If your kitty is turning their nose up at dinner you may be wondering, can I feed my cat different brands of food to spice up mealtimes?
The answer is yes! You can feed your cat different brands of food. In fact, cats benefit from having variety in their diet.
In this article, we’ll answer more questions you might have about changing your cat’s diet like:
- What to do if your cat is bored eating the same food every day
- How to change cat food brands without causing an upset stomach
- Tips on mixing different kinds of cat foods
- And much more!
Our expert team of cat lovers, behaviorists, and veterinarians are here to tell you everything you need to know about feeding different cat food brands.
Do cats need variety in their diet?
Cats can benefit from having access to a variety of foods.
This could be as simple as trying different flavors or kinds of food under the same label, especially if your cat loves one particular brand of food.
For example, one of our favorite premium cat food brands Blue Buffalo offers over 60 wet cat foods alone!
A healthy cat needs a few major things when it comes to a well-balanced diet. Your cat’s basic needs are met through diets high in meat and animal proteins that are fortified with the amino acids, vitamins, and minerals that they need to thrive.
As long as the food meets your pet’s nutritional needs and you stay within the same protein amount, it’s generally fine to try other brands of food.
In this article, we’re specifically exploring what to do with finicky felines, not cats who have health conditions that require significant dietary changes.
Different types of cat food
The three most common types of cat foods are:
- Dry cat food
- Canned wet cat food
- Semi moist cat food
Can I feed my cat two different foods?
In most cases, you can feed your cat two different brands of food or lines of food within the same brand, but it takes time and may need some trial and error.
While exploring new brands of food is hardly an issue for us humans, for kitties, making a big change to what we put in their food bowl can upset a sensitive stomach or mess with your cat’s gastrointestinal tract.
This is why you’ll need to take a full week to transition your cat from one food to another. We’ll get into those percentages per day below.
Beyond understanding basic feline nutrition, there are a few things you need to keep in mind before trying a new cat food, these include:
- If your cat has food allergies
- What your cat’s life stage is a.k.a. how old are they?
- If your cat has a medical condition like inflammatory bowel disease
In some of those cases, it’s not ideal to experiment with new foods.
We recommend caution and using discretion. Even if your cat doesn’t have preexisting health conditions, it’s always best to consult your veterinarian before making changes to your cat’s diet.
How to mix cat food brands
Whether your cat eats only dry food, only wet foods, or a combination of the two, there are a few key things you need to know when you switch brands.
When it comes to mixing and matching new pet foods, vets recommend a gradual shift. For most cats, this is the best way to avoid gastrointestinal upset like vomiting or diarrhea.
The new food to old food ratio is best detailed below:
- Day 1: 75% old food, 25% new food
- Day 2: 70% old food, 30% new food
- Day 3: 60% old food, 40% new food
- Day 4: 50% old food, 50% new food
- Day 5: 40% old food, 60% new food
- Day 6: 25% old food, 75% new food
- Day 7: 100% new food
If you exclusively feed dry food to always be sure your cat has access to fresh water.
Can I feed my cat different brands of food?
Giving your cat different brands of foods can be a great way to spice things up for their taste buds.
As long as you’re feeding them a nutritionally complete balanced diet and your cat doesn’t have serious health conditions, changing up your cat’s food to incorporate a different brand isn’t a big deal.
It doesn’t matter if your cat prefers to eat dry food or wet food as long as the shift is gradual.
Note that this article is not a substitute for medical advice or a medical diagnosis. Always talk to your veterinarian first before changing cat foods.
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