Cat on hunger strike!

[tactum]

Took cat to the vet for boosters and he said her teeth aren't great so we should switch to Hill's Oral Care food. Cat has only ever been used to dried food, and one particular flavour - salmon. This stuff only comes in chicken.

Cat is on about day 3 of absolute refusal and is looking at us with anger and disdain.

Surely she's not going to starve herself to prove a point? I know they are strong willed but jeez!! I'm all for caving in and having a happy cat but DH thinks we should persevere.

Also wondering if we could switch back to old food and give Whiskas Denistix which come in salmon flavour. Are they any good?

Any ideas gratefully received. TIA

Mix foods?
Try another variety of dental care food that does come in salmon? I don't know about Whiskas, but in the upper ends of ranges there is surely something else other than Hills?
Give up?

I’d probably give up. Harry will starve himself to prove a point - he’s supposed to be on renal food but there’s no way he’ll eat it so we’ve left him on his normal food. We tried him on the Hill dental stuff when he first had teeth problems and again he started a hunger strike. He’s a stubborn sod!

I’m always suspicious if a says an animal needs the particular brand of food they sell!

I'd vary.

ExH made the mistake of introducing ours to expensive pâté type stuff and she's been such a fusspot since.

Yeah just alternate between types of food.

You can buy salmon oil as a supplement. Maybe a few drops would help?
Mine is a one brand in chicken flavour only kind of CA, so can sympathise!

Leroy has Royal Canin Oral Care, he loves those but is very "meh" about the Hill's ones.

My girly tried to starve herself after I bought some Lily's kitchen - she isn't keen on 'jelly' but she reeeallly hates pâté types. She has favourite gravy meals but will eat any eventually.
I have a box of rejected food in my shed that I must take up to our local rescue! I'd cave. In a battle of wills, I rarely come off well.

Don't starve a cat. They are not like dogs and wont eat it when they're hungry. Just feed him some other food. They promote hills/royal canin because they get profit from it.

Try plaque off. It's a powder you put in their food

Our cat is meant to be on the renal food however she also refuses to eat it merely licking the gravy off. We decided to just feed her what she likes as she enjoys it so much more. Cat's Protection really appreciated the expensive renal sachets I'd bought though.

I have used Royal Canin oral care in the past on my vet's recommendation but this time have bought a German brand of dental food (?Sanabelle) thankfully my felines have not objected too much, but I can totally sympathise as in the past even changing the flavour would cause hunger strike.

Was just going to suggest Royal Canin oral care. My two get it as a treat. They love it!

The occasional raw chicken wing might do the job as well.

Dry food isn't that great anyway, it doesn't clean the teeth, they either swallow it whole if it is small or it shatters on impact and doesn't really touch the teeth or gums.

A bit of raw meat would be more effective. They can give it a good chew.

I was given a little toothbrush and some toothpaste once by the vet but had a wriggly cat so never had any joy with it.