Switching your pet to raw is one of the best things you can do for their long-term health, and done right it is far less stressful than most people expect. This step by step guide covers how to transition your dog to raw food and how to transition your cat to raw food, with the exact day by day schedules we use, tips for fussy eaters, and a clear picture of what is normal along the way.
Every animal is an individual. A young, healthy dog might switch in under a fortnight, while a devoted kibble cat can take a month or more. Both are completely normal. Let your pet's digestion set the pace, and treat the plans below as a calm, flexible framework rather than a rigid set of rules. Everything here uses 100% Australian, human-grade ingredients, delivered fresh and frozen to your door.
Before you start
- Start with a single protein. Pick one easy to digest mix and stay with it for the first week or two. One protein at a time lets you watch how your pet responds and spot any sensitivities before you introduce variety.
- Plan your first week. Have the food ready so you are not making decisions mid transition. We deliver fresh and frozen raw straight to your door, so you can plan the week around your pet rather than the shops.
- Thaw safely. Move frozen portions to the fridge the day before, never on the bench. Serve at room temperature or gently warmed, never hot.
- Work out portions. New to raw amounts? Our raw feeding calculator works out how much to feed by weight, age, body condition and activity, and our full raw feeding guide covers the fundamentals.
How to transition your dog to raw food
Dogs are creatures of habit. If yours has spent years on dry biscuits, a sudden change in texture, smell and temperature can occasionally earn you a classic look of suspicion. If you have a hesitant eater, do not sweat it. Transitioning is a process, not a race.
The four-stage transition schedule
For a gradual introduction, shift a little more of the bowl from old food to fresh raw every few days over a week or two:
| Stage | Old food | Raw food | Duration |
|---|---|---|---|
| Stage 1 | 75% | 25% | Days 1 to 3 |
| Stage 2 | 50% | 50% | Days 4 to 6 |
| Stage 3 | 25% | 75% | Days 7 to 9 |
| Stage 4 | 0% | 100% | Day 10 and on |
The half-and-half rule → even if you choose to stay at Stage 2 indefinitely, that is completely fine. Adding even a small amount of fresh, raw nutrition provides real benefits for gut health, skin and immune system. Any fresh food is better than none.
Strategies for the stubborn eater
- Natural add-ins. A dollop of plain natural yoghurt, a spoonful of pure peanut butter (always check it is 100% xylitol-free), or a little tuna in springwater can work wonders.
- The secret weapon, raw green tripe. Its potent scent is irresistible to most dogs. It is highly nutritious and rarely fails to convert a stubborn eater.
- Hold your ground. A healthy adult dog can safely go 24 to 48 hours without a meal if they are holding out for their old food. Remove the bowl if they walk away, pop it back in the fridge, and offer again at the next mealtime. When they are genuinely hungry, they will eat.
The recommended starting mix for dogs
For the first week of any transition, or for brand-new puppies, we recommend starting with a gentle digestion-support mix. It is formulated to soothe the gut during a dietary shift, chicken-free to sidestep the most common protein sensitivity, and naturally higher in the healthy fats young dogs need for steady growth. For the full detail, see our complete dog transition guide.
How to transition your cat to raw food
Cats are obligate carnivores, built to thrive on a high-protein, high-moisture raw diet. But after years of dry biscuits, many simply do not recognise real meat as food yet. The switch is not about force, it is about patience, scent and a little feline psychology.
One safety rule before you start
A cat must never be starved into eating. Cats are not small dogs. Going 24 to 48 hours without food can trigger a dangerous liver condition called hepatic lipidosis (fatty liver disease). The dog-style hold your ground approach does not work for cats. If your cat stops eating, return to their familiar food and speak to your vet. With that rule firmly in mind, let your cat's appetite, never the calendar, set the speed.
The three-phase gentle transition
- Scent and texture test → serve your cat's regular meal as usual, and place a teaspoon-sized dollop of raw nearby on the same plate or a saucer beside it. The goal is simply to let your cat get used to the scent and presence of raw. Curiosity is the win here, do not expect them to eat it yet.
- The micro-mix → smear about half a teaspoon of raw thoroughly into their current wet food, keeping it subtle. If accepted, hold for three days then increase to a full teaspoon. If rejected, scale back to a quarter teaspoon and try again. Patience beats pressure every time.
- The gradual shift → slowly increase the raw while reducing the old food. This stage can take anywhere from a week to a full month. Let appetite dictate the pace.
Four feline pro-tips
- The prey-temperature rule. Cats instinctively prefer food at body temperature, around 37 to 38 degrees. Cold food from the fridge is a red flag to them. Never microwave raw meat, it part-cooks any bone and destroys nutrients. Instead, seal it in a zip-lock bag and submerge it in warm water for a few minutes.
- Ditch the free-feeding buffet. Move from leaving biscuits out all day to structured meals two to three times daily. A genuine appetite at mealtime is your single best asset during a transition.
- High-value toppers. Tempt fussy eaters with warm, unseasoned bone broth or goat's milk, a sprinkle of bonito flakes, or a drizzle of juice from springwater tuna. A little aroma goes a long way.
- Stick to one protein. Pick a single mix and stay with it for the first two weeks. This avoids overwhelming your cat and makes it far easier to spot any sensitivities.
For the full method, see our complete cat transition guide.
What to expect during the switch
- Softer stool early on. A little loose stool in the first days is common as the gut adjusts. If it lasts or worsens, slow the transition down or drop back a stage.
- Smaller, firmer stools later. Once settled on raw, most pets pass less often, with smaller, firmer and less smelly results. This is a good sign.
- Visible wins over time. Pets that make the switch to fresh, species-appropriate food often reward you with a shinier coat, steadier energy, and the optimal hydration that only a high-moisture diet provides.
Adding variety
Once your pet is comfortable on their starter protein, usually after a week or two, you can begin rotating in others such as beef, lamb, fish or duck. A balanced raw diet is built on variety over the course of a few weeks, not every single day. There is no need to change protein daily.
Frequently asked questions
How long does it take to transition a dog to raw food?
Most dogs transition over about 10 days using the four-stage schedule, though some healthy dogs switch faster and sensitive or older dogs can take a few weeks. Let your dog's digestion guide the pace.
Can I mix raw food and kibble?
During a gradual transition you will feed old food and raw in the same period, and staying at a half-and-half split long-term is perfectly fine. Any fresh, raw nutrition benefits gut health, skin and immunity, so any fresh food is better than none.
How do I transition a fussy cat to raw?
Go slowly through the scent test, micro-mix and gradual shift, serve raw at body temperature, feed on a routine rather than free-feeding, and use high-value toppers like bone broth or bonito flakes. Never starve a cat into eating, as this risks hepatic lipidosis.
Is loose stool normal when switching to raw?
Some softer stool in the first few days is common as the digestive system adjusts. If it lasts or worsens, slow the transition down or step back to the previous ratio, then continue more gradually.
What is the best protein to start with?
Begin with a single, easy to digest mix and stay with it for the first week or two. A gentle, chicken-free digestion-support mix suits even reactive tummies and makes sensitivities easy to spot before you add variety.
Raw feeding is a change worth making, and it complements the natural way your dog or cat is built to eat. Take it gently, watch your pet, and enjoy watching them thrive. When you are ready, work out portions with our raw feeding calculator, or take the quiz and we will match the right plan for your pet.
