We hear it all the time at the store: “My cat won’t eat the food they have always liked.” It can be hard to figure out why a cat isn’t eating. Are they just being picky or is something else going on? Figuring out the cause can help you understand how to get them eating again.
Possible reasons a cat won’t eat:
- They are bored of the same foods
- Changes to their schedule or environment are stressing them out
- The current food is making their tummy upset
- They might be sick: maybe their teeth hurt. or they are suffering from kidney disease or other illnesses
Unlike humans and dogs, cats need to eat. While we can live a while on just water, feline organs will fail without food. So, if your cat hasn’t eaten in more than 24 hours, it is time to get them to the vet ASAP.
But if your cat seems fine in every other way and seems to just being fussy, here are some tricks to encourage them to eat.
- Warm up their food a little.
- Change the protein in the food: maybe rabbit, pork or beef is the answer. We have noticed that some cats like a change of protein when the season changes.
- A low phosphorus food might make them feel better.
- Try a different texture: maybe a pate, minced or something with more gravy for example.
- Switch it up—if you feed dry, move to wet food, freeze-dried or air-dried food for a change.
- Try adding something to their food: broth, goat milk or fish oil can help.
- Go for something totally different: try some little bits of salmon or chicken cooked at home. (No salt or herbs please.) Try human baby food or kitten food. Our customers have had good luck with those creamy, lickable treats that come in tubes. None of these options are complete and balanced for long-term feeding, but they can be great for motivating cats to eat again.
We are here to help you figure out what your cat will happily eat. Sometimes it takes a bit of trial and error, but we usually win in the end!