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Cat Forum / General Topics / September 2005Is it ok to feed a variety of (canned) food?
Hi everyone, I "suspect" it would be good for nutrition to feed them a variety of foods (all canned), but how does it work in practice with their digestion or even psychology? Is it ok to vary the kind from meal to meal, day to day, or should the change come more slowly? How slowly? Thanks. Appreciate all the guidance! A. > Hi everyone, > > I "suspect" it would be good for nutrition to feed them a variety of > foods (all canned), but how does it work in practice with their > digestion or even psychology? Feeding a variety of foods from a young age will help prevent fixed food preferences later in life. This could mean the difference between life and death if your cat ever needs to eat a prescription diet. Varying the diet will also avoid problems in the event a particular brand or flavor goes off the market or the formula changes. > Is it ok to vary the kind from meal to meal, day to day, or should the > change come more slowly? How slowly? Generally, diets should be changed slowly initially. 25%-50%-75%-100%. After your cats have adapted to the different foods, you can feed a different variety everyday. That's what I do and my cats haven't had any problems. Good luck, Phil. > Thanks. Appreciate all the guidance! > > A. : Feeding a variety of foods from a young age will help prevent fixed food : preferences later in life. This could mean the difference between life and : death if your cat ever needs to eat a prescription diet. Varying the diet : will also avoid problems in the event a particular brand or flavor goes off : the market or the formula changes. Thanks for articulating it so clearly. I had a vauge feeling that variety would be good for her as it is for people, now I am reassured! : Generally, diets should be changed slowly initially. 25%-50%-75%-100%. : After your cats have adapted to the different foods, you can feed a : different variety everyday. That's what I do and my cats haven't had any : problems. She seem adapted to variety, but does play games that throw me off. For example greatly enjoying a food one time, and sitting quietly with that "what else have you got?" look the next time I serve the same. I let her food sit for about an hour, so she has that long to reconsider. I get the impression she is less likely to act that way when I open a fresh can and more when served from a refrigerated can. So maybe I need to perfect my warming technique. I have tight lids for cans, try to leave the can out 2-3 hours in advance, if it still feels cold to the touch microwave for 3-5 seconds, if it looks dry add 1/2 spoon of warm water, etc., but maybe still not the same thing as fresh. >: Feeding a variety of foods from a young age will help prevent fixed >: food preferences later in life. This could mean the difference [quoted text clipped - 23 lines] > the touch microwave for 3-5 seconds, if it looks dry add 1/2 spoon of > warm water, etc., but maybe still not the same thing as fresh. When offered a choice, my cats definately seem to have a preference for whichever food is freshest. I used to think that they were being abitrarily finicky, but the pattern is that they want whichever can or bag was opened TODAY, not yesterday's leftovers. I've fed them a variety of flavors, but I generally stick to a few trusted brands, mostly Science Diet these days, but in the past I also fed different flavors of Iams, Friskies and Purina canned and dry. > : Feeding a variety of foods from a young age will help prevent fixed food > : preferences later in life. This could mean the difference between life and [quoted text clipped - 18 lines] > fresh can and more when served from a refrigerated can. So maybe I need > to perfect my warming technique. Cold food is less aromatic and palatable. Cats are attracted to food by smell first, texture and taste. I have tight lids for cans, try to > leave the can out 2-3 hours in advance, if it still feels cold to the > touch microwave for 3-5 seconds, if it looks dry add 1/2 spoon of warm > water, etc., but maybe still not the same thing as fresh. Try heating the refrigerated food to either room or body temperature. Good luck, Phil > Cold food is less aromatic and palatable. Cats are attracted to food by > smell first, texture and taste. My Siega seems to like the cold leftover's from the frig more than when I first open the can. She might be sensitive to smells? Once I got this fancy sounding seafood for her.. it sounded like any cat's dream right? I normally don't mind the smell of her food, but this one was a very fishy smell... (I know, I know) But, she wouldn't touch it! Kathryn ---------------------------------------- Who are Kathryn & Siega? http://www.cardsyourway.us/about_me.html > Cold food is less aromatic and palatable. Cats are attracted to food by > smell first, texture and taste. My Siega seems to like the cold leftover's from the frig more than when I first open the can. She might be sensitive to smells? Once I got this fancy sounding seafood for her.. it sounded like any cat's dream right? I normally don't mind the smell of her food, but this one was a very fishy smell... (I know, I know) But, she wouldn't touch it! Kathryn ---------------------------------------- Who are Kathryn & Siega? http://www.cardsyourway.us/about_me.html > : Feeding a variety of foods from a young age will help prevent fixed food > : preferences later in life. This could mean the difference between life and [quoted text clipped - 21 lines] > touch microwave for 3-5 seconds, if it looks dry add 1/2 spoon of warm > water, etc., but maybe still not the same thing as fresh. I might be tempted to eat that myself. Do you add any spices or vitamins? : -) > Hi everyone, > [quoted text clipped - 8 lines] > > A. My cat was feed a variety of foods when she was growing up so as an adult today she will eat just about anything. i.e.: Not picky. You'd be best to not switch meal-to-meal or even day-to-day, but gradually over a period of days while increasing the percentage of new food mixed in with the old. : You'd be best to not switch meal-to-meal or even day-to-day, but : gradually over a period of days while increasing the percentage of new : food mixed in with the old. I am not thinking of switching from one food all the time to another one all the time. I meant more like feeding her different foods at different times, the way I eat. :-) |
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