How to get a cat to eat new food?

Cats can be very fussy about their food. This often leads many cat owners to wonder how to get a cat to eat new food. Cats easily become accustomed to a certain type of food, which is why changing a cat's diet can be challenging. For example, switching a cat's food from sugared to sugar-free can require a lot of patience from the cat owner. However, the change is worth it for the cat's health and well-being.

Read our tips in this article on how to get a cat to eat new food.

Three simple steps to switch your cat's food

1. Offering new and old food side by side: For 1–2 days, serve a small portion of the new cat food alongside the old food in its own bowl. This way, the cat gets used to the smell of the new food and has the opportunity to taste it.

2. Mixing new and old food: Next, mix the new and old food in the same bowl. Initially, add about 1/5 of the new food, and gradually increase the amount of new food over the following days.

3. Entirely new food: About a week later, you can offer only the new food if the cat has learned to eat it together with the old food. If the cat has not yet adapted to the new food, continue offering the mixture and try serving only the new food again later.

If your cat has a sensitive stomach, remember to change the cat’s food very slowly. Changing the diet too quickly can cause stomach problems. Read more about the most common stomach issues in cats and how to feed a cat with a sensitive stomach.

Tips on how to get a cat to eat new food

• Add some of your cat's favourite treats or kibble to the food.
• You can use minced meat or other raw foods as an addition to the mixture. Boneless meat can be cooked as well. 
• Let the food warm to room temperature; cats may not want to eat cold food.
• Leave the food in the bowl, even if the cat does not want to eat it right away. The cat may come to taste the food later.
• Reduce the number of treats your cat receives to ensure it has an appetite during mealtime.
• Cats usually do not like to eat wet and dry food mixed together, but you can still try combining the new food with either familiar wet food or kibble.
• Drizzle some broth from a tuna can over the food.
• Hunting games and exercise before meals can stimulate your cat’s appetite. For example, you can toss pieces of dry food for your cat to chase as if they were prey. Another option is to play with your cat using a toy that mimics prey before feeding.

Adding your cat's dry food to a feeding enrichment toy or hiding and tossing kibble are practical ways to awaken the inner hunter in a cat that is difficult to motivate for play.

Free Feeding or Meal Feeding?

Free feeding means that food is constantly available to the cat. For example, a bowl of dry food is left out so that the cat can eat independently throughout the day. In meal feeding on the other hand, the cat receives its food in individual meals, and food is always not available. 

Different feeding methods can impact how to get a cat to eat new food. When food is not always available and the cat is not already full, the new food may be more appealing. However, keep in mind that if your cat is used to free feeding, changes to the feeding routine should be made gradually. For example, you can start by removing the food bowl for a couple of hours and then gradually extend the time.

Remember, you should never fast a cat. Even a day of not eating can cause serious damage to a cat’s body. Read more of our practical feeding tips for cats

Naturally selective eater

A cat's natural behaviour includes a cautious approach to new foods, as a cat cannot be completely sure about the safety of food that smells strange. This natural trait of cats does not help when figuring out how to get a cat to eat new food.

You can expand your cat’s diet by introducing human foods that are also safe for cats. This can help your cat become more interested in trying unfamiliar foods. Start with options like shrimp or tuna in water. These can serve as enticing treats and encourage your cat to explore new flavors.

Is your cat not eating well? Check out possible causes for your cat's lack of appetite and discover PrimaCat's ways to improve it.

If you have a kitten at home, remember to offer it a variety of foods and textures from a young age. It has been suggested that kittens exposed to a diverse diet are more open to trying new foods even in adulthood. Let the kitten sample different flavours of wet food, kibble, and meats and fish. Learn more about feeding kittens.

Surprisingly, many cat foods contain added sugar, which is unnecessary for cats and may even impair their overall wellbeing. Therefore, it is not good for cats to get used to sugared food. Read our tips on how to find the highest quality food for your cat on the grocery stores.

PrimaCat cat foods always contain plenty of meat and never wheat or added sugar. Discover the grain-free PrimaCat Classic wet foods.