If you’re still in the trial period:
If you're still in your 2 week trial, reset expectations (your cat’s and yours).
Some cats won’t eat a new food straight away, as they’re naturally neophobic. Because KatKin is made with 100% human quality meat and no additives or preservatives, it smells and tastes very different to supermarket cat food. Think: a healthy salad vs the smell of fast food.
Fussy cats will often need more than a few days to try a new food and even longer to get used to the new taste to finish a full portion.
If your cat didn’t eat KatKin in the first 24 hours:
Introduce their old food - reintroduce 80% of their old food alongside, in the same bowl. Don’t mix the food, but instead have it side by side, allowing your cat to investigate and choose at their own pace. Reduce the amount slowly over 3-5 days.
Tip! An open tray of KatKin lasts for 2 days in the fridge, and the rest can stay in the freezer for up to 9 months if your cat needs a longer trial period.
If your cat eats food next to KatKin, but doesn’t touch the KatKin itself, it’s still a really good sign. Eating the food next to KatKin will help them associate KatKin with the "smell' of food. This should help them pluck up the courage to try it.
Feed small portions, multiple times throughout the day if possible. Most cats are natural grazers and this may help increase the appeal of the food, making it less daunting.
If your cat hasn’t cleaned their plate, put it back in the fridge for later. This also preserves the freshness of the food and makes it more appetising, cats can be put off by fresh food that’s been sitting in their bowl for too long.
Play around with texture. Our food is versatile, and there’s lot of different ways to serve it. Try something new or change KatKin to make it as close to the texture as their old food.
Microwaving food for 15 seconds. This warms it to around 37°C, which mimics prey temperature and might help trigger their appetite. It also helps release meat juices, and melt fat, creating a tasty gravy (without the sugars and additives).
Add a spoon of cool water in summer or hot water in winter. Adding water to the food helps make the texture softer, which some cats prefer.
Tip! Instead of using a spoon, add a bit of water to the empty tray, and pour this into your cat's food bowl. This helps get the remainders of the meat + tasty juices from the tray too.
Squeeze the tray gently before cutting it open with scissors, to break up the meat into smaller pieces. Use a fork or spoon to get an even finer texture.
Play with your cat before mealtime. It gets their hunting instincts going and helps work up an appetite.
Think about the time of year.
Food intake may rise in colder months and drop in warmer ones and changing diet during extreme weather can make it difficult to discern your cat’s true opinion. If you’re interested in the science behind this, read our article here.
Adding cold water to the food in summer can help make the food more enticing for a cat, warming it up in winter with warm water, or the microwave, should also help.
If your cat hasn’t eaten KatKin after 5-7 days:
Have a break and take KatKin away + delay your next order. We’ll send you a text 4 days before your next delivery is due and you can reply directly to us to delay the delivery.
After a break, try feeding your cat in a different room in the house or a different part of the kitchen. This helps to reset a cat's expectations around food and sometimes cats prefer to try new things, such as eating up high on a counter top.
Try a different recipe completely, some cats don’t like Cluck at first, and a recipe with stronger smell and taste might be more tempting, like Mooo or Quack.
Leave your cat to it! Some cats are habitual and will pick up on changes in behaviour. Keep things as similar as possible to the old feeding method and don’t hover.
Or give your cat lots of attention and encouragement
Some cats need a lookout when it comes to trying something new. Sitting near them while they eat, stroking them or giving them head rubs can make cats feel comfortable and safe. This is especially true if you have other animals in the house.
If you have more than one cat:
Feed cats individually in the short term. Some cats prefer to eat alone, and they can form their own opinions of the food. Sometimes we see cats mirror each other's behaviour, often as a form of safety (my brother isn’t eating this, so maybe it’s not safe.)
If your cat has eaten some food at first, but since stopped
Cats might show interest in a new food initially but reject it later if the taste or post-meal experience isn’t satisfying. Try repeating the same food several times to allow familiarity to build and for them to get used to the new healthier experience.
If you’d like even more tailored advice to help switch your fussy cat, or support with your plan, our Cat Experts are here to help.
📞 020 4538 4144 - 10am-5pm
✉️ [email protected] - 9am-6pm