Do you have to mix food?

[Artist]

After a long time of trying to find a post with an answer, I gave up and decided to ask one myself. Sorry if this comes as an annoyance but what I have seen I just cannot find an answer.

I am planning on using Innova adult weight management cat food for my hedgie and I was wondering if it is necessary to mix in different cat foods. If it is needed I will but I was just wondering if they my future hedgehog would just be fine on one kind of food.

Also, if mixing is necessary, would it be ok to mix two different kinds, but of the same brand? Thanks!

[MomLady]

Reasons for mixing are:

To make sure your hedgie gets all the proper nutients it needs, you are more likely to get them if you are serving more than one brand of food.

If they change the formulation or shape of the food, your hedgie may not eat the "new improved" version--for instance a few years ago they changed the shape of Chicken soup for the cat lovers soul adult lite from "X" shape to round and some hedgies wouldn't eat it.

In case of a recall, you would have to change brands overnite and that would cause stomach upset/not eating and more problems.

Also, when you bring your baby home, you should mix whatever the breeder was feeding and the new gradually over time.

Your hedgie may not like Innova. Mine wouldn't eat Natural Balance Duck and Pea--and it's a highly recommended food.

There's a sticky with a list of recommended foods/brands/formulations. I think there's also one in the hedgie pet care book that's available.

There may be other reasons, but these are my reasons for my mix.

ML

[tony21]

Here's the list https://www.hedgehogcentral.com/forum...oods-list.html also I asked the same question about a week or so ago, this might also help https://www.hedgehogcentral.com/forum...-question.html

[Artist]

Originally Posted by tony21

Here's the list https://www.hedgehogcentral.com/forum...oods-list.html also I asked the same question about a week or so ago, this might also help https://www.hedgehogcentral.com/forum...-question.html

Thankyou so much! I was looking for that thread

[Lilysmommy]

The answer is also in one of the stickies - https://www.hedgehogcentral.com/forum...nutrition.html Please do look over & check stickies when you're looking for things, they have a lot of information. This question is asked a lot, I'm a bit surprised you couldn't find an answer somewhere, either by searching through threads one at a time or using the search function.

It'd be best to use different brands so you're covered in case one brand has a recall or food shortage & you can't get the foods.

[tony21]

Originally Posted by Artist

Thankyou so much! I was looking for that thread

Not a problem, I agree with Lilysmommy. I always look at the stickies first hey are a Fountain of awesomeness. In my short time on this forum have learnt a ton from reading these stickies

[Artist]

Originally Posted by Lilysmommy

The answer is also in one of the stickies - https://www.hedgehogcentral.com/forum...nutrition.html Please do look over & check stickies when you're looking for things, they have a lot of information. This question is asked a lot, I'm a bit surprised you couldn't find an answer somewhere, either by searching through threads one at a time or using the search function.

It'd be best to use different brands so you're covered in case one brand has a recall or food shortage & you can't get the foods.

Thankyou for this also. I have read through it and it has helped me a lot. Is Innova and chicken soup for the car lovers soul an ok mix?

[Lilysmommy]

Yup, that'd be fine.