Cats are picky eaters.

[AlertLurker]

My two cats are on hunger strike.

Not really, but since Whiskas changed the formula for their "Choice Cuts" food, they will not eat it anymore. "Choice Cuts" was the ONLY wet food they would eat before the change (they will still eat dry food), and I have tried quite a number of different brands (Friskies cuts, Sheba, PC wet food and cuts Iams wet and cuts) and alternatives, since. I cannot afford Science Diet and the like, unfortunately, but they will not eat it, anyhow. They will not eat flakes of chicken, and only ONE of them will eat canned white flaked tuna (but she will not eat light flaked tuna).

They are weird little bastards, but I love them like my kids.

I am at my wits end, however.

Anyone have any good ideas, barring raw meat/rice diets?

Any response appreciated.

[Iris]

1. fruit cocktail?

seriously. A friend of mine fed his cats fruit cocktail.

But I didn't think it was a good idea.

Can they just eat the dry food they like? Could you put something on it, like chicken broth, if you're afraid they aren't getting enough of something?

[mak3cats]

2. Can't help you myself (my cats eat anything), but...

...try cross-posting this over in the Pets Group. You'd probably get a lot of responses over there.

[mwb970]

3. I hate it when they get fussy.

I have two (Max & Mini). Max sometimes eats a little of what I put down then meows for something different. I'll put out one or two other flavors, but then that's it.

Mini eats almost everything, just not when I first put it down.

Sheesh.

[BobMorr]

6. Hills AD

Try Hills Prescription Diet AD. I feed this to sick or elderly cats who don't want to eat. If your cat is refusing to eat you might have to force feed it. Sometimes they get spoiled and you have a hard time getting them to eat on their own. I use a syringe for feeding. The kind thats used for giving liquid medicine to babies. You need to feed them 30ccs 3 times a day. I use AD mixed with a small amount of warm water. Don't wait to long if your cat isn't eating. Their metabolism needs are different then most animals. AD has to be purchased at an animal hospital.

[grasswire]

4. my orange tabby has been bumming avocado off me..

....lately at breakfast. I often have toast with avocado and bacon. He wants the green stuff.

[trof]

5. So are 3 year old boys.

My grandson lived on air and stuff he found between the sofa cushions for a year.
Near as we can tell.

[redwitch]

10. And now he's a 6 foot tall rugby player/rocket scientist?

Usually how it works out. My son is an airatarian, although he will eat samosas, pizza and plain white rice. He is healthy.

[trof]

20. He's 5 1/2 and eats now, but...

it still seems to be a necessary chore with him.
Not something he really looks forward to or enjoys.
:shrug:

[GoneOffShore]

7. Try Trader Joe's Tuna for cats

They also have a good dry food.

You want something that has a high taurine content whatever you choose. I've also been advised to stay away from foods that have a lot of gluten filler in them. Cats can't process carbs the way dogs can so it's best not to feed it to them

[GoddessOfGuinness]

8. My cat is starting to act finicky...

I have to switch brands every few days. :crazy:

[DS1]

9. not mine

here he is sampling some doritos

[pink-o]

12. Yeah

Mine once stole a french fry off my plate. I didn't grab it from her because I was too stunned to react!

[Roon]

15. My elderly kitty will steal whole pizza slices off my plate

she is 24-years-old, so I let her! :o

[The Velveteen Ocelot]

16. My big orange and white guy, Milo, once stole an entire pork chop off my plate.

He also ran off with a ham sandwich when I looked away for a few seconds. Milo might force me to go vegetarian just so I can have my food to myself.

[Roon]

17. No doubt

Daniel is the only kitty in my house that likes human food. I have to share EVERYTHING with her.

[applegrove]

11. Try different blends of food. Mine will eat some friskies but not others.

Oh hell - they'll eat anything just some flavours not as much as the others.

[AlertLurker]

13. Thanks for the kind and helpful replies.

Truly weird and wonderful creatures, these kitties. Supposed carnivores...Won't touch chicken/salmon/liver/kidney, but merely cut into a cantaloupe or a Japanese pear and they both come running!

If it weren't so damn cold, I'd leave them in the barn for a couple of days...they LOVE to eat them mousies!!!

[yawnmaster]

14. yes and no

One of mine is picky, and one isn't.
The one that isn't will try my corn flakes, cheerios, doritos...
hell, how picky are you if you run over and eat the other cat's vomit? (sorry)


You might want to just give them time to get used to another wet food. Use small servings until they stop turning their nose up to it.

[Boudica the Lyoness]

18. I've noticed when they eat a rodent

they sort the innards out. There's nasty green bits of guts they wont eat. The horrid chickens come along and gobble them down though.

[astral]

19. I have heard ideally cats should be given raw meat

but my cat rarely gets even a piece of shrimp (he does like shrimp) for cat food I give him Fancy Feast, just dont' bother buying the Ocean Whitefish flavor (of any brand). I only give him a heaping teaspoon as a meal, though, with dry food (also Fancy Feast) available to him too.

My cat isn't a realy picky eater, but I did learn through trial and error there were some catfoods he won't eat -- I even had to quit buying Friskies, and of course Whiskas went out the door right away because he would eat it but would always immediately puke it up.

I do believe when it comes to cats turning their nose up at something, they know it's not good for them by instinct.