Is Your Cat A Finicky Eater?
October 28, 2017
It’s not the pungent aroma of your cat’s food that’s making them turn their nose up at it, it’s something evolutionary. If it’s not fresh, it doesn’t pass the test. So don’t get upset with Kitty when she doesn’t eat her food that’s been sitting out all day. It’s just not in her makeup.
The trick to understanding your cat’s finicky eating is to first understand their natural eating habits.
For Finicky Cats, Smaller Portions Are Best
According to experts, cats in the wild would feed several times a day, catching mice, bugs, and small birds to keep them going. Each feed is fresh and more like a snack than a full meal (or a full bowl of food).
But that doesn’t mean you have to feed them several times a day or convert to wet food or a raw diet. It just means, smaller portions are best. The longer the food sits out all day, the less interested your cat will become.
Some experts recommend a kibble ball at feeding times to stimulate your cat’s appetite and energize them at the same time. A variation in diet can also help, like dry food for breakfast and wet food for dinner.
But is your cat’s finicky taste just a question of smell?
Finicky Eaters Are Sensitive To Change
Not at all. Cats are opportunists; they’ll try anything new that smells good, and pet food manufacturers know it. But cats are also unusually sensitive to change. It could be a change in diet or a change in routine, it doesn’t seem to matter. A cat who is finicky is more likely to be more sensitive to change.
Most cats like routine and familiarity, and everything in its place. Move a chair into the other room, buy a new cat food bowl, or start feeding them at different times of the day, and your cat could go on a hunger strike.
Well, not really. But it might seem like it when they stop eating for a couple of days. That’s when panic sets in and you suddenly find yourself walking up and down the aisles of the cat food section of your pet store wondering which brand to try and what kind of food to get. What would entice your cat to start eating again – dry food, canned food, a more expensive brand of food, raw food, homemade food?
Yeah, we’ve all been there. Whatever you do, if you decide to change their dry food make sure you get the same shape of food. Yes, that’s right. Sensitive cats can turn their nose up at perfectly tasty kibble simply because it’s a different shape than they’re used to.
But before you change their food, your cat’s finicky eating could be caused by something completely unrelated to food. It could be something environmental. Maybe there’s construction going on outside, or those annoying leaf blowers again, or it might be that someone with a dog has moved in across the hall and your cat is too freaked out to eat, let alone sleep!
You know your cat better than anyone, so when she starts turning her nose up at her food, notice if there’s anything else going on, any kind of change that could be affecting her mood and appetite.
Medication and Food
Another reason why your cat could be refusing to eat is the bitter taste of medicine. Cats are hardwired to reject anything at all bitter-tasting and unfortunately, most medicines are just that. So instead of mixing it with their food and risk turning them off their favorite brand, try a Pill Pocket or other tasty treat to disguise the food. Better yet, ask your vet if there is a liquid form of the medication. It’s so much easier to administer and your cat won’t associate it with their food.
Just a few tips to help you figure out why your cat is such a finicky eater. Hopefully, it will save you a few dollars in cat food.
by Natalie Secretan
PuppyDogCapers.com
Photo credit: Tom Thai - Classic Tabby Scottish Fold