Cat refuses all but one food

Hi,

I leave for work in the morning, and I usually rotate foods for my two cats. The thing is, one of them has been putting his nose up to the entire rotation of foods if it isn't one certain brand or Primal raw. I know that one brand of cat food cannot be constantly nutritious, and I can't afford to feed only raw. Because I'm leaving for work I don't have time to start fiddling.

I have tried mixing them and he has had these foods before and only just started being so finicky. I truly do not think this is a nutrition issue and purely a behavior issue.


I rotated brands since he was 5 months old. I can't understand why suddenly this is a problem.

I have rotated:
NVI turkey, chicken, and lamb
Whole earth farms beef
Health Extension chicken, turkey
Primal raw turkey nuggets
NVI raw rabbit, chicken nuggets
Weruva Cats in the kitchen chicken frick a zee, fowl ball
Weruva paw licking chicken

All of a sudden he hates anything that isn't whole earth farms beef. I need help. I have a cupboard full of food he used to eat and he refuses to eat now. They're still kinda young and as such I can't afford to feed only weruva either since they burn through calories.

Please. Any help. I'm stressed out over this.

How old is the kitty who is refusing the food? I'm going through a similar situation with my female currently (she is just over 1).

It's my experience that cats get fussier as they get older. Some never get fussy, some get a little fussy and others will only eat 1 brand of food in 1 flavour.

Sometimes I find giving her nothing but the food she wants for a couple of days then bringing back one of the others works, it's like she gets sick of having the 1 food for days and days then will give the other stuff a try again. You can try some of the same brands but in different flavours (my girl has always eaten chicken fancy feast, lately she turned her nose up for days so I gave her beef flavour tonight and down it went).

Alternatively you can try toppers, crushed up treats or parmesan cheese, nutritional yeast or bonito flakes sprinkled on top will encourage some kitties to eat.

Given that you have to go to work, I would just feed what kitty wants until you have a day off then try something else on the days you're not running out the door to work.

Good luck! Dealing with a fussy cat is super frustrating. I have a box with about $150 worth of food in it that they won't touch.

He's 11 months old. I might try starting all over and mixing the beef with the "new" food.

I can't waste this stuff.

Just had a similar battle with my 10-month old tabby.  Up to now she has devoured everything.  I rotate her menu to keep her interested.  Well, I had refrigerated leftovers from two opened cans; Dick Van Patten Venison and Under the Sun Duck.  Mixed the leftover portions.  Much to my dissappointment, her meal bowl was still full when I arrived home from work.  I thought this might be a battle of wills.  This morning before work I just gave up and put some of her favorite kibble in her bowl.  She marched right over and chowed down.

Score:  Kitty 1, Daddy 0.

My mom mentioned today she's noticed his stools be hard and dry. could it be because of constipation or something? I just don't recall him being this finicky. Its strange.

I'm using a few rounds of fortiflora, and whenever I do, he's more and more I inclined to eat as I use them.

TheGreyStalker said:

 
Score:  Kitty 1, Daddy 0.

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This is generally how it goes down

peacefulchaos said:

My mom mentioned today she's noticed his stools be hard and dry. could it be because of constipation or something? I just don't recall him being this finicky. Its strange.

I'm using a few rounds of fortiflora, and whenever I do, he's more and more I inclined to eat as I use them.

Click to expand...

It is possible if he's a bit constipated that he's just not as hungry. Mine get dry when they go off their wet food and are eating more dry. Sometimes a bit of cat lax helps if things get really bad but generally taking away the kibble and feeding only wet for a day or 2 fixes them right up. If you're concerned at all though might be worth a trip to the vet (this is more if they go off all food rather than just a few kinds)

My cats also prefer Merrick and their line Whole Earth. They call the shots unfortunately. Sprinkle crumbled freezedried Purebites on the other brands. (Get the dog size bag) its cheaper. My cats like beef, rabbit, duck and chicken in Merrick regular, lid, and whole earth farms, they also eat Soulistic chicken shreds dinner in gelee,

oh, he definitely prefers Merrick and Whole Earth Farms.. but I've gotten him to eat the food I have.  Ever since I gave him probiotics he's eating normally.  I understand Fortflora isn't the best one out there, but, for now, he's getting it once a day until I get the better brand. 

Also, how many calories do you figure 11-12 month old cats need a day?  One of them seems a bit chunky but he's not considered obese or grossly overweight.  Some of that is also probably hair, too.  Just curious.  They're in this weird almost-adult-but-not-kittens stage.