Switching food means changing a habit, and some cats change habits more slowly than others. Whether a cat accepts a new food comes down to smell and texture. If yours still refuses after a few tries, the smell or the texture needs to change.
The protein sets the smell, so pick proteins your cat already likes. Overcooked liver is one reason some cats refuse homemade food, as our post on cooking liver explains.
Read more: Pick a protein · Guide 3
The 10-day ladder
Raise the share of homemade in four steps.
| Days | Homemade | Current food |
|---|---|---|
| 1 to 3 | 25% | 75% |
| 4 to 6 | 50% | 50% |
| 7 to 9 | 75% | 25% |
| 10 | 100% | None |
Let the litter box set the pace. Move up a step only while stools stay firm. If they turn loose, hold the step until they firm up.
Kittens use the same ladder: a kitten's stomach is small and sensitive to sudden change. Some cats, usually younger ones, switch with little fuss.
To combine the two foods:
- From wet food: mix the homemade into the wet food, or spoon the wet food on top of the homemade as a topper.
- From dry food: sprinkle the dry food on top of the homemade as a topper, made with a little less water so the kibble does not turn mushy. Or serve the two side by side, in the amounts the table gives.
The 21-day version
Some cats need a few weeks. That is normal. Take 21 days if your cat has a sensitive stomach. Start with a teaspoon or two of homemade mixed into the current food. Add a little more every few days, only after the last increase settles.
Texture
Cook the texture closest to what your cat eats now. A cat on wet food has the easiest switch. For a cat on dry food, smell, texture and moisture all change at once: start with Chunks, the closest texture. Once switched, expect less drinking: fresh food is about three-quarters water, as our post on switching explains.
Read more: Pick a texture · Guide 3
If your cat refuses
Try these in order.
-
Warm it. Set its container in warm water for a few minutes to lift the smell. Never use the microwave.
-
Add a favorite. This is often what works. Squeeze a little lickable topper over the homemade food, or crumble freeze-dried treats on top: hearts, giblets or sardines, whatever your cat loves. Once they eat the mix, ease it out over a few days.
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Change the texture. A cat used to pâté will often walk away from Chunks. Cook the next batch in a texture closer to what they know.
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Try another protein. Cook a different recipe, with a protein you think your cat will like.
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Feed at set times. Pick up the bowl between meals, and offer the new food when your cat is usually hungriest.
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Slow down. Go back to the last step that worked, and stay there for a few days.
When to slow down or pause
Slow down, or pause and go back to the usual food until your cat is ready, if your cat:
- Vomits after a meal
- Still has loose stool after 2 days at the same step
- Eats nothing at all for 24 hours
- Seems lethargic
With a kitten, a senior or a cat with a diagnosed condition, call your vet about any worrying change.