two or three meal times. Within a month or two, you will be able to add bone meal to your cat's diet.