Won't eat canned

My 14 year old cat DeeJay is on a canned food only diet, has been that way for 4 years.  All the sudden the last couple of days she is eating maybe one or two licks of her canned, then rushes out to finish off my only dry food cats dish (Mini never finishes her bowl).  She had bloodwork done a week ago and it was all normal except slightly (2 points) elevated BUN.  I have tried a couple of different canned foods, but to no avail all the sudden she doesn't want it.  I've tried warming it up, tried parmasan cheese, any other ideas on what to do to get her to eat the canned again?  I even tried mixing some high cal stuff in with her canned and she totally snubbed it.

I assume you're offering her the same canned food she's always eaten? If this is the case, I'm thinking maybe there was a formula change. Companies don't have to change labels until they run out of the old ones.

Maybe buy some Fancy Feast classic, just to give it a try. Most cats love it. If she eats it, and you want her on a higher quality canned, I'd look into different brands than what she's been eating.

You might want to search this forum for food without carrageenan. There's a collection of good food options (high protein, limited ingredient, low carb) in those.

If none of Laurie's suggestions work, try crushing some of the kibble that she's starting to crave and sprinkle it over the canned food and see if that'll draw her back to the good stuff.

Do you rotate her food?  I know two of mine get tired after awhile of the same food.  Tinky has been eating raw turkey for quite awhile now, and suddenly he's balking at eating it.  He's one of those that only seems to like one food at a time for a long time, then decides that's it and doesn't want it ever again.  Callie, on the other hand, wants something new at every meal .  Luckily there's Darko, who will eat any and every thing

What other toppers have you tried? Bonito flakes are really smelly stuffs that many cats like.

I haven't rotated much, and I think she is getting bored of what she's been eating.  My hubby picked up Fancy Feast and a few Meow Mix (he checked for Wheat as she has sensitivities to that), and I fed her a can of FF and she ate the entire thing.  I was getting worried as she hasn't eaten for 2 days.  I will do some research and find a better brand for her, but for now I am just glad that she's eating.

cprcheetah said:

 
I haven't rotated much, and I think she is getting bored of what she's been eating.  My hubby picked up Fancy Feast and a few Meow Mix (he checked for Wheat as she has sensitivities to that), and I fed her a can of FF and she ate the entire thing.  I was getting worried as she hasn't eaten for 2 days.  I will do some research and find a better brand for her, but for now I am just glad that she's eating.

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for eating!  Just be aware that SOME of the Fancy Feasts DO contain wheat gluten.  I think it's the " Mornings".  The "Classics" are pretty decent in the fact that they are fairly low carb,

Yeah my hubby (I am so proud of him) checked the labels before buying them, he said he spent 1/2 hour looking for cat food for DeeJay

Oh that's great she's eating! :bigthumb: Sounds like she needs a rotation of foods. Hope that's all it is! :cross:

Ugh!  She has lost 2oz this week.......hubby had a good idea.   I keep my CH kitty in my office during the day (otherwise she pees on my couch), so he suggested since Mini Dee won't eat canned food, to keep DeeJay in the office with Mini Dee and put down a plate of canned food for her to munch on during the day.  That way they could both have some company and maybe I could get a little bit more into DeeJay.  I've got to find higher calorie canned food so what little I am getting her to eat packs on the calories.

So I am at a loss of what to do with DeeJay s he won't finish her meals, she's eating maybe 1/4 to 1/2 of a 3oz Fancy Feast can.  I tried leaving some out for her last night in the office, but she didn't touch it so apparently I will have to find one of those timed feeders if that's going to work.  I did try giving her some raw chicken this morning and got her to eat about 3 or 4 dime sized pieces before she lost interest.

Hounds and Gatos is pretty high calorie (and a very good food, as well)   I can't get it around here, but maybe up there you'll have better luck.  Otherwise, I know someone who might be willing to ship you a can to try it.  She's in California and that's how I was able to try it on my Callie.  Then if DeeJay likes it, you can either see if a local store will order it for you, or you can order a case via the internet.

Ooh Ooh, there is a Hound & Gatos retailer about 20-30 miles from me, not a big deal.  I may have to go find some.

Definitely call that store before heading out. I called all the stores in my area listed on their website and none of them had it. You can order single cans here (note drop-down box for case or cans):

http://wholepetsholistic.com/store/...-Northwest-Salmon-Canned-Cat-Food-5.5oz-Case/

Or, as mrsgreenjeens has pointed out, I can send you some with food and postage reimbursement.

Some other high calorie canned foods include Wellness and Innova.

I have one cat that does that and the hog cats rush in and finish her food before she can go back to it. So I keep placing the food in front of her each time she scampers away. She isn't a focused eater, but is very hungry when it is meal time. Maddening. Hand feeding her sometimes works.

With Boo Berry, I have to break up some freeze dried chicken on top of his wet food--which he'll only eat Stella and Chewy's soupy--. But with just the Stella and Chewy's I have to feed my little prince by hand to get him interested. Since it is freeze dried raw---I don't really care to do that. Lol. Anyway, the freeze dried chicken seems to be an enticing topper to get him going.

It doesn't work with theother cats though.

So little miss DeeJay quit eating, wouldn't even touch the raw, so back to the vet she went.  Long story short (if you want the long version you can go check out her thread in the health), any who we are thinking she may have chronic pancreatitis.  So she's on antibiotics, an appetitie stimulant and steroid/anti-inflammatory.  She has already eaten 1 5.5oz can of food today and still hasn't even eaten her dinner.

Oh no! I'm so glad you took her in!

Poor DeeJay .  I don't understand why so many cats are being diagnosed with Pancreatitis lately .  Well, I guess it's at least good to have a diagnosis, and now at least she is eating well again

that you can get it under control and KEEP it that way.