How To Switch Your Cat On To Raw Food

Thinking about switching your cat to raw food?

It can feel overwhelming, especially if you’ve got a picky eater or don’t know where to start! The good news is you’re not alone, and the benefits are worth it. From better digestion to a shinier coat and more energy, raw feeding can do wonders for your cat’s health and well-being. 

Follow our handy guide and top tips on how to make the transition as smooth as possible (well, we are talking about cats after all!) 

Be Patient

Cats are naturally very suspicious and sensitive to change, especially when it comes to their food. They need time to get used to the different textures and smells of raw food.

Some cats can take to raw straight away and instantly devour what’s in their bowl, but others can take up to a month to fully transition. Be patient and stick it out, your cat will thank you for it. 

The ‘Two Bowl’ Method

At Brown’s, we find that cat owners have the most success using the ‘two bowl’ method. 

Step 1: Put your cat’s usual food down. In a separate bowl, offer a small spoonful of raw. Your cat may only sniff and refuse it, but don’t worry, this is normal. Leave it down for 20-30 minutes, then discard it. 

Step 2: At the next mealtime, follow Step 1 again. This may seem counterproductive to offer the same thing your cat wouldn’t eat earlier, but what you are doing is getting them used to the new smell. 

Step 3: Once your cat starts to take an interest, begin offering more raw and reducing their usual meal portion. For example, if taking away 10% of their usual food, give them 10% raw, if removing 20%, give 20% raw, etc… 

Step 4: Continue to balance the amounts of each food until your cat is 90% on raw, with their usual wet food as a topper. You can choose to continue this, or remove their usual food entirely and be 100% raw. If they refuse an increased portion one day, revert to the previous day’s ratio, and so on. 

What’s The Catch?

Well, you’re right, as cat owners, we expect a curveball or two (or three, or four…). If your cat is being particularly challenging, here are a few tips to entice them in; 

Set The Temperature ‘Just Right’

Ensure the raw is allowed to come to room temperature before serving. Remember, we’re trying to tap into their primal instincts, and mice are never served cold! Take the portion out of the fridge and leave it out (covered) for 15 minutes or so. A teaspoon of warm water can speed things up, but never heat or microwave raw food. 

Why Routine Matters

It’s very common to let cats graze on their food throughout the day, sometimes known as ‘free-feeding’. We do not recommend this (with any food), as it is difficult to keep on top of portion control, especially in multi-cat households. Cats are carnivores, and their natural daily routine revolves around hunting, eating, and sleeping. While most of our cats wouldn’t survive a day away from the sofa, let alone in the wild, their digestive system is still built to eat 2-3 small meals per day. 

Setting mealtimes allows you to track your cat’s food intake and helps reduce fussiness in picky eaters. 

Choose Quality 

Feeding just chicken breast or fish fillets isn’t a raw diet. A balanced raw diet mimics what your cat would eat in the wild - we’re talking muscle meat, organs and bones. You need to provide the correct ratio of essential nutrients like taurine and calcium to ensure your cat doesn’t develop deficiencies. 

Luckily, most raw foods come pre-prepared and packaged in tubs or pouches. These provide the most balanced, safest, and simplest way to feed raw, especially when you’re just starting out. 

Boost Appeal With Toppers

If you get through Steps 1-3, but cannot get your cat onto 100% raw food, don’t worry! Work with your cat and listen to what they are telling you. If they will only eat their raw food with a spoonful of wet food or a sprinkle of biscuits on top, you can still chalk that up as a win. 

We often see this challenge in owners transitioning away from popular but lower-quality supermarket brands. Moving away from these sugary brands is hard, so even 50% raw and 50% ‘Schemlix’ is better than nothing. 

Adding small amounts of high-quality dry food, tasty sprinkles, or nutritious bone broth are also a good way to increase palatability and variety in your cat’s diet. 

Patience, Revisited

Unfortunately, cats don’t know what’s best for them, so we have to make their decisions. If they are resisting you at every step, have a break for a week and try again. There’s no hard and fast rule, so compromise is the best method.

Remember, if your cat doesn’t eat food for 24-48 hours, they can develop fatty liver disease, so never withhold food entirely. 

Ready To Make The Switch? 

Whether you're just starting with raw or stuck in the transition phase, we're here to help. Speak to one of our expert consultants in-store or drop us an email—we’ll guide you every step of the way.

Psst... keep an eye on our website - raw is coming soon!