how can a poor canned food be better

[micmit]

and do i leave the dry out between the 2 wet feedings

during the switch?

or just when i do each feeding?

 

[orange&white]

 
i forgot and gave it to her right out of the fridge

last night it was warm off the store shelf

maybe thats why she didnt eat it this morning

i dont have a way to heat it so i have to take it 

out to let it get warm so how long can it stay 

out of the fridge

i have to include the time its getting warm 

and the time to leave it out for her

Can you put a serving of food into a little bowl and set it into a bigger bowl of warm water to take the chill off?

I'm not sure how long wet food can sit out at room temp.  My cats scarf down everything I put in front of them in 5-10 minutes, even straight out of the fridge.  Maybe someone else knows the answer to that one.

 

[orange&white]

 
and do i leave the dry out between the 2 wet feedings

during the switch?

or just when i do each feeding?

I would try to get her to eat the 1/2 day of wet food first, then offer her 1/2 the day of dry food.  The same thing at the second feeding.

If she is absolutely refusing to eat the wet food, don't give up, but you may have a longer transition period than is ideal.  I'd give her 30 minutes to and hour with only the wet food, before giving in and offering her the dry.  For that time period, you may have to ignore/endure her screaming at you as if you're trying to starve her to death with no kibble on the floor.

 

[mizzely]

There are varying opinions on length of time left out:


http://www.thecatsite.com/t/185439/how-long-can-wet-cat-food-stay-out

http://www.thecatsite.com/t/154757/leaving-wet-food-out-for-long-periods-of-time

 

[orange&white]

Looks like a lot of people leave wet food out a long time with no problems.  I do occasionally give my kitten a fourth meal right before I go to bed if she hasn't eaten the number of ounces I want to offer her during the day.  Sometimes she doesn't eat all of the 4th meal, and what's left is out 8 hours.  I think if the food gets to stale, then most cats just won't eat it until you offer them fresh food.

 

[foxden]

M micmit
My cats don't usually leave any wet food in their bowls.

When they do, one of them has cleaned up the leftovers by 3-4 hours after their meal. Since the food is precooked, I think you can safely leave it out 8 hrs. It might get dry, but then the cats wouldn't eat it anyway.

 

[micmit]

no luck yet

the wets sitting out in her usual food area

warmed with a little warm water stirred in

shes parked herself on the counter

but at least not making any loud  sounds

 

[orange&white]

You could try crushing 1-2 pieces of her kibble and sprinkling it on top.

My kitten was born in a feral colony where people were leaving large piles of Meow Mix for the cats, so I bought a bag of grain-free kitten kibble when I brought her home in case she didn't want to eat wet food.  Once in a while, she doesn't start eating immediately, so I ask her if she "wants some crunchies".  Usually just putting a couple pieces on her food gets her appetite going so she eats what I want her to eat.

 

[micmit]

she finally ate a couple bites last night

then a couple bites of the dry

this morning so far a bit of wet

no dry yet

but i know neither time it wasnt

enough food

i will try some dry on top

and tonight i try a new flavor (theres only 2 here)

then if she still doesnt like it

i go for a different brand of cat food

i only have 3 brands to choose from

so hopefully....

 

[orange&white]

How old is she?  Sometimes, the older the cat is, the harder it is to change their diet.  It's not impossible, but might take longer.  I've read that cats set their taste preferences by 6 months old.

It is a good sign that she ate some of the wet last night and this morning. 

 

[micmit]

 
How old is she?  Sometimes, the older the cat is, the harder it is to change their diet.  It's not impossible, but might take longer.  I've read that cats set their taste preferences by 6 months old.

It is a good sign that she ate some of the wet last night and this morning. 

i adopted her 2 years ago from a shelter

and they said she was 9 months to a year old

so shes probably 3 now

when i got her she was used to dry with some wet they gave her

but i only used dry all this time because at the time i didnt understand the value

in wet food

 

[micmit]

 
i adopted her 2 years ago from a shelter

and they said she was 9 months to a year old

so shes probably 3 now

when i got her she was used to dry with some wet they gave her

but i only used dry all this time because at the time i didnt understand the value

in wet food

and i may have to accept that she wont eat a whole can

as the can says for her weight of 8 pounds

she usually doesnt eat the amounts suggested on any foods

ive fed her

but still runs around with lots of energy and isnt fat or thin

so i hope the switch from dry to wet 

wont mess that up somehow

 

[orange&white]

I do think that most feeding suggestions on pet food labels are too much food.

At 3 years old, cats are in their prime, still active and not fat.  This is a very good time to get her over to canned food.  The carbs in kibble are much more likely to turn a healthy young cat into an overweight older cat.  You're doing the right thing for her. 

 

[micmit]

uh oh now the incessant meowing for food starts

its gonna be hard not to give in

but there is 6 hours til its 12 hours apart from

being fed

 

[mizzely]

Maybe try 3 small meals, spaced 6 hours apart? Especially if she didn't eat everything at breakfast, she's probably hungry

 

[orange&white]

Yes, if she didn't eat half of her daily food allowance, I'd give her a bit of food.  If she did eat half of today's food, then I would hug/pet her or play with a string toy when she starts meowing until dinner time.

I have one cat on a diet.  He realized that meowing at me made me love on him or try to get him to play.  He now thinks I'm too stupid to realize that he is meowing for food...so he sits very quietly next to his empty saucer and looks at me forlornly.

 

[micmit]

well she ate nearly half a can at the 6 hour point after her first feeding

but its going to be too long before i can feed her wet again

(i will be asleep) so i thot i would put a bit of dry out

before i go to bed and hope she lets me sleep?

we shall see 

but its going better so far

 

[orange&white]

That sounds like very good progress indeed! 

 

[laura mae]

I buy the can size lids at petsmart and put the cold leftover food on a paper plate and heat it for 15 seconds. Then it's gained some of the smell back that cat's need to want to taste the food.

I give my cats smaller meals three times a day. Morning, dinner and night snack. 

 

[micmit]

today so far-- nothing

i really want her off the dry

i dont know how when shes given dry

is going to get her off it

my friend says dont even offer the dry

so she has to eat the wet

maybe my cat is a "cold turkey" on the dry type

before she will eat enuf wet