How To Begin
So you have decided to start!!!! Switching to raw can be different for every cat. Some take to it like their salvation has arrived. Some tentatively try it. Some think you are trying to poison them and will bury it. Don't be discouraged, even the worst dry food junky can learn to eat raw. Think of how you would react if you were raised on Dove Chocolate and potato chips and suddenly all you had to eat were peas and carrots.
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Here is a quick overview on how I switched my cats that included a few reluctant ones. My plan catered to the hard to convince. Michelle's book also contains many helpful ideas.
1) What worked for me was first going to two daily feedings, feeding only dry food. I did that for a week or two until they got used to it and stopped harassing me constantly.
2) Then I began to include some canned at each feeding. Cats like the taste of Wellness Turkey & Salmon or BG (Before Grain-Merrick)Chicken, Salmon or any other single protein. 100% protein, no vitamins added.(B.G. may not be used as a complete diet.)
3) My next step was decreasing the amount of dry that was available. I didn't mix the two foods, I kept decreasing the amount of dry until there wasn't any. My dry food junkies are also the biggest pigs. They flew through the dry and still wanted more, and would have to start on the canned.
4) I also began putting out some raw for those that would eat it. At this point I had everyone on either canned or raw.
5) You can skip this step if it is not needed and go to Step 6. My next step was to switched the canned to Wysong All Meat canned. It isn't as tasty as the brands that are full of junk. Each day I mixed a little more of the Wysong into the previous brands of canned food. By the time I got the processed food hold-outs switched to the Wysong they decided on their own that the raw was actually better.
6) If your cat still is not interested in raw, begin to mix a tiny bit of raw into the their canned food. Slowly increasing the amount. If they stop eating, go back to the amount they will eat and progress at a slower pace. Don't get discouraged. They will all switch over eventually. And you will be so glad you stayed with it!
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Other Hints
If your cat already likes canned food, but wants to bury the raw, you can begin by mixing a VERY small amount of raw into the canned. Slowly increase the amount of raw. If your cat stops eating ,decrease the amount. You are going too fast. If they eat around the raw, put the raw into the blender with the canned food.
It is easier to switch if you do not use any supplements in the raw at first. Cats can smell a vitamin from 100 miles away. I started with ground turkey and the following week added a little pureed chicken liver. Then I added the supplements little by little. Later on I tried different meat sources. Rabbit and quail are their favorites.
DO NOT fast old or fat cats. They are at very high risk for Fatty Liver disease. They need to eat something in every 24 hour period.
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