How to transition your cat to daily fresh food

Obligate carnivores

Cats are designed for high protein and moisture, not carbohydrates. Moving to a recipe with 71% moisture and 85% animal ingredients is a significant nutritional shift, even when it is the right one.

Creatures of habit

Cats are neophobic eaters. Many fixate on familiar textures, temperatures, aromas, and bowl placement. Appetite disruption during a food change is behavioural as much as it is digestive.

Strict escalation thresholds

A cat that eats less than 50% of their normal calories for 48 hours is at risk of hepatic lipidosis. For this reason, appetite stability is always the priority: comfort over speed.

Microbiome adjustment

Switching from dry food to a moisture-rich, high-protein recipe shifts your cat's gut bacteria. This takes time, and temporary stool changes in the first two weeks are a normal part of the process.

This is the standard schedule for healthy adult cats. If your cat shows hesitation or digestive changes at any point, hold the current ratio for two to three extra days before advancing. Never rush.

Days	OLD Food	NEW FOOD	What to Watch For
Days 1 to 3	90%	10%	Minimal digestive change expected. Your cat may sniff the bowl for longer than usual. Total appetite should remain stable. Mild stool softening can occur but stools should remain formed.
Days 4 to 6	75%	25%	Early microbiome adjustment begins. Some cats eat more slowly due to the new texture. A slight stool odour change or mild softening is normal. Ensure total caloric intake stays consistent.
Days 7 to 9	50%	50%	The biggest digestive adaptation phase. Monitor for repeated vomiting, which is not normal. Stool should remain formed. Mild softness is acceptable for 24 to 48 hours only. Appetite must stay stable.
Days 10 to 12	25%	75%	Most cats show stable digestion by now. Stool volume may slightly decrease due to higher digestibility. Water drinking often decreases as the food provides natural moisture. Energy levels should be normal.
Day 13+	0%	100%	Fully transitioned. Continue monitoring appetite, body weight, and stool consistency for the next two weeks. Schedule a weight check at weeks two to four to confirm appropriate intake.

Mix thoroughly. Always combine both foods in one bowl. Cats offered two separate options will often pick one and leave the other.

Serve at right temperature. Aim for 30 to 35°C. Add a splash of warm water or rest the bowl inside a larger bowl of hot tap water for a few minutes. Never microwave.

Use a flat, wide bowl. Ceramic or stainless steel. Deep bowls press against the whiskers and cause enough discomfort to put a cat off eating, even when they are hungry.

Play before meals. Three to five minutes of active play before feeding mimics the hunt sequence, primes appetite, and leads to noticeably better engagement at the bowl.

Keep location consistent. Do not move the feeding spot during the transition. Cats treat location as part of their feeding routine and a change alone can trigger refusal.

No new treats. Avoid introducing new treats or supplements during the transition. Keeping all variables constant means you can read appetite signals clearly and accurately.

Maintain total calories. The daily gram amounts should stay consistent across the transition. Do not feed less overall simply because you are introducing a new food alongside the old one.

Appetite first, always. If your cat's intake drops at any stage, pause and hold the current ratio. A settled appetite matters more than keeping to the schedule. Never rush.

Cats in the wild hunt and eat 10 to 20 small meals a day. Structured meal times are the closest practical equivalent and support better digestion, steadier energy, and more consistent appetite than unrestricted access to food.

Option 1 — Ideal

3 to 4 meals per day

Best for indoor cats, weight management, and sensitive digestion.

7 to 8 AM	Morning meal
12 to 1 PM	Midday meal
6 to 7 PM	Evening meal
10 PM	Optional small meal

Option 2 — Practical

2 meals per day

Realistic for most working households. A solid daily minimum.

7 to 9 AM	Morning meal
6 to 8 PM	Evening meal

Option 3 — Mixed

2 meals and a midday snack

Good for picky cats or those that show disinterest at larger meals.

Morning	Main meal
Midday	Small topper or snack
Evening	Main meal

Do not free feed. Leaving food available at all times disrupts appetite rhythm, creates GI instability, encourages overeating, and causes the food to lose palatability as it sits. Cats detect oxidation, temperature drops, and smell degradation within 20 to 30 minutes. What looks like pickiness is often a cat correctly judging that the food is no longer fresh. Structured meal times and prompt removal of uneaten food resolve the majority of feeding difficulties that appear in the first weeks.

Cat Weight	Daily Amount	Meals / Day
2 kg	70 to 90 g	2 to 3 meals
3 kg	90 to 110 g	2 to 3 meals
4 kg	110 to 140 g	2 to 3 meals
5 kg	140 to 170 g	2 to 3 meals
6 kg	170 to 200 g	2 to 3 meals
7 kg	200 to 230 g	2 to 3 meals
8 kg	230 to 260 g	2 to 3 meals

Overweight cats: use ideal body weight, not current weight, to calculate portions. Kittens under one year: 3 to 4 meals daily. Senior cats over ten years: 2 to 3 smaller meals to protect muscle mass and support kidney hydration.
If you are unsure of the right daily amount, contact us on WhatsApp and our nutrition team will calculate a personalised starting portion.

Many of the changes you observe in the first two weeks are normal physiological responses to the switch. Here is what to expect and what to act on.

✓ NORMAL — NO ACTION NEEDED

Sniffing the bowl for longer before eating
Slightly softer stools for 24 to 48 hours
Darker stool colour from organ meat content (normal if stool remains firm)
Mild stool odour change
Drinking noticeably less water (the food provides 71% moisture)
Litter box frequency changing by roughly one visit per day
Slightly smaller stool volume due to higher digestibility
Increased urination is possible and generally normal

◎ PAUSE — SLOW THE TRANSITION

Soft stool lasting more than 48 hours: revert to the previous ratio for three days
Appetite drop of more than 20%: hold current ratio until appetite fully recovers
Single vomiting episode: hold ratio and monitor for 24 hours before advancing
Significant increase in hairball vomiting: pause and hold
Consistently leaving more than half the bowl or eating noticeably more slowly

⚑ CONTACT US OR YOUR VET

Complete food refusal for more than 24 hours
Eating less than 50% of normal calories for 48 hours
Repeated vomiting within any 24-hour period
Watery diarrhoea or blood in stool
Straining in the litter box or no stool for more than 48 hours
Lethargy, hiding, or significantly reduced grooming
Yellowing of gums or eyes: seek vet care immediately

Every ingredient in Wundercat Duck with Tuna was chosen with a specific nutritional purpose. There are no fillers, no grains, and no synthetic preservatives.

Duck (meat, heart, neck, gizzard, liver, fat) — 71.3%

Five distinct duck cuts deliver a complete amino acid profile, natural taurine from the organs, and the fat content that makes the meal palatable even for particular eaters. Duck heart and liver are the primary taurine source, at approximately 4,660 mg/kg dry matter, well above AAFCO and FEDIAF minimums.

Sardines, blue mussels, and tuna — 7.8%

The marine protein component provides EPA and DHA omega-3 fatty acids in their most bioavailable phospholipid form, plus additional digestible protein. The tuna also delivers a strong aroma that many cats find immediately appealing, which is why it works well as a transition topper.

Camel bone broth — 6.8%

Slow-simmered to add natural collagen, minerals, and additional moisture. Camel bone broth is a novel protein source that is particularly well-tolerated by cats with protein sensitivities and contributes meaningfully to the recipe’s overall hydration.

Pumpkin

Gentle soluble fibre to support regular, well-formed stools. Pumpkin is a natural stool stabiliser during the transition period and contributes carotenoids and digestive support throughout.

Cranberries, spinach, and pumpkin seeds

Cranberries provide proanthocyanidins that support urinary tract health. Spinach contributes bioavailable magnesium and folate. Pumpkin seeds are a concentrated natural source of magnesium and zinc.

Macronutrient summary (as fed): 14.4% protein · 8.2% fat · 71% moisture · 0.7% fibre · ~1,306 kcal/kg. On a dry matter basis: 49.4% protein, 28.1% fat, 10.5% carbohydrates from pumpkin and cranberries only. No grains, no soy, no artificial colours or preservatives. AAFCO 46/46 PASS. FEDIAF 2025 compliant.

Transitioning your cat to daily fresh food

Your cat has already met their first Wundercat meal. This guide explains how to move from taste testing to a full daily routine, at the right pace for their digestive system.

Transitioning your cat to fresh food

Your cat has already met their first Wundercat meal. This guide explains how to move from taste testing to a full daily routine, at the right pace for their digestive system.

Why the pace of change matters for cats

Obligate carnivores

Creatures of habit

Strict escalation thresholds

Microbiome adjustment

Overweight cats: extra caution required

Day-by-day transition from kibble or wet food

For cats with a sensitive digestive history: use an extended schedule

How to make the transition work

How often and when to feed

3 to 4 meals per day

2 meals per day

2 meals and a midday snack

How much to feed each day

What you will notice, and what it means

Multi-cat household guidance

During the transition

The feeding environment

Checking your cat's body condition

Body weight

Rib coverage

Waist visibility

What is in the Fresh Duck with Tuna meal

A question about the transition?