A cat accumulates waste products in its body when it can't process them. These can be residues from deworming, vaccinations, antibiotic treatments, etc., but also certain substances in food that don't belong in cat food (treats), such as fragrances, colorants, flavorings, preservatives, wheat, and other fillers that are sometimes useful for kibble production, but not for the cat. Healthy Cat kibble doesn't contain these substances and therefore puts less strain on the liver. This allows the liver to "cleanse": a process known as detoxification. In some cases, this can temporarily worsen any existing symptoms. This is because the body is removing the foreign substances. So, this is actually a positive thing. Your cat may initially shed more or have temporarily larger or thinner stools. This is temporary, can last for some time, and is not serious. The released waste products are processed by the kidneys, so your cat may drink more than usual. After this process, your cat's digestion will be healthier and stronger, and your cat will have better resistance, a healthy coat and compact stools.

This is a very difficult question to answer. Every cat reacts differently, and the speed at which a problem resolves depends on several factors. The cat's general health is, of course, crucial. But age, how long the problem has been present, its severity, and how the transition was made also play a role. Our advice is based on the assumption that all medical causes have been ruled out and the problem is therefore purely diet-related. Roughly speaking, the intestinal flora needs at least three weeks to adjust to a different diet, and we always count at least one month for every year a problem has existed. For example, a cat has had skin problems for 18 months: after three weeks plus 18 months, the problem is usually largely resolved. Naturally, you'll already see a difference in the interim. However, it's important that the transition is made as we recommend, and that there are no deviations in food and/or snacks during this period. There are always at least two ways to address a problem. We distinguish between a holistic approach and a conventional one. With a conventional approach, a veterinarian looks at the problem itself and often works on treating the symptoms. With a holistic approach, we look at the problem, find its root cause, and work on the cause, not just the symptoms. This approach often takes a bit longer but is generally more sustainable in the long run. Of course, one often doesn't work without the other. We also always recommend monitoring your cat's health. We're happy to help you make the transition and guide you and your cat toward better health. If in doubt, always consult a veterinarian!

First of all, it's important to ensure your cat doesn't have a medical cause for being overweight. Obesity is a common problem in cats these days and can cause many (health) issues. There are several reasons why many cats are overweight. Lack of exercise is, of course, a major cause. Increasing exercise should be done gradually! This isn't easy, especially for indoor cats, but it's crucial to encourage your cat to exercise more with play equipment, climbing materials, etc. In addition, many cats eat well-known foods on the market that are heated to high temperatures, so-called "extruded food" (if it floats in a glass of water). This food is heated from around 130°C to 140°C. This can create substances that put additional strain on the body. The ingredients are heated so intensely that many (essential) nutrients are lost. If a food contains few easily absorbable nutrients, you can imagine that your cat would have to eat a lot of it to get the right nutritional value. The cat stores the "non-absorbable substances" in its body and gains weight. When fed the right healthy food, the cat needs much less to get the same nutritional value. Moreover, a healthy, natural diet like Healthy Cat doesn't contain any fiber that the cat would unnecessarily store. Common "light" foods often lead to even more weight gain over time because they contain a lot of fiber, which "fills" the stomach. The stomach gradually adapts and thus grows larger! The cat therefore becomes increasingly hungry! This is therefore not recommended! Healthy Cat recommends temporarily feeding less of the amount the cat should eat. (Note: lose weight slowly and a cat should NEVER fast!) You can divide the food into several meals a day so the cat doesn't feel hungry too quickly. Because Healthy Cat has a high digestive rate, the cat also feels full more quickly, which also addresses "emotional hunger"! It's also important to keep an eye on the snacks and training treats! If your cat is significantly overweight, we recommend working with your veterinarian to lose weight! Of course, more exercise always helps.

First, it's important to ensure your cat doesn't have a medical cause for its weight loss (think of deworming and dental problems!). You should also rule out stress. Cats under (a lot of) stress often eat poorly. When your cat needs to gain weight, it needs to consume more energy than it needs. If you want your cat to gain weight, for example, after recovering from illness or surgery, it's important to feed it a diet with a high energy content. The "Healthy Cat, Sensitive Fresh Salmon" variety contains extra probiotics and helps provide additional supplementation in the form of natural bacteria. We recommend not increasing the feeding too quickly and dividing it over several meals to ensure consistent protein intake.

Simply put, feces is "the food that hasn't been absorbed and/or digested by the body." Even more simply put: everything that goes in and isn't absorbed comes out the back. Large amounts of feces are therefore a sign that the cat hasn't been able to absorb much of the food, or that there were too many fibers in the food that the cat can't use. When food is heated to very high temperatures (most extruded foods heat to around 130/140 degrees Celsius), most of the natural components are destroyed and must be synthetically added back to make the diet complete again. Synthetic (additives) are much more difficult for a cat to digest than natural components. In addition, many foods frequently use artificial flavors, colors, and preservatives. These are substances that are certainly not suitable for cats, but only to make the kibble look better and/or extend its shelf life. You can imagine that these are substances the body wants to "expel." Or they often accumulate in the body where it is often used. Skin problems can cause (see: My cat has skin problems). We feed our cats increasingly sterile food (due to the high heat during extrusion), which causes the intestinal flora to become "poor"/sterile. A dog's body (think of felines in nature) is normally designed to digest carcasses with maggots crawling out of them. When we feed kibble that is highly extruded, the stomach has difficulty digesting these kibbles quickly and easily. As a result, the food pulp that arrives in the intestines is not yet properly digested or not enough nutrients have been absorbed. The cat's intestines are only designed to absorb nutrients for themselves and to reabsorb moisture from the food pulp, not to actually absorb many nutrients for the rest of the body. The intestines "wake up" and suddenly have to work hard, causing it to become "too much" and a lot of food passes the intestines (large amounts of feces) and/or not enough moisture can be reabsorbed in time (diarrhea). Our cats are often advised to eat a "light" diet. "food," which in our view worsens the problem because the intestinal flora becomes increasingly sterile and "lazy." The problem is (usually temporarily) resolved, but the cause remains.
Healthy Cat cat food isn't highly extruded kibble, making it easier for cats to absorb. Because we don't use high temperatures, all the natural ingredients are still present, eliminating the need to synthetically add them back in. This means most nutrients have already been absorbed by the body before the food pulp reaches the large intestine. The large intestine only needs to absorb the nutrients and can easily absorb the moisture from the food. (NOTE: Some foods on the market still use beet pulp in their food. Beet pulp is traditionally known for its powerful absorption properties. This nutritional component is completely unsuitable for cats or dogs; it only produces nice, compact stools. This gives the impression that the cat has good, firm stools (and therefore, we assume, well-digested) because the beet pulp absorbs all the moisture! Just put a handful of beet pulp in water: it's a shock!)
Simply put: "When more nutrients can be absorbed from food, less remains. When less remains, there is also less stool."

Itching is even worse than pain! First, we must rule out external factors for the itching and/or skin problems. So, we must first rule out parasites and the like! When was your cat last checked for ticks and fleas? When did you last use flea treatment? If your cat suddenly develops itching and/or skin problems, consider carefully whether you've recently changed anything in their food, treats, or, for example, the detergent you used to wash your or your cat's clothes! If it's not the case, there's a good chance the skin problems and/or itching are food-related.

A cat accumulates waste products in its body when it cannot process them.
When a cat is healthy, it can handle quite a lot, but if the cat is sensitive or the proverbial "bucket full" due to too much strain, this will cause problems.
This can be caused by residues from deworming, vaccinations, antibiotic treatments, etc., but also by certain substances in food that don't belong in dog food, such as fragrances, colors, flavors, preservatives, wheat, and other fillers that are sometimes useful for kibble production, but not for cats. Itching and/or skin problems are usually caused by preservatives. Preservatives present in food and/or treats that are eaten by cats often cannot be eliminated by the cat.
These are stored in the skin. The skin becomes irritated, the dog often scratches, which further irritates the skin. Sometimes the skin even breaks open, and the cycle is complete. We must therefore try to break the cycle. Feeding Healthy Cat makes this possible. Healthy Cat kibble does not contain these substances and therefore puts less strain on the liver. This allows the liver to "cleanse": a process known as detoxification. In some cases, this can mean that any existing symptoms temporarily worsen. This is because the body starts removing the foreign substances. So this is actually a positive thing. Your cat may initially shed more and/or experience itching, or its stool may be temporarily larger or thinner. This is temporary, can last for some time, and is not serious. The released waste products are processed by the kidneys, so your cat may drink more than usual. After this process, your cat's digestion will be healthier and stronger, and your cat will have better immunity, a healthy coat, and compact stools.

The "Healthy Cat Sensitive Fresh Salmon" variant is particularly suitable for sensitive cats. This variant contains "probiotics"—living microorganisms that help boost immunity and strengthen gastrointestinal flora. This makes it ideal as an elimination diet, as practically all the ingredients in this variant have never been eaten by the cat. This allows you to give your cat a "fresh start," so to speak. Hopefully, your cat will soon be feeling better again!

A bad odor from your cat's breath could be related to plaque, irritated gums, or gingivitis. Bad breath can also be caused by kidney or bladder problems, for example. Incorrect intestinal flora can also produce gases that can cause an unpleasant odor. Foods that support healthy intestinal flora help prevent these problems. By feeding good dry kibble, you help prevent plaque and gum problems. (Did you know, by the way, that inflamed gums can lead to heart problems? The bacteria can enter the bloodstream through the inflammation in the mouth and then travel to the heart. Once there, the bacteria can damage the heart valves.) Teeth can be cleaned by the vet, but (less invasively) you can also do a lot yourself to keep them clean! Brushing is very helpful; various tools are available at your pet store, and these days, there are even chew sticks available for cats that clean their teeth!
See also "dental problems".

We can treat/prevent various dental problems ourselves, or at least assist in resolving them. Problems such as misaligned teeth and similar problems are handled by a veterinarian/specialist. However, there are several common problems that we can help prevent and/or address! Dental problems can be recognized by swollen gums, often red in color. Inflamed gums bleed more easily and often emit a foul odor. Some cats drool (more). The cat finds hard food painful and chews differently, even though it's hungry. The cause of most dental problems is plaque. Plaque consists of bacterial residue, food particles, and saliva. Plaque forms primarily at the junction of the tooth and gum. When plaque remains present for a long time, it can cause the dreaded tartar. Plaque and tartar often create a breeding ground for bacteria, and these bacteria often cause gingivitis. (Did you know, by the way, that inflamed gums can lead to heart problems? The bacteria can enter the bloodstream through the inflammation in the mouth and then travel to the heart. Once there, the bacteria can damage the heart valves.)

Inflamed gums gradually recede, exposing the tooth root. This can even cause teeth to become loose later on. Teeth can be cleaned by the vet, but you can also do a lot yourself (less invasively) to keep them clean! Brushing is effective; various tools are available at your pet store, and these days, there are even chew sticks available for cats that clean their teeth!
See also "my cat's breath stinks".