Wet Food Pickiness

Hey guys...

My Sunny has always been very picky about wet food.

A little background...we got our babies when they were four weeks old. We started them out on Iams Wet Kitten Food (because they hadn't really eaten any dry food yet, and we weren't sure if they were ready). Sunny didn't really eat any for about a day (and I was REALLY worried that she wasn't quite yet weaned from her mama yet, though she wasn't showing any other signs of the problem). The morning after we brought them home, I saw her eating, and was quite relieved.

They're now just over a year old, and have been on dry food for quite some time, but over the timespan of having them, we've noticed that Sunny will eat NO other wet food but that kitten food. She doesn't have a problem eating straight tuna, salmon, or either of those juices. We've tried several brands & varieties, as well as mixing (in various amounts) the wet kitten food with them, but to no avail.

I'm worried that she's not getting enough nutrition because she's not eating any wet food at this point. She doesn't have a single problem eating the dry food...in fact, even prefers that over the wet kitten food, but I just worry that she's not getting what she needs from the wet food.

I've had cats that were picky and just wanted the most expensive brands of wet food, or decided they wanted that instead of the dry food, but I've tried even that, and she just wants the dry food or the Iams wet kitten food..nothing else. She's not picky about what type of dry food she gets, just the wet food. I think she just doesn't want it (which I've never encountered).

Any ideas?

what dry is Sunny eating?? I would check to see if it is the same flavor or flavors as the kitten Iams ...

I rotate wet foods daily so flavors and textures are mixed up... Zoey does seem to eat a bit more wet when it is rotated

Our babies eat Purina Cat Chow (we don't make much money, so it has to due). They like it, too. Good idea, though, about them tasting similiar, but we've bought them different types of dry food before, and she's not picky AT ALL about changing it.

I've tried lots of different brands and types of wet food, and she just hasn't liked ANYTHING. I've tried the ones that are totally pureed, I've tried the ones that have bits of chicken (or some such), I've tried ones that have basically shredded meat in them, I've tried chicken, lamb, pork, beef, everything. It's the weirdest thing I've encountered. Have you ever heard of a cat just not liking wet food? I sure haven't!!

Hobbes, on the other hand, will eat ANYTHING that'll fit in his mouth!!

Oh, another detail, Sunny likes fruit (which is another thing I've not encountered with a kitty). She just seems to have odd food tastes. LOL...

Not only that, but she seems to not want to eat tuna or salmon anymore, either. We gave them each a full can for their birthday (cat birthday cake...lol), and she didn't even touch it!! She still loves to drink the juice, just doesn't seem to like eating anything wet. It's funny, too, because she'll sniff it, start to walk away, notice Hobbes GOBBLING his like it's all the food he'll get for a year, walk over and sniff his to see if there's just something different about his, and then just leave the room altogether. It's so strange!!

Will she be ok if she just never eats wet food? The Iams wet kitten food has just gotten too expensive for us to buy anymore, but she won't eat anything else wet! Argh...

Honestly, if she won't, she won't. I'd try again when she's older and money issues have eased, but for now...I'd concentrate on upgrading the quality of the dry food when you can first, versus continuing to try and get her to eat some wet food.

I agree with Pat ... maybe spend some more on the dry so they get good nutrtion and try wet later.. My Zoey will eat the meow mix pouches and they are decent quality and less$$$

Max won't eat wet food either, although he'll happily eat dry food and any proper meat like chicken, turkey, tuna, coley etc. Alfie will eat anything, although he seems to prefer wet food to dry. Just different tastes I guess.

I don't mind what they prefer to be honest, as long as they're eating and healthy!

Well, it sounds like she won't be hurting for nutrition, so that's good. I was just worried. Just wanted to make sure she won't be hurt physically for not getting wet food in her diet. She doesn't seem to have a problem going....er...#2...so I guess all's well! I'll just keep giving her tuna & salmon juice, and that should provide a good balance, right?

If you want to encourage water consumption, consider getting a pet water fountain, or offering plain chicken broth (made with no onions or garlic) to her as a treat. You don't need to give her tuna or salmon juice..if you do, be sure it is from tuna packed in water, not in oil as tuna packed in oil can cause vitamin e depletion, so I'd not want to give the juice either.

Sorry to bring this thread back from the dead...but I think we've discovered something about Sunny's preference.

We think she prefers the crunch of the dry food over the mushyness of the wet food. I remembered that my grandmother's dog has the same preference, and thought that might be Sunny's deal. We tried her on two different cat treats to see, and sure enough, she prefered the crunchy treats, and wouldn't TOUCH the soft ones!

Anyway, there ya go!!

Every kitty has diffrent taste. I agree highly with everyone who has said perhaps focus on getting on a bit of a higher quality cat food. even Purina One is a step up from their cat chow, (i am very versed in purina products grew up with them in the house) and its only a bit more spendy, not much hardly at all. You can even get it at Walmart if you need to.

If you are going to feed dry, the only choice is Wysong imo. Try switching to raw and supplementing with vit/min powder. Even the cheapest meats you can buy at grocery stores (avoid pork and beef) are far superior to any commercial dry or wet food. The meat should't be lean at all, 20-40% fat is best.

Originally Posted by catguy

If you are going to feed dry, the only choice is Wysong imo. Try switching to raw and supplementing with vit/min powder. Even the cheapest meats you can buy at grocery stores (avoid pork and beef) are far superior to any commercial dry or wet food. The meat should't be lean at all, 20-40% fat is best.

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I would only switch to raw if they have studied completely and talked to a vet as well. Raw when done right is wonderfull. but if done wrong can have bad side affects.

And with their dry i think cost was an issue. When I tried Wysong it was up there.

Originally Posted by ScamperFarms

I would only switch to raw if they have studied completely and talked to a vet as well. Raw when done right is wonderfull. but if done wrong can have bad side affects.

And with their dry i think cost was an issue. When I tried Wysong it was up there.

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Yes, you are absolutely right...cost is a major issue with us. We have a VERY limited budget with these guys, so we really cannot afford the most ideal foods, unfortunately. They're really happy with their Purina Cat Chow, so that's not an issue at all. I might switch to Purina One, like a previous thread suggested, but like I said, even a little more is too much at this point.

We didn't have this money problem when we got them, so it's not like we brought home kitties we knew we didn't the money to give an absolutely ideal life to. It's just in the past six months that we've had the problems.

So, as I'm sure you can tell, raw food isn't exactly something we can do at this point yet, either. We plan to do more when we have more, though!

Originally Posted by maherwoman

Yes, you are absolutely right...cost is a major issue with us. We have a VERY limited budget with these guys, so we really cannot afford the most ideal foods, unfortunately. They're really happy with their Purina Cat Chow, so that's not an issue at all. I might switch to Purina One, like a previous thread suggested, but like I said, even a little more is too much at this point.

We didn't have this money problem when we got them, so it's not like we brought home kitties we knew we didn't the money to give an absolutely ideal life to. It's just in the past six months that we've had the problems.

So, as I'm sure you can tell, raw food isn't exactly something we can do at this point yet, either. We plan to do more when we have more, though!

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I understand totaly. One thing you may try doing, I know Purina is very giving with their efforts. If you wrote them and just told them you were thinking about switching to Purina One, but money was a bit of an issue. they usually send out some coupons so that could help out. If you wanted to PM me, I have a coupon sitting here on my desk for 1.50 off any size purina one kitten or cat.

And heck I have some more coupons too if you want them, I have one for a free 4lb jug of Purina Pro Plan, and several $5 on any size Purina Pro Plan (the pro plans are for kitten but more stores will allow you to get adult )

I use Wysongs 'Call of the Wild' vit/min powder. 1tsp per 3oz of meat. This is pretty much fool proof. It provides all the essentials like calcium, taurine, b vitamins, etc. plus much much more. I have also researched the minimum nutrient requirements for cats and had wysong send me a data sheet that covered exacly how much of what is in 'call of the wild.' It provides minimum of everything and in most cases more than the minimum but still in proper range.

using the wysong product and the site below, i know exactly what goes into my cats down to the mg.

http://www.nal.usda.gov/fnic/foodcomp/search/

Originally Posted by catguy

I use Wysongs 'Call of the Wild' vit/min powder. 1tsp per 3oz of meat. This is pretty much fool proof. It provides all the essentials like calcium, taurine, b vitamins, etc. plus much much more. I have also researched the minimum nutrient requirements for cats and had wysong send me a data sheet that covered exacly how much of what is in 'call of the wild.' It provides minimum of everything and in most cases more than the minimum but still in proper range.

using the wysong product and the site below, i know exactly what goes into my cats down to the mg.

http://www.nal.usda.gov/fnic/foodcomp/search/

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Thats good that you have done the research and you know. I was only pointing out that some havent done such research and shouldnt just jump into it is all.

Originally Posted by ScamperFarms

Thats good that you have done the research and you know. I was only pointing out that some havent done such research and shouldnt just jump into it is all.

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Absolutely! It does help when those who do feed raw jump in and not only comment, but share their recipes, what supplements they use etc.

Originally Posted by Pat & Alix

Absolutely! It does help when those who do feed raw jump in and not only comment, but share their recipes, what supplements they use etc.

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I agree. some think its very easy to feed raw. I know its not. and it takes alot of time, research and comitment. I applaud those who can do it. I myself know i cant. plus i have mixed feelings, but thats beside the point heh

Yes raw is a bit of work... in the process here of changing ... Thanks Catguy for the link... I am still looking for a good suplement for the kids since I am not grinding bone at home