Okay, let’s talk about trying out that Wellness CORE cat food. I’d been hearing bits and pieces about it, mostly good stuff about high protein and no grains, which got me thinking. My old boy, Jasper, wasn’t exactly unhealthy on his previous kibble, but I felt like maybe we could do better, you know? Give him a bit more pep.
My Starting Point
So, I decided to give it a shot. Finding it wasn’t too hard, saw it stocked at a place I usually get pet supplies. Grabbed a bag of the Original formula, the one with chicken and turkey. The packaging looked decent, felt sturdy. First thing I did when I got home was check the ingredients list again. Lots of meat listed right up top, which matched what I was looking for. Felt pretty hopeful at this stage.
The Big Switch
Now, the tricky part – getting Jasper on board. He can be a fussy eater sometimes. I didn’t just dump the new food in his bowl. Learned that lesson the hard way years ago!
- Day 1-3: Mixed just a tiny bit, maybe 25% CORE with 75% of his old food. He sniffed it suspiciously for a minute, then ate it. No major complaints, which was a good sign.
- Day 4-6: Upped it to about a 50/50 mix. Still eating okay. I watched him closely, checked the litter box. Everything seemed normal, maybe even a bit… better? Less stinky, perhaps.
- Day 7 onwards: Gradually increased to 75% CORE, then finally 100%. Took about 10 days total for the full transition. Patience is key, really.
What I Noticed
After he’d been on it exclusively for a few weeks, I definitely started seeing some changes.
The Good Stuff:
- His coat seemed shinier, maybe a bit softer too. He’s a short-hair, but there was a noticeable difference.
- Energy levels seemed up. He was doing more random zoomies around the house, playing a bit more actively. For an older cat, that was great to see.
- Litter box visits were consistent, and like I mentioned, seemed less offensive to the nose. Stools looked firm and healthy.
- He genuinely seemed to like the taste once he got used to it. Cleaned his bowl most days.
Things to Consider:
- Price: Let’s be honest, it’s not the cheapest food out there. It’s definitely a step up in price from your standard supermarket brands. You have to factor that into your budget.
- Richness: I could see how maybe some cats with really sensitive stomachs might need an even slower transition. It’s quite nutrient-dense. Jasper handled it fine, but just something I thought about.
Final Thoughts, For Now
So, my experience with Wellness CORE? Pretty positive overall. Jasper took to it well after a careful switch, and I saw some real benefits in his coat and energy. The higher protein and grain-free thing seemed to suit him.
Is it perfect? No food is, probably. The cost is a factor. But based on how Jasper did, I felt it was a worthwhile investment for his health at the time. We stuck with it for quite a while actually. It just worked for us during that period. Every cat’s different, of course, but that was my journey with it, from picking up the bag to seeing the results in my own furry dude.
