Something in Hound and Gatos that makes it unappetizing?

I saw that Hound and Gatos was mentioned in a few posts as a decent canned brand to offer, so I went out and bought a few different flavours to try with my cat. She will eat just about anything these days, and she knows that those little cans hold untold wonders. She did her usual song and dance at feeding time, I scooped some out and she excitedly rushed over, licked it twice and immediately stopped and stared at me like I was some kind of crazy thing.

I figured, well, she just doesn't like that flavour (it was the trout) so I grabbed a can of beef and tried again. She slowly but surely ate it, but it was obvious she would have preferred almost anything else in the world.

So again, I figured she probably just didn't like the brand. Normally when I offer her new brands she will just dig in and eat whatever it is no problem, so I wasn't going to torture her with half-eaten food she clearly didn't like. I offered the leftovers to my housemate for her cats, who are also not really that picky when it comes to food. None of the four of them would eat it either.

It just seems so weird that out of five cats I couldn't get any of them excited about eating it. Normally these cats will be clawing at my legs desperately trying to get at canned food and there was no reaction to Hound and Gatos. Should I just cross this brand off of my list? Is it worth it to try different flavours if I've already struck out twice? I do still have a can of their chicken I can try later on down the road, I suppose. I'm just disappointed, I was hoping to add some more variety to my fairly small rotation of brands.

Here's Sadie's unimpressed face, as a bonus:

You're kitty is cute and she doesn't look impressed.  You're kitties apparently don't care for it, it happens.  Top quality canned food doesn't do any good if kitties don't care for it.  Hounds and Gatos does have a different texture to it even from most other pates.  Maybe it's the texture that they don't care for.

Aww, just look at that sweet face! ... She's lovely.

It could be that your kitty does find the Hound & Gatos rather bland compared to other brands she is used to eating. Some canned foods will feature flavor enhancers while some others contain broth that can make food more appetizing to cats. It could be a texture thing as Denice pointed out or the fact that Hound and Gatos doesn't feature broth (which by the way is always preferable to flavor enhancers which are typically artificial).

There is another brand of canned that you might want to try which is Nature's Variety Instinct. This is a high protein, low carb grain-free wet canned diet that is also carageenan-free. I feed this to my cats and they like it well enough. This will be comparable in price to the H&G that you purchased so if you can locate it at the store that you purchased the H&G, maybe you can do an exchange? Here is what you are looking for : http://www.naturesvariety.com/Instinct/cat/can/all

My cats aren't enamoured with Hounds & Gatos either. The only one they eat with passion is the Rabbit flavour.

This is good feedback re. the H&G as I was looking at trying some, but I am in an area where I can't get it easily. I did find some varieties at a FoodSmiths nearby, but they are just carrying the varieties with fish? I think I would want to go with the Rabbit, Lamb or Pork and hopefully these are tasty enough for my crew. I purchased the NV Lamb recently and it was well received!

My cats did not like the H&G lamb, which I fed one evening. In fact, both ate some, then refused to return to their bowls until I cleared the food. Both cats were "off" the next morning. I have a can of the rabbit and the pork that I will try one of these days, but I don't have high hopes. H&G has an odd texture and contains a lot of gums, presumably to create that texture. My male cat has previously barfed food with xantham gum, so I wonder if that is part of the problem with H&G in my house. I'm disappointed because it otherwise looks to be a good food.

oneandahalfcats said:

 
This is good feedback re. the H&G as I was looking at trying some, but I am in an area where I can't get it easily. I did find some varieties at a FoodSmiths nearby, but they are just carrying the varieties with fish? I think I would want to go with the Rabbit, Lamb or Pork and hopefully these are tasty enough for my crew. I purchased the NV Lamb recently and it was well received!

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If you want to try out single cans itsapetlife.com carries single cans of of Hound and Gatos.  That's where I purchased Hound and Gatos to see if my crew would like it since none of the pet food stores around me carry it.  My cats really like anything chicken flavored so I bought the chicken and two out of 3 eat it up. We have one picky cat that only eats fancy feast. I decided to buy H&G rabbit to add to the mix but no one liked it.  We also feed everyone fancy feast classic chicken and turkey flavors.  At first we tried Nature's Variety because our local pet stores carry it but no one liked it.  Overall if your cat doesn't like it there is no sense in trying to force them to eat it. 

oneandahalfcats said:

There is another brand of canned that you might want to try which is Nature's Variety Instinct. This is a high protein, low carb grain-free wet canned diet that is also carageenan-free. I feed this to my cats and they like it well enough. This will be comparable in price to the H&G that you purchased so if you can locate it at the store that you purchased the H&G, maybe you can do an exchange? Here is what you are looking for : http://www.naturesvariety.com/Instinct/cat/can/all

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I do indeed feed some Nature's Variety Instinct! I don't feed it very often, as it is quite expensive around here and I can't seem to find a place that sells it online at all. The Hound and Gatos were all just around $2 a can at the store I went to, and Nature's Variety Instinct is something around $2.50-3.50 for different flavours for the 5.5oz cans and $3.90-5.60 for the 13oz dog cans. I usually just stick with the chicken/beef that are under $4 for the dog cans, haha, Sadie does not get a lot of meat variety!

Our cats absolutely love the H&G lamb and one of them will eat the lamb/chicken/salmon, too. But they barely touch the beef and chicken so I'm going to drop everything but lamb out of the rotation. H&G is relatively cheap ($1.39-1.79) in one of our local stores so I was hoping they'd love it! They love Nature's Variety Instinct duck and turkey but it's pretty expensive here, too.

I can get Hounds and Gatos much cheaper than the Natures Variety as well.  I have to order it online but even with shipping I can get if for under $2 a can, the rabbit is right at $2 a can.  Natures Variety Instinct is $3 a can.

My 7 cats do not like H&G either. i wonder if we all contacted them. maybe they can chnage something, that more cats will eat it. it can't be good for their business. Even the less picky cats dont care much for it. Last time I mixed a can of tuna with the chicken. It was the obly time they really liked it. 

Rhian said:

 
I do indeed feed some Nature's Variety Instinct! I don't feed it very often, as it is quite expensive around here and I can't seem to find a place that sells it online at all. The Hound and Gatos were all just around $2 a can at the store I went to, and Nature's Variety Instinct is something around $2.50-3.50 for different flavours for the 5.5oz cans and $3.90-5.60 for the 13oz dog cans. I usually just stick with the chicken/beef that are under $4 for the dog cans, haha, Sadie does not get a lot of meat variety!

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That seems like a good price for the Hound & Gatos! ... I called a local shop today and they carry the H&G but just the fish varieties? I asked them about the others (Lamb, Pork, Rabbit) and they are willing to bring this in.

I pay the same price here in Ontario for NV in the 5.5 ounce. I discovered the tip about the dog formulas being the same as cat formulas recently, and so have been buying the dog cans as well for rotation. Much better deal! Only difference seems to be the consistency in the dog food which is chunkier than the cat food, but no problem with this.

Have you tried any of the PC Extra Meaty line? I get the Duck and Wild Rice / Turkey and Giblets which my little female likes. You can get both the 5.5 & 13 ounce for under a $1.00.

SmartyFOJ said:

 
If you want to try out single cans itsapetlife.com carries single cans of of Hound and Gatos.  That's where I purchased Hound and Gatos to see if my crew would like it since none of the pet food stores around me carry it.  My cats really like anything chicken flavored so I bought the chicken and two out of 3 eat it up. We have one picky cat that only eats fancy feast. I decided to buy H&G rabbit to add to the mix but no one liked it.  We also feed everyone fancy feast classic chicken and turkey flavors.  At first we tried Nature's Variety because our local pet stores carry it but no one liked it.  Overall if your cat doesn't like it there is no sense in trying to force them to eat it. 

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Its funny how some cats will eat the rabbit but not the chicken, and vice-versa? ... Thanks for the tip about where to buy H&G. I actually remembered that one local shop carries this in the fish varieties, and have asked them to bring in some Rabbit, Lamb and Pork to give this a try. My little female is the picky one, but she will eat the NV sometimes. I don't have to worry about my two boys, as they will eat pretty well anything that is put in front of them

oneandahalfcats said:

Have you tried any of the PC Extra Meaty line? I get the Duck and Wild Rice / Turkey and Giblets which my little female likes. You can get both the 5.5 & 13 ounce for under a $1.00.

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I have actually looked at a few cans of the PC line, but I'm just so worried about what their ingredients actually are. It wouldn't be so bad if it was just poultry by-products, but the whole animal liver and meat by-products I've seen listed make me not want to try it. Does it ever list anywhere what kind of animal is actually used in these ingredients?

Rhian said:

 
I have actually looked at a few cans of the PC line, but I'm just so worried about what their ingredients actually are. It wouldn't be so bad if it was just poultry by-products, but the whole animal liver and meat by-products I've seen listed make me not want to try it. Does it ever list anywhere what kind of animal is actually used in these ingredients?

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Animal liver is animal liver? It could be chicken, or beef liver. But if you want to know for sure, you should call them! .. I have called three companies recently and was able to get quite a bit of information. Certainly worth a try and hopefully you will receive some answers.

oneandahalfcats said:

 
Its funny how some cats will eat the rabbit but not the chicken, and vice-versa?

... Thanks for the tip about where to buy H&G. I actually remembered that one local shop carries this in the fish varieties, and have asked them to bring in some Rabbit, Lamb and Pork to give this a try. My little female is the picky one, but she will eat the NV sometimes. I don't have to worry about my two boys, as they will eat pretty well anything that is put in front of them

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My kitty didn't like the Hound and Gatos chicken, but would eat rabbit! Rabbit is supposed to be a little gamer than chicken, but similar in taste. I think the Hound and Gatos brand must be bland since it's such a simple food. So if your kitties are used to foods with other ingredients, maybe it's the equivalent of a people meal without spices or salt. It seems like a lot of people can't get their kitties to eat Hound and Gatos even though it's a good food nutritionally. In particular, I remember another thread where owners said the chicken flavor was rejected.

I got my Hound and Gatos for $1.39/can, so some of the prices revealed here are a little surprising. Part of the attractiveness of Hound and Gatos (at least for me) was that it is reasonably priced yet has a decent nutritional profile.

Raintyger said:

 
My kitty didn't like the Hound and Gatos chicken, but would eat rabbit! Rabbit is supposed to be a little gamer than chicken, but similar in taste. I think the Hound and Gatos brand must be bland since it's such a simple food. So if your kitties are used to foods with other ingredients, maybe it's the equivalent of a people meal without spices or salt. It seems like a lot of people can't get their kitties to eat Hound and Gatos even though it's a good food nutritionally. In particular, I remember another thread where owners said the chicken flavor was rejected.

I got my Hound and Gatos for $1.39/can, so some of the prices revealed here are a little surprising. Part of the attractiveness of Hound and Gatos (at least for me) was that it is reasonably priced yet has a decent nutritional profile.

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H&G was one of the companies I contacted    I have gotten that impression as well about it, that it is a good food with not much added. 

That $1.39/can is great  Another confirmation that we here in Canada are paying way too much for some of our stuff!  

I'm in canada and I think I pay under $2 for h&g (global pet foods). My girls like it and will eat any of the non-fish flavours. Their favourite brand is party animal organics

Huh! They must price their foods arbitrarily, l'm in Ottawa and pay $2.49 per 5.5oz can of H&G (also Global). When rabbit is scarce they price it higher than the other flavours. And since my cats will only eat the rabbit l can say they have expensive taste.

I purchased single cans of H&G from "It's a Pet's Life". The shipping charge was, to me, better than spending time driving through LA-area traffic. Their prices are very good and range from $1.36 to $2.26, depending on the protein. I ordered single cans of other brands and proteins I want to try, so it was a very economical way to get a good sampling of foods.

My cats have sampled Party Animal in turkey and duck. This was almost two months ago, when I first shifted them away from their previous food. This food has guar gum, however, which is on my list of suspect ingredients for my male cat's sensitive stomach. But I like the other ingredients in Party Animal and want to try this food again.