How To Feed A Fussy Cat
This article is written by Pet Circle veterinarian,
Is it difficult to find something that your kitty won't turn their nose up at, or has your cat become less interested in their food for no particular reason?
Fussy eating is quite common and can be a very frustrating issue for pet owners to deal with. Read on for more information about what causes fussy eating as well as some of the Vet Squad's top tips for managing cats with picky appetites.
Contents:
- Breeds predisposed to fussy eating
- First rule out underlying medical issues
- Why are some cats fussy eaters?
- How to manage fussy eating
- Tips for selecting a new food
Cat Breeds Predisposed To Fussy Eating
In general, cats tend to be a little pickier with their food than dogs. While most cats will have food preferences, in the Vet Squad's experience purebred cats like Siamese, Persians and Oriental Shorthairs can be fussier than mixed breeds.
First thing's first: rule out underlying medical issues
First of all, it's important to ensure that a picky appetite is not actually a loss of appetite. A loss of appetite can occur due to illnesses that cause nausea, discomfort or pain, including but not limited to gastrointestinal, joint, cardiac, respiratory, renal and dental issues. If your cat is showing other signs along with a reduced interest in food, or if their 'fussy' behaviour is out of character, a vet check is recommended to rule out any medical causes. In most cases appetite improves when the underlying condition is treated or appropriately managed.
Signs that may indicate an underlying health issue:
- Vomiting
- Diarrhoea
- Drooling
- Lethargy/reduction in activity
- Bad breath
- Exercise intolerance
- Change in drinking habits
- Weight loss
- Frequent lip licking
- Lameness or stiffness
- Coughing
Why are some cats fussy eaters?
While there are many reasons why a cat may be a picky eater, some of the most common are:
1. Specific personal preference
Like us, most cats have personal preferences and may favour a certain texture, flavour and/or consistency when it comes to their food. Some cats will take this to the extreme and refuse anything else. These cats often eat their preferred foods with no issues but repeatedly turn their nose up at other foods.
2. Learned behaviour
Some cats become fussier over time because they learn to wait for something better. Often owners inadvertently create this issue by giving in and offering their pet a higher-value treat if they don't eat their usual food. Feeding tasty 'human' food and changing diets too regularly can also contribute to this problem.
3. Not enough variety
While some cats are perfectly happy to remain on the same food for life, others initially eat their food well but become bored of it after a while. These cats will gradually show less interest in their usual food in favour of something new.
4. Anxiety
Anxiety is a common reason for cats to be fussy with their food. Periods of change or adjustment, such as moving house or a new family member (two- or four-legged) can affect appetite. Lack of privacy when eating and noisy eating environments can also trigger anxiety. These cats may have a fluctuating, 'on and off' appetite, or suddenly go off their food when a stressor occurs.
5. They're not food motivated
Many cats naturally prefer to graze on their food throughout the day rather than eat it all at once and this eating pattern can be mistaken for a picky appetite. Likewise, cats that are attention-motivated rather than food-motivated can be misidentified as fussy eaters.
How to manage fussy eating
An effective management approach will depend on the underlying cause of your pet's fussy eating. You may need to play around with a few different suggestions to find the ones that work best for you and your cat.
It's important to be persistent and consistent with your approach to feeding. Make sure everyone in the household is on board and decide how long to persist with a certain food- remember that offering too much variety right from the start can inadvertently train some fussy eaters to hold out for "yummier" food each time. We recommend committing to one type of diet for at least a few weeks and giving your cat some time to adjust to it before making any further changes.
Always make sure to have a period of transition when introducing a food as this reduces the risk of gastrointestinal upset and increases the chance that your kitty will accept the food.
WARNING!: Hepatic lipidosis is a serious and potentially fatal condition that can cause liver failure in cats. Cats that stop eating for as little as two days can develop this condition, and overweight/obese cats are at higher risk. Signs include weakness, vomiting, diarrhoea, rapid weight loss, constipation and jaundice (a yellow tinge to the eyes, skin and gums). If your cat is showing any of these signs after a period of reduced food intake it's important to get them checked by a vet urgently. Therefore, while it's important to be persistent with encouraging your cat to eat their regular food, if they continue to refuse it, it's advised to give them a small amount of one of their preferred foods daily to reduce their risk of developing hepatic lipidosis.
Tips for creating a regular meal routine
Most fussy eaters will benefit from a regular, consistent meal routine. Anxious cats, as well as cats going through a big change such as recent adoption, absent owners or moving house, can easily be unsettled. For these pets, making mealtime as peaceful and predictable as possible is essential.
- Maintain a quiet, safe space for your cat to eat (for example, low noise, no strong odours, no other pets trying to eat their food or bother them while they're eating).
- Make sure meals are given at around the same time each day in the same location so your cat knows when to expect food.
- To encourage them to eat in one sitting, place the bowl down for a short period eg. 15-20 minutes, then remove it if the food hasn't been eaten. You can then re-offer the food in another 30-60 minutes while your cat is still getting used to this process, or at the next meal time. Cats quickly learn that the food won't always be there and they are to eat it when it's offered. Always ensure the food is fresh.
- While teaching your cat to accept their current food it is usually necessary to cut everything else from their diet including human foods and high value treats. If you continue to feed these, it's likely your cat will adopt the 'wait for better options' approach rather than give their current food a chance. Remember, it is okay to still give a small amount of a desirable food daily if your cat is completely refusing their other food.
Tips for making meal times more exciting
Over time some cats can get bored of the taste or texture of their usual food. Some of this boredom may also be due to the method in which they're fed. The act of eating out of a bowl can become boring and repetitive. In the wild, cats would hunt for their food, but in domestic life it is placed in front of them and so they miss out on the challenge of finding it for themselves.
Puzzle feeders are great at helping to make meal time more interesting. They provide engagement and enrichment that may be lacking in standard 'food in bowl' feeding rituals. You can put your cat's normal kibble in a puzzle feeder, and lick-mats are a great option for wet food.
Slow Feeder Bowls
Interactive feeders
Feeding mats
Rotational diets are also an excellent option for pets that become bored of their food. This feeding method involves rotating through a variety of different cat foods over time, allowing your kitty to be exposed to a range of sensory experiences (taste, smell, texture). It can involve feeding different proteins, different brands or different textures (eg wet and dry foods). This helps to prevent a fussy eater from becoming sick of a certain food, while also ensuring they get a balanced diet. For healthy adult cats, feeding a rotational diet is perfectly fine, provided a transition period is undertaken. However for those with sensitive stomachs, or those on prescription foods, a rotational diet may not be suitable.
Tips for making your cat's current food more palatable
Some cats need a little time and help to learn that their food is actually tastier than they first thought! It's worth trying out some of the following tips using your cat's current food before switching to a different type.
- Most (not all) cats respond better to wet food initially, so try to offer a wet food first- especially for young kittens that have recently been weaned
- Add warm water to wet food or gently heat wet food up in the microwave to enhance smell and taste - just make sure it's not too hot when fed
- Blend wet food to make it gravy-based then soak the kibble in this mixture
- Mix wet and dry food together (or try feeding them separately if you are currently mixing them together). If your pet dislikes dry food, add only a small amount of dry food to wet food at first, then gradually increase the amount of dry food over time. You can reverse this process if your cat likes dry food but not wet.
- Moisten dry food with warm water to make it more palatable and easier to eat
Consider adding meal toppers
Meal toppers are formulated to be highly palatable so are a great option for fussy eaters. A small amount of the topper is mixed in with a complete and balanced dry or wet food to improve its taste and texture. It's important to note that meal toppers are not suitable as a sole diet.
NB: If your pet is on prescription food, it is NOT recommended to add anything extra to their diet without the approval of your cat's treating veterinarian. Any additions may reduce the effectiveness of their current diet. .
- No-salt chicken broth
- Plain, cooked chicken (no skin)
- Plain, cooked lean meat (remove any fat)
- Plain, cooked egg
- Salmon/tuna/sardines in springwater
Meal toppers that can be prepared at home include:
It's recommend to keep meal toppers, as well as home-prepared food and treats, to less than 10% of your pet's daily intake to avoid nutritional imbalances .
Tips for selecting a new food
If you find that your cat is still not eating their current food after trying the above tips and persisting for several weeks, it may be time to select a new one to try. With so many different options on the market these days it can be difficult to know where to start, and the following points can help to guide your decision.
- Firstly, if your pet is on a prescription diet, discuss alternative options with your veterinarian. In most cases a similar option will be available in another brand or flavour
- If you have noticed that your cat has preferred a certain flavour or texture in the past try to find a new food with similar characteristics
- If you have not noticed a pattern with your cat's previous preferences, you could try a brand new flavour such as kangaroo, turkey or lamb, or a new type of wet food (for example, jelly rather than gravy)
- Stick to a premium brand- these tend to be more palatable and have more targeted nutrition than supermarket brands
- Some cats may prefer a naturally preserved diet that is freeze- or air-dried. Because these foods are naturally and gently preserved they tend to retain more flavour. As an added bonus most of them are also more nutrient dense compared to standard kibble, which is a good feature for chronic fussy eaters.
For further guidance or specific food suggestions for your fussy eater, feel free to contact our Vet Squad via live chat, Vet Pet Plan or email..
Further Reading
How to introduce a new food to your pet
How To Tell If Your Cat Lover You
Want to know more? Check out our Discover Page for more tips on keeping your pets happy and healthy.