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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.

Gently cooked, frozen fresh · AAFCO & FEDIAF compliant
wundercate logo2

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.

Gently cooked, frozen fresh · AAFCO & FEDIAF compliant
BEFORE YOU START
 

Why the pace of change matters for cats

Cats are biologically different from dogs in one important way: their digestive system and behavioural wiring make food changes genuinely stressful. Understanding this will help you interpret what you see during the transition.

Obligate carnivores

Cats are designed for high protein and moisture, not carbohydrates.  Moving to a recipe with 74 to 77% moisture and a high proportion of named 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. 

Overweight cats: extra caution required

Overweight cats face significantly higher hepatic lipidosis risk if they reduce intake during the transition.  Use the Clinical schedule (24 days, starting at 5% Wundercat), contact us at the first sign of appetite reduction, and do not attempt to speed the transition up. 

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THE SCHEDULE
 

Day-by-day transition for every cat

Cats adapt at different paces. Wundercat offers four schedules so you can match the transition to your cat's age and history. Choose the one that fits, then follow the day-by-day plan.

The Appetite Rule

Appetite is always the priority. If your cat's intake drops by more than 20%, hold the current ratio for two to three extra days before advancing. If intake drops below 60% of normal, switch to the next slower schedule and contact us. WhatsApp +971 50 229 8869.

Days Old Food New Food What to Watch For
Days 1 to 3
90% Old
 
10% New
 
 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% Old
 
25% New
 
 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% Old
 
50% New
 
 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% Old
 
75% New
 
 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% Old
 
100% New
 
 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.

If your cat hesitates at any phase, hold the current ratio for two to three extra days before advancing.

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The Schedules

Day-by-day transition

Pick the schedule that fits your cat. The plan below updates instantly.

The Appetite Rule

If your cat's intake drops by more than 20%, hold the current ratio for two to three extra days. If it drops below 60%, switch to the next slower schedule and contact us. WhatsApp +971 50 229 8869.

Days 1 to 3

Old90%
 
New10%
 

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

Old75%
 
New25%
 

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

Old50%
 
New50%
 

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

Old25%
 
New75%
 

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+

Old0%
 
New100%
 

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.

If your cat hesitates at any phase, hold the current ratio for two to three extra days before advancing.

TIPS FOR SUCCESS

How to make the transition work

Small habits during the switch make a meaningful difference to how quickly and comfortably your cat adapts.

1

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

2-1

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. 

3

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. 

4

 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. 

5

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. 

6-1

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. 

7-1

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. 

8-1

 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. 

For picky cats

Cat won't try it? We have a guide for that.

Ten tips, drawn from how cats actually behave around food, for getting picky cats to try fresh. Vet-reviewed. Real-cat tested.

Read the picky-cat tips → Or try the taster pack
Picky eater cat tips
FEEDING ROUTINE

How often and when to feed

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.

DAILY PORTIONS

How much to feed each day

These are starting guidelines based on body weight. Adjust based on your cat's body condition, activity level, and whether they are an indoor or outdoor cat. 

Cat Weight Daily Amount (1 pouch = 80g) Meals / Day
2 kg 70 to 90 g (1 pouch) 2 to 3 meals
3 kg 90 to 115 g (1 - 1½ pouches) 2 to 3 meals
4 kg 115 to 145 g (1½ - 2 pouches) 2 to 3 meals
5 kg 140 to 175 g (2 - 2 ½ pouches) 2 to 3 meals
6 kg 165 to 200 g (2 - 2 ½ pouches) 2 to 3 meals
7 kg 185 to 225 g (2 ½ - 3 pouches) 2 to 3 meals
8 kg 210 to 255 g (3 ½ - 4 pouches) 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 support steady appetite and consistent hydration. If you are unsure of the right daily amount, contact us on WhatsApp and our nutrition team will calculate a personalised starting portion. 

3-rules-of-handling-1
Thaw overnight
Bring to room temperature
Remove uneaten food
Flat bowl only
FIRST TWO WEEKS

What you will notice, and what it means

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 74 to 77% 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
IF YOU HAVE MORE THAN ONE CAT

Multi-cat household guidance

Transitioning in a multi-cat home requires a little more structure. Each cat adapts at a different pace, and shared feeding makes individual intake almost impossible to monitor accurately.

During the transition

  • Feed each cat separately in a different room or at a different time.
  • Do not allow cats to access each other's food during meals.
  • Monitor each cat's intake individually. A cat eating the other's food will appear to be doing well while the other goes without.
  • Do not assume a quiet litter box means all cats are eating normally. Verify directly.

The feeding environment

  • Feed in a quiet area away from noise, foot traffic, and other animals.
  • Each cat should have their own fixed feeding spot they can return to.
  • Competition at the bowl suppresses appetite and can delay transition significantly.
  • Once all cats are fully transitioned, supervised group feeding can be trialled, but separate bowls remain best practice.
ONGOING MONITORING

Checking your cat's body condition

Portions are starting points, not fixed targets. Check body condition every two to three weeks during and after the transition. Adjust food if body weight changes by more than 5% in either direction.

ideal not selected

Body weight

Weigh on the same scale at the same time of day. A 5% change up or down is the threshold for adjusting portions.

underweight upper not selected

Rib coverage

You should feel the ribs easily with light pressure but not see them clearly. Prominent ribs suggest underfeeding.

overweight not selectec

Waist visibility

Viewed from above, there should be a visible narrowing behind the ribs. No visible waist may indicate overfeeding.

A question about the transition?

Our nutrition team and in-house vet are available six days a week. Every cat transitions differently. If you are unsure about appetite changes, toppers, portions, or anything you are observing, reach us directly.