Semi-smelly food

raintyger

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My kitty caught a GI infection. She is receiving antibiotics and is doing well as far as recovery. During the infection she had a very low appetite, even refusing tuna. When she started the antibiotics her appetite slowly started coming back, but she would only eat the smelliest food (Friskies). I intend to slowly move her back, but having purchased mainly moderately high end food before (Wellness, By Nature, Halo), I don't know which foods would be only moderately smelly. Can someone give some suggestions?
 

ritz

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If you can find cat food (even dog food temporarily) made with Green Tripe, try that.  Green Tripe, especially cooked (versus raw), is especially smelly.  Also, I would think liver-based canned food would also be smelly.

You can heat up food, it makes it smellier.  Try to stay away from fish, it can cause problems in the long run.  Though Murphy's Law being what it is, fish smells the, um, smelliest.

Also, are you sure it's the smell versus taste/appetite that is the triggering factor?  To increase her appetite, you could try adding some Fortiflora as a topper, fish flakes, or even Parmesan Cheese!
 
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raintyger

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If you can find cat food (even dog food temporarily) made with Green Tripe, try that.  Green Tripe, especially cooked (versus raw), is especially smelly.  Also, I would think liver-based canned food would also be smelly.

You can heat up food, it makes it smellier.  Try to stay away from fish, it can cause problems in the long run.  Though Murphy's Law being what it is, fish smells the, um, smelliest.

Also, are you sure it's the smell versus taste/appetite that is the triggering factor?  To increase her appetite, you could try adding some Fortiflora as a topper, fish flakes, or even Parmesan Cheese!
I think there is some confusion here. I have found really smelly Friskies and want something somewhat less smelly so I can slowly transfer her back to her regular, non-smelly food. I tried mixing some of the really smelly Friskies with another Friskies flavor that wasn't as smelly, and she ate that for supper yesterday, but not as eagerly. Unfortunately the only flavor she would accept when she was at peak illness was OCEAN WHITEFISH. At least it was Friskies Special Diet, which is supposed to be formulated for UTI health.

I did try Fortiflora and parmesan cheese in the beginning, no luck, although that was when she didn't want to eat at all. (scary!) For some reason she doesn't want liver, even though she liked it right before she got sick. The vet said ultra finickiness and changing tastes during sickness is quite common.
 

ritz

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Opps, sorry, I thought you were trying to get her to eat more.

My bad.

Your vet is correct about finickiness due to illness.

I would try tricks used for transitioning a cat from dry to wet food/wet food to raw food, that is, slowly mix some of the good, non smelly food, with the smelly food.

Maybe she'd like raw liver?
 
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