Cats are notorious for being finicky eaters. They may take one sniff at a perfectly fine dish of food, then turn tail and leave the offending “slop” behind with an air of disgust. This can occur even if the food in her dish has been her favorite up to this point. It’s a cat’s prerogative to change her mind on a moment’s notice, don’t you know?
If your cat is not eating, know that you’re not alone. Cat owners all over the world have endured this frustration (and probably always will), but there are ways to get your fancy feline back to the dish.
Check Your Cat’s Health
The most important reason a cat may refuse food is illness or stress. Before you try to entice your cat to eat, you have to determine whether she is simply being picky or she has a health problem. Cats that refuse to eat for more than 24 hours or exhibit other signs of illness, like vomiting, diarrhea, lethargy, or weakness, should be taken to a veterinarian to determine the underlying source of these symptoms.
Try a New Flavor of Food
Unless your cat has a medical reason that prevents her from exploring new foods, changing the flavor of your present brand is sometimes enough to re-ignite your cat’s appetite. If this is not an option, or you’ve run out of possibilities with a certain brand, beware that a sudden change in food brands may cause some diarrhea in your cat. However, it should clear up once your cat’s system has become accustomed to the dietary change. Slow introductions to these new foods and flavors can lessen the risk of diarrhea.
Warm It Up
Canned cat food that is refrigerated after being opened may smell less enticing to your cat, but putting it in the microwave for 5 to 10 seconds will be enough to bring out its natural smell and flavor. If you don’t have a microwave, or don’t want to stink up the house, mix some warm water into the food and make certain that the food will not burn your cat’s mouth before putting it down.
Add Some Flavor
If your cat is not eating, there are things you can use to enhance the flavor and smell of her current food. Sprinkle a teaspoon of dried catnip over the food to make it more enticing, use products like powdered cat vitamins or dried Bonito flakes to enhance the food’s taste, or even drizzle some canned salmon or low-sodium tuna juice over dry kibble and mix well.
Keep Your Cat’s Dishes Clean
Cats are repelled by the smell of rotting or old meat, so be sure to wash her food dish after every meal to rid it of any leftover morsels of food. Food left to spoil in dishes will create bacteria and even mold which can cause illness in your cat. In addition, if you use plastic cat food bowls, switch over to ceramic, glass or metal bowls, as these substances are easier to keep clean and won’t hold onto the scent of your dishwashing liquid.
Try a Shallow Food Dish
Some cats don’t like deep cat food dishes as this constricts their whiskers. Short-snout breeds, such as Persians and Himalayans, may have trouble eating out of a deeper dish because of the restriction on their airways.
Don’t Hide Medication in Your Cat’s Food
Most medications for animals are extremely bitter tasting, and by grinding it up in your cat’s food you may be inadvertently tainting the taste and smell. Unfortunately, your cat will remember the taste was unpleasant and most likely will not try it again. Some medications now come in pet-friendly flavors, so ask your vet for medication that can be hidden in your cat’s food without any negative consequences or bad tastes.
Cats crave variety just like people do, so try these options to see which one she prefers. As long as there’s no medical reason for your cat not eating, she may just be craving a change. Fortunately, there are many, many different formulas and flavors of food to try, which may be just what your cat has been waiting for. It’s only a matter of time before you find the right taste profile that your cat is sure to dive right into.