How a Cat Meal Box is put together
A Cat Meal Box is a single box containing several meals for your cat, so you get a whole supply delivered at once instead of buying pouch by pouch. At Essential Foods the boxes come in two versions and two sizes, and the difference between them is primarily about how much variety your cat encounters in the bowl.
In THE MIXED MEALS BOX SMALL CAT and THE MIXED MEALS BOX CAT you get a blend of different meals in the same box. THE EXPLORER BOX SMALL CAT and THE EXPLORER BOX XL CAT are intended as a journey through the range, where the cat gets to taste widely. The Small version suits one cat or a shorter period, while the XL is for multi-cat households or for you who would rather top up the stock less often.
Choose between Explorer and Mixed Meals
The difference between the two box types is worth understanding before you add to cart, because each solves a different task.
The Mixed Meals box is for the cat that is already thriving, and where you want variety without having to put it together yourself. You get several different flavours in the same box and can switch between them from day to day.
The Explorer box, on the other hand, is ideal if you are in the process of finding out what your cat likes best, or if you have just brought a new cat into the home. Here the cat gets to try things out, and you can keep an eye on what it empties the bowl of and what it leaves standing.
Small or XL based on number of cats
You choose the size based on how many cats will be eating from the box and how often you want to order.
- Small suits one cat or a household that wants to try the concept before scaling up on quantity.
- XL suits several cats or you who want to avoid frequent reorders and would rather stock up well at a time.
A larger box also means fewer deliveries and therefore less packaging over time. If you have two or more cats that eat the same thing, the XL version typically makes the most sense in everyday life.
How to switch to a new meal box without an upset stomach
If your cat is getting something other than usual, the switch should happen gradually. Cats' digestion reacts badly to sudden changes, and an abrupt food switch can cause loose stools or a cat that drops the bowl entirely.
The approach is simple:
- Mix a small portion of the new food into the familiar one over the first couple of days.
- Increase the share of new food little by little over roughly a week.
- Keep an eye on stool and appetite along the way, and slow down if the stomach becomes unsettled.
This also applies when you open an Explorer box with several new flavours. Cats are by nature cautious with unfamiliar food, so give it time to get used to both scent and texture.
Portion according to the cat's weight
How much a cat should have depends on its weight, age and activity level, and a meal box does not in itself serve as a portion guide. Follow the recommended feeding guidance on the individual meal and adjust depending on whether your cat maintains a healthy weight.
If you are unsure about the amount, you can read more in our guide to how much food should a cat have and in the review of optimal portion size for cats. A cat that can eat freely all day easily puts on too much, so weigh out the daily ration rather than filling the bowl by eye.
Combine the box with pâté and treats
A meal box covers the daily meals, but many cats appreciate a little variation on top of the regular diet. Here you can supplement with wet food from the range of pâté for seniors or with our cat delights if you want to give a treat in connection with play or training.
Remember that treats count towards the cat's total daily intake. If you want to know where the limit is, you can read how many treats can a cat have, so the extras do not tip the scales.
Storage, so the food stays fresh
When you get a whole supply delivered at once, storage becomes more important than if you buy a little at a time. Dry food keeps best in a dark, dry place at a stable temperature, and the bag should be closed after each opening so the fats do not go rancid from contact with air.
Wet food and pâté are stored cool after opening and used within the period stated on the packaging. Do not pour out a whole portion and leave it standing out all day, especially in warm weather, where it quickly becomes unappetising for the cat.
