How do I switch my cat to Tyga?

Tips for first-time feeding

When introducing your cat to our food for the first time, follow these tips:

• Chook goes first: If your cat has Chook in their plan, feed all of those meals first (because they’re extra tasty), before moving to Pig, Big Chook, or Roo.
• Try 100% Tyga: Start with a meal of only Tyga. If your cat acts skeptical or doesn’t eat it, all good. For their next meal, try giving them the food they used to eat to keep their calories on track.
• Release the aromas: Cats eat with their nose (not technically but you get it), so put their meal in the microwave for 10 seconds. It should be room or body temp, not hot. They're usually not fans of fridge-temp food.
• Keep it simple: Skip treats, between-meal snacks, and free-feeding their previous food.

Tips for fussy eaters

Cats are infamous for being skeptical of new things, so don’t worry if your cat hasn’t eaten Tyga yet. The most stubborn felines are usually the ones who’ve been eating only dry food, and aren’t used to the sights and smells of fresh food. If any of this sounds familiar, these tips below should help.

If your cat’s not eating Tyga, try this first:

1. For their next meal, feed them the food they used to eat. Give them about 60-70% of their usual portion (check the package for calorie guidance).
2. For their subsequent meal, give them only Tyga. At the same time try our expert-level tips below.
3. If they refuse Tyga again, take it away, and for their next meal feed them the food they used to eat. Give them about 60-70% of their usual portion (check the package for calorie guidance).
4. Repeat these steps for up to 3 days. This method makes sure your cat’s getting enough to eat while you not-so-subtly encourage them to try something new.

If that doesn’t work, try this:

1. Take a few days off from feeding Tyga to reset your cat’s preferences.
2. After the break, try feeding them one of our meals they’ve never had before.
3. At the same time, try any (or all) of the expert-level tips below until your cat starts eating their new food.

Expert-level tips:

• Try a quick play or pounce session before they eat.
• Top their meal with the good stuff, like a little parmesan cheese, tuna, cooked chicken, or nutritional yeast. Stop this once they’ve started liking the food, though.
• Only if they’re into this kind of thing: Gently pat them while they approach the bowl and then calmly step away while they eat.
• If they’re cool with it, dab a small amount of our broth on their paw or gums to introduce the scent.
• Feed them somewhere new, ideally in a quiet, familiar spot away from noise and foot traffic. This can help them forget about their old food.
• If your cat used to eat dry food, store it out of sight and smell, in a sealed container in the fridge, perhaps. If they know it’s nearby, they might hold out for it.

The part where we reassure you

Switching foods can take time, especially considering cats are known to have neophobia (fear of new foods). Classic cats. Good thing they’re not the only stubborn mammal in this household. Keep trying Tyga, and soon they’ll learn to trust it.

If you’d like to talk to a human about any of this, get in touch. We’re all ears.