Rescue cat not eating very much

[Polgara2]

We have had her for 2 weeks. She isn't a very big cat but even so I feel she should be eating more than she is. She started to eat ok a few days after we brought her home, then she went for her 2nd vaccinations and threw up! Since then she is turning her nose up at any wet food and I think just eats the dry food in desperation, but she does at least eat it! She acts like she is hungry, she knows where the food cupboard is and is all excited and follows me in to where we put her bowl and then walks up to it, sniffs it and turns tail. I feel she is looking at me and saying 'why are you starving me' you know...that look.

The CPL fed her Felix so that is what I have tried (quite a few of their variations) and I tried a Whiskas pouch, but she is not having any of it.

If I offer her a tidbit of our food she would eat that but I don't want to get her into the habit of having that all the time.

Should I just keep trying different brands - will all this chopping and changing upset her tummy?

When we got her from CPL it said she was 2.57 kg in weight and I am sure she looks a little bit thinner now . Although she still runs round in a mad half hour every so often so is not lacking in energy.

Gah why can't she just eat the flipping food!!!!

My cat is a small eater, on a special diet as she's borderline kidney disorder.

Can she have a can of the cheapest tuna? My cat goes mad for it but only allowed a little bit. She's a skinny old thing now.

Try aldi premium pouches.

Cats are prety much always out for the best they can get. My two came from a shelter - where they had been eating some cheapie store own brand.

We got them home and they nibbled dry food, but looked at any wet food like: really, you expect us to eat that crap?

DH (unused to having furry manipulators cats in his home) fretted himself silly that they would not eat properly, and decided he had to 'tempt' them with the most expensive pouches available and various little human-food treats.

I now spend more on cat food than I do on food for us! The cats are very smug.

I don't think a cat will ever actually starve itself to ill-health just because dinner is not to his/her taste. I am sure the pickiness is usually a point making exercise or an attempt to get something better.

Agree that Aldi may be worth a visit - my mum's quite picky cat adores Aldi food, and one of mine deems it acceptable. (Pickier one won't touch it though as she knows the mug DH will soon come along with something even nicer.)

I think buying some different foods (in the price range you are willing to keep to!) is worth a go to see if there is something which she likes.

She may also have lost a tiny bit of weight because she has more space to roam about and play energetically now she is living with you? One of my cats eats like a pig, but is just so hyperactive that she is still slender.

Well I hope it is just faddiness and not anything wrong but as I say she seems well. I am due to take her to the vet sometime soon for her registration check so will ask if she doesn't eat more before then. She drinks a lot but maybe that is because she is just eating dry food?

Would never have considered Aldi but will certainly give it a go. Am very tempted to try one of the expensive brands but am currently sitting on my hands to wait it out a bit longer lol!

I also think she is a bit sulky because she can't go out, she stalks squirrels and birds from within the house when she sees them out of the patio window (bless - quite funny to watch!) and spends a lot of time on windowsills. She has at least stopped running behind the sofa all the time and comes to greet me when I come in.

Watch this space!

Sometimes a cat will be tempted if you warm the food in the microwave. This only works for wet food
The smell can tempt them.

Well actually I have tried that! Along with putting it on one of our plates, putting it in different rooms, near her dry food, away from her dry food.

Gawd I don't put this much effort in for the dc .

Just tell her that enough is enough and if she doesnt eat up her tea she isnt getting any pudding!

Flipping PFC!

Oh fgs! She has eaten some (not a lot but some!) of the Felix sensations fishy ones but only if it is in the kitchen . What on earth is wrong with it being in the dining room with her dry food bowl?

Will have to work on moving it gradually methinks - am just so pleased she is actually eating any of it!

It's a good job she is adorable

(Definitely PFC tendencies thefirstMrsDeVere )

My cat is also a rescue cat and she did something similar when we first got her. We were advised to give her mainly dry food and only a small portion of wet food in the morning and at night as a taster (as apparently most wet foods are unhealthy cheap shite). Anyway, for about 4 weeks she refused all dry food, only eating the wet. I got really worried and phoned the shelter who told me, that apparently, in a new home, cats like to try pushing the boundaries to get what they want. They also said not to give in. The cat would eat before she starves.

Soon after, she started eating her dry food in secret at night and even now, 2 years later, she will only eat it when we're not watching. Probably doesn't want to give us the impression we won. Tsssssss.....