cat refusing new food

[mrsbugsywugsy]

We decided to move our catfrom from supermarket cat food onto a high meat content cat food (bozita). She's a bit overweight and we realised that supermarket food is full of junk.

The thing is she doesn't seem to like it. She's never been a fussy eater and has previously happily eaten Felix, whiskas etc. But she looks at the bozita in disgust and eats the tiniest bit. I am still giving her dried once a day and she wolfs that down. She also sits under dd's highchair and snaffles up any scraps she drops.

So do I just sit it out? She isn't likely to strarve any time soon.is it worth trying a different flavour? Our pet shop only has the chicken flavour so I'd have to order another flavour in bulk, a bit risky.

Or do I have to accept that she prefers to eat junk?

Is she a young and healthy girl? (Apart from being a bit......full figured.)

Yes, she's six (ish - she was a rescue cat so we don't know exactly)

That's young in my book. I'd sit it out for a bit, myself, if she's healthy. And absolutely no scraps.

Cheers, I will hold my nerve for a bit and see if she caves in

Try Butchers Classic from supermarkets. Mine transferred to that (gradually) no,problem, though they are rescues and were used to having whatever they got given lol. The Bozita might be a bit too rich for her after Whiskas/Felix

When I changed my stubborn cat to a dry food, she held out for five days! I was going to crack that afternoon at which point she ate it all. 1-0 to me!

You could try putting some of the dry food on it but it may not work. I think you either do a slow transition or cold turkey approach.

well she has now cracked and started eating the Bozita.

The bad news is she has started pissing all over the house. Could this be a reaction to the food? Or is she doing it to get revenge on me for taking away her beloved kitty crack felix?

It could be coincidental, as our baby has just started crawling and therefore is becoming more of a menace to the cat.

It sounds like protest peeing to me - maybe a comment on the new regime and maybe a comment on the baby - or both. How many trays doe she have? And does she have a high/safe place to go to get out of the baby's clutches?

The aldi tinned food in salmon, tuna and chicken flavours is cereal free and 9.5% protein.

Ours protest weed when he wanted a different litter and an extra tray to save going downstairs.

If you don't feed bozita or aminona carny they won't suddenly drop off their perches.

She doesn't have a litter tray currently - has always gone outside. I will put one down for her and see if that helps. Thanks.

That might do it - but out of interest, how does she get out? And I'm actually wondering whether you might have a mean stranger cat mooching around somewhere - or even coming in if you have an ordinary cat flap. That could make her unsettled enough to pee everywhere and even to pig her food.

She has a catflap. She does have a nemesis, a big Tom cat who bullies all of the local cats and thinks he owns our garden. When we first got our cat he kept coming in our house and pissing everywhere so we got a magnetic cat flap which stopped him. Maybe she is scared to go to the toilet outside in case he ambushes her?

Anyway I just put the litter tray down and took her to show her where it is, and she immediately did a big dump in there. Then went out through the cat flap for an evening stroll

Ah.

Maybe save up for a microchip cat flap in due course? That would make sure of things.

I know that The Lodger, an ex street cat, came to prefer doing all his business inside in a tray and then going out to strut his stuff. The toms round here are seriously bitter and twisted and cats are at a bit of a disadvantage when pooing or peeing so I thought that maybe he preferred to be 100% alert when outside - and she may be the same if she has a nemesis and doesn't need to be preoccupied and vulnerable.

I'd leave the tray if you can and see how it goes. If she's edgy about doing her business outside, using an inside tray should make her a much more contented cat generally.

Let us know how you get on.

Will do, thanks