There are many creative ways to transition cats from commercial canned and dry foods to eating raw food. In all cases, the intent is to help cats make the emotional adjustment. The transition is less one of accustoming the body to a new food. If cats would make the switch from one day to the next, it would not likely cause a physical upset.

Introduction of raw food is almost always easy with kittens – the younger the better. Many adult cats do not enjoy the introduction of raw food, and many do not even appear to recognize it as food! With cats like that, the transition period can turn into test of patience, and take longer than expected. That is perfectly normal. However, the emotions of cat owners who are new to raw feeding are a mix of excitement and reservation. Many feel completely let down when their cats refuse to eat the new food and feel confirmed in their feelings of reservations towards this way of feeding. Doubts can creep up like “if raw food was truly natural and good for cats, cats should want to eat it instinctively” or “they know it is not good.”

But that is not how cats work when it comes to food. For example, most cats will hunt prey instinctively, but many never eat it. This is because only the drive to hunt is instinct, but not the knowing of what to eat. In nature, cats are taught by their mothers that what they hunt is also food. In a domestic setting and raised by humans, that is no longer so. Hunting is now separated into playing with inedible toys and regularly feedings at a stationary source.

Cats are conditioned to and learn what to eat during early life. It is much like humans growing up within cultural traditions and with foods that reflect their ethnicity. As kittens grow older, the window of learning closes, and their flexibility of accepting new foods declines. Starting at the age of around four weeks old, kittens are guided by some inborn cravings and odour triggers, but largely learn what to eat from their mother who brings prey back to the den. When kittens grow up with humans as their “mothers”, humans imprint them on what to eat. Cats will rely on this early food imprinting to guide them for the rest of their lives in what is good to eat. Anything unknown, regardless of how natural or healthy – even mice or raw meat – gets a response of resistance, because it is not familiar and forces them out of their comfort zone.

When transitioning adult cats to raw food, it is wise to work with this limitation in mind. The old adage of “they will eat when they get hungry enough” will not work with cats. Many will rather go without food for days, which is very dangerous for them. Others will actually rather not eat at all. The strong early life food imprint is also linked to their sense of feeling safe.  Unfamiliar food challenges their sense of safety. Success is more likely when this challenge is broken down into tiny steps and the raw food is hidden in familiar food to be eaten almost accidentally at first.

FIRST STEP:  Cats must readily eat commercial canned cat food. Tiny amounts of raw food are mixed well into a portion of canned cat food, and the amount of raw food is very gradually increased over a number of weeks. If cats are used to eating dry food only, the first step would then be to feed the dry food as small meals instead of free choice. Small amounts of canned food are then introduced with the dry food meals. Later, dry food can be milled into a powder with a designated coffee bean grinder and sprinkled over the canned food.

TIP: when transitioning cats from dry food first, purchase the smallest available cans of canned cat food. Many cats will only eat freshly opened canned cat food, but refuse it for a second meal later, especially if it was stored in the refrigerator. Try storing leftover canned cat food at room temperature in a sealed container with as little air as possible.

Raw food prepared for transitioning should be portioned and frozen as the smallest possible quantities to reduce waste. Raw food can be frozen on a lined cookie sheet in teaspoon sized portions, then transferred into a freezer bag for better storage.

STEP TWO: Once cats readily eat meals consisting of 50% canned food and 50% raw food, the meals can be top-dressed to mask the increasingly amount of raw food, going forward. Nutritional yeast flakes (not Brewer’s Yeast or yeast for baking) or dry food that was milled into a powder with a designated coffee bean grinder are loved by cats and safe.

TIP: Some canned cat food may have to be included in the raw food indefinitely. Once cats readily consume a mix of 75% raw food with 25% canned food, a can of canned cat food can be added during the preparation of a batch of raw food, and frozen with it. Top dressing with Nutritional Yeast flakes or powdered dry food may also need to be continued assure cats eat with gusto. A large spice shaker works well to keep the top dressing handy.

Some cats will only eat raw food when fresh liver is added; other will never eat raw food if fresh liver is included. It is important to settle that question early on. Liver is an important addition to the raw food. It delivers a number of essential nutrients, like vitamin A, D, and various B vitamins, as well as a number of trace minerals. It is preferable to feed raw food that contains fresh liver, but if the fresh liver is a deal breaker, freeze dried liver can be tried or TCfeline Special Formula premix can be used, which substitutes these vitamins and trace minerals from other sources.