Cats have a reputation for being extremely picky, so if you’ve got a picky-eating cat on your hands then it shouldn’t come as much of a surprise. In truth though, this behaviour is generally learned and not bred into them.
You may think your cat wants or requires variety in their diet but in actual fact, they will happily eat the same food everyday – provided it’s a well-balanced and nutritious meal.
Cats aren’t built to eat big meals
What may seem like picky eating may just be your cat taking their time. Cats have evolved as hunting predators and, in nature, would eat 10-20 small meals a day! Obviously our domestic cats don’t use enough energy to have that much food, but they do still prefer to eat little and often. Hence, many cats are nibblers and prefer to have a mouthful of food now and again. Just because your cat doesn’t eat the whole bowl right away, that doesn’t mean they don’t like the food. Also, remember your cat’s stomach is only about the size of a golf ball!
Is my cat eating enough?
Your cat may be avoiding food because they’re getting extra treats somewhere else. If you treat your cat a lot or feed scraps from the table, you should stop. Your cat will complain for a while but eventually will understand that the only food they’re going to get is what’s in the bowl.
Try to make sure no one else is giving treats – either in your household or in the neighbourhood. It only takes one person to change how your cat expects to get food.
Cats are crafty creatures and are good at getting their way. If, every time your cat turns their nose up at food, you offer something different, they will very quickly learn how to get something extra special. If you’re now opening multiple packs of food to coax your cat into eating something every meal, then your cat has got you trained!
Here’s a way to train your cat to eat only what you want:
Make each meal small and split the ration through the day so your cat isn’t overwhelmed by a big bowl of food. Timer feeders are really useful for this.
If you’re not using a timer, put out the food for just half an hour.
If not eaten, take it away.
Repeat until your cat eats the food provided.
After a day or two, your cat may start howling for extra treats. Don’t give in. Your cat isn’t starving; they’re just using their charms to get what they want. You may have to put up with this for a couple weeks, but this approach should put a stop to fussy eating.
Some cats may be picky eaters and not like the food. If your cat regularly eats elsewhere, then the food may not work.
Tasty Tips
Switching to a new food
If you’re changing your cat’s food, you should do it gradually. Start by mixing a bit of the new food with the regular food, gradually increasing the amount over 5-7 days (unless your vet says otherwise) until only the new food is fed.
When to call the vet
If your cat suddenly becomes very fussy after not previously displaying that kind of behaviour, or appears to be losing weight, you should talk to your vet. Sometimes behaviour that appears fussy can be caused by an underlying medical reason like a dental problem, a digestive upset, or a condition such as kidney disease.
Preventing your cat from becoming a picky eater
Cats can get easily ‘hooked’ on certain textures and types of food. This means that if you feed a kitten dry food only, as an adult they may never tolerate wet food (and vice versa). If you can, it’s a good idea to give your kitten a variety of textures as they grow – tinned, pouches and dry. Try to avoid giving them something else if they refuse a certain meal, but try to give, for instance, wet food in the morning and evening, with some dry meals in between. This is useful because it keeps your cat accustomed to variety and keeps their tastes flexible. If you are consistent about not giving in, your cat will learn from a young age to eat what they’re given!
There are a few advantages to keeping them flexible. You have the satisfaction that they’re enjoying a nice variety as well as great nutrition. Most importantly, sometimes in life, circumstances change and your cat may suddenly need a wet food or a dry food. Wet food is a very important way to increase the water intake of cats and is always recommended for cats with bladder or kidney disease. If your cat is hooked on dry food, this can be very challenging. Likewise, dry food is much cheaper than wet food. If your circumstances change and you want to feed dry only until you can afford to go back to wet, this will make the switch easier. Dry food may also be easier to feed in summer months because it doesn’t go off in the heat or attract flies the way that wet food does.
Remember that if ever you do change your cat’s food, do it gradually over 5-7 days and don’t ever offer new food if your cat feels unwell or is not eating. This can cause food aversion, a life-long association between a certain food and feeling unwell. If ever you’re in doubt, speak to your vet.
If you can keep your cat flexible from the beginning, it will help them not to be fussy and may well help their health one day too.
Reviewed by Dr. Hein Meyer, DVM, PhD, Dipl-ECVIM-CA and Dr. Emma Milne BVSc FRCVS
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