Switching Cat Food: A Gentle Transition

Recently, I began switching my three cats' food to a grain-free/all life stages variety. The motivation behind this was that all three of them - 4 years old, 2 years old, and a 4 and a half month old - were sharing the same bowl, leading to potential digestive issues. It's common for cats to experience initial stomach upset when switching food, and here's what you can do about it.

Why Is My Cat Throwing Up?

When making a change in your cat's diet, abrupt switches can lead to stomach upset and vomiting. This is because cats are sensitive to sudden changes in their digestive system. A more gradual approach, such as mixing the old food with the new food over several days, can help smooth out the transition.

I've had a similar experience with a picky eater in the past. Gradually mixing the new food with the old one, starting with 80% of the old and 20% of the new, and then increasing the proportion day by day, allowed me to find a food that both the cat and I could live with.

Handling Dry Food

Dry food can be more problematic because the smallest bag you can buy often contains 5 pounds, which might be too much for a cat to consume gradually. A good strategy is to gradually mix the new food with the old food. This not only increases the likelihood that they will eat the new food but also lowers the chance that their stomachs will be upset by a full dose of the new food all at once.

Vomiting in Cats and Feeding Habits

It's also worth considering the feeding habits of your cats. If one of your cats is eating too quickly and expelling the food soon afterward, it could be the cause of vomiting. This is a common issue, especially with grain-free or high-protein foods that cats enjoy eating quickly.

One of my cats used to eat her grain-free food so quickly that she would vomit it soon after. To solve this, I broke the amount of food into smaller portions and fed her more frequently. This limited the amount she could eat quickly and reduced her chances of vomiting.

Feeding Schedules and Eating Habits

Ensuring that cats eat at regular intervals, with no sharing of food between them, can also help prevent such issues. I allow each cat to have their own food bowl and ensure that no one cat can poach someone else's food. This not only regulates their eating habits but also helps in preventing them from eating too quickly and expelling the food.

Other Helpful Tips

Adding cat grass to their diet can also help. If they vomit up the cat grass they have nibbled on before they eat, it can help them digest their food more thoroughly afterward.

It's advisable to feed your cats grain-free wet food instead of dry food. Grain-free wet food is easier to digest and can help prevent digestive issues.

If your cat continues to vomit after a change in diet, it might be a good idea to switch back to the previous food and explore other alternatives. The process of finding the right food for your cat can be lengthy, but it's worth the effort for their health and well-being.