You've taken the step: from kitten food to adult food, or from adult food to senior food. You bought the new food, filled the bowl, and your cat turns around and walks away. Or worse: he sniffs it, gives you an indignant look and demands his familiar kibble back.

Frustrating, but completely normal. Cats are creatures of habit. A sudden change of food doesn't feel like an upgrade to them, but like a threat. Fortunately, this behavior can almost always be solved. This article explains why your cat is refusing and how to still make the switch a success. Also read the complete step-by-step plan for the transition from kitten food to adult food if you want to start the switch completely from scratch.

Why is your cat refusing the new food?

Cats are naturally extremely sensitive to smell. They identify food based on smell, texture and temperature. If one of those factors suddenly changes, the cat no longer recognizes it as food. That isn't stubbornness: it's survival instinct. In the wild, a cat didn't eat food it didn't know.

The most common causes of food refusal during a transition:

• 1.Transition too fast. Switching completely from one day to the next almost never works. Most cats need 10 to 14 days to get used to it.
• 2.Different smell or texture. Adult and senior food have different ingredient profiles than kitten food. The smell is less intense, which cats find less appealing.
• 3.Different kibble size or hardness. Senior food sometimes contains smaller, softer kibble. Some cats actually struggle with the smaller size.
• 4.Association with the old food. If the cat knows other food is (or was) available, he simply waits until he gets it again.

Restarting the transition: slower this time

If the transition didn't work, the most effective solution is: go back to the start and build up more slowly. Temporarily give your cat his old food back, without feeling guilty. Then start again with a 14-day schedule instead of 7.

For a cat that has already refused several times, you can even hold the 10% step for 4 to 5 days before moving on. Patience is the most effective intervention here.

Practical tips to win your cat over

Besides a slower schedule, there are a few small adjustments that speed up the transition considerably:

• ✓Gently warm the food (30-35 °C). Warmth boosts the smell. Putting kibble in the microwave for 10 seconds or pouring a splash of warm water over it makes the new food more appealing to your cat.
• ✓Offer smaller portions. A full bowl of new food is overwhelming. Start with a small portion next to the familiar food, so your cat can sniff it without pressure.
• ✓A different flavor or brand of the same type. Does your cat refuse the chicken variety? Try salmon or duck. Sometimes switching flavors helps the cat get used to the new type of food after all.
• ✓Stick to fixed feeding times. Cats that know food appears at two fixed moments a day are willing to eat what's there. Free feeding makes cats pickier.
• ✓Don't give in when your cat begs. This is the hardest tip. A cat that knows he'll get his old food back by waiting will keep waiting. Stick consistently to the new schedule.

Senior food: why refusal is more common

In practice, the switch to senior food is harder than the switch from kitten to adult food. There are two reasons for that.

First, older cats are more set in their ways. An 8-year-old cat has eaten the same food for years. His food preferences are deeply ingrained. A change is more quickly seen as a threat than with a young cat.

Second, senior food smells and tastes different. Senior food contains less fat and less protein (to spare the kidneys and liver), which makes its smell less intense. For a cat used to the richer aroma of adult food, senior food literally smells like less.

Also keep an eye on the feeding spot. Older cats with joint problems prefer to eat from a raised bowl, so they don't have to bend down. If eating hurts, a cat will eat less, regardless of the type of food.

When should you call in the vet?

There's an important distinction: a cat that only refuses the new food but still eats his familiar kibble is being picky. That's annoying but not medically urgent. A cat that doesn't eat at all anymore, not even his familiar food, is a different story.

• !Cat hasn't eaten anything for more than 24 hours (not even the old food): call the vet. With prolonged fasting, cats can develop fatty liver disease (hepatic lipidosis).
• !Weight loss in a short time: if your cat is visibly losing weight while you're trying the transition, a medical cause can't be ruled out.
• !Other symptoms: vomiting, lethargy, excessive drinking or urinating alongside the food refusal are signs that something more may be going on.

Not sure whether your cat really isn't eating or is just refusing the new food? An automatic feeder with HD camera gives you exact insight into when and how much is eaten, even when you're not home. Have a kitten that won't eat anything? Then read: kitten not eating: causes and what you can do.

Frequently asked questions

My cat hasn't eaten anything for 2 days after the food switch. What now? +

Call the vet right away. Not eating for more than 24 hours can lead to hepatic lipidosis (fatty liver disease) in cats, even if the cat looks fine on the outside. Temporarily give your cat his old food back and book an appointment. Only once your cat is eating normally again can you restart the transition, more slowly this time.

What's the maximum time a transition to new food should take? +

There's no fixed upper limit, but most cats manage within 14 to 21 days. For senior cats or cats with strong food preferences, it can take 4 to 6 weeks. As long as the cat is eating and not losing weight, a longer transition is fine. Just give it time.

Can I just keep giving my cat the old food if he refuses the new one? +

In the short term, yes, but it's not ideal in the long run. Kitten food contains too many calories and too much calcium for an adult cat, and senior food is specially tailored to the reduced kidney function and joint health of older cats. Adult food can put extra strain on a senior cat's kidneys. Talk to your vet about which food is most suitable if the transition really isn't working.

My cat sometimes eats the new food and sometimes doesn't. Is that normal? +

Yes, that's normal during the adjustment phase. Cats test boundaries and adapt their behavior based on what you do. As long as your cat isn't losing weight and has no other complaints, inconsistent eating during the transition is no cause for concern. Stick to fixed feeding times and keep offering the mix consistently.

Does wet food help with the transition to dry adult food? +

Mixing a small amount of wet food in the same flavor into the dry food can help make the smell more appealing. Use this as a temporary measure during the adjustment phase, not as a permanent system. Too much wet food alongside dry food upsets the portion balance.