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The litter tray

Join our community of cat lovers on the Mumsnet Cat forum for kitten advice and help with cat behaviour.

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Original poster

Why do cats do this?

45 replies

PinkSparklyPussyCat · 28/03/2020 21:17

I have enough cat food to feed a small army of cats, not because I wanted to stockpile but because Harry will only eat one flavour of on non supermarket brand. You can probably guess what's coming next - as of yesterday he doesn't want it, he will only eat biscuits!

I've explained to him about food shortages but does he care? No, of course not! Look at him, not a care in the world!

OP posts:

nearlynermal · 29/03/2020 21:28

Oh, he's beautiful, OP. I have one cat who's just been neutered, and hungry all the time, who I have to under feed (guilt, guilt) and Cat Flu Kitten, who is a constant struggle.

My tricks so far have been a) put some of his food on my TV dinner tray so he thinks he's stealing my food and b) standing over him larding a tiny pile of kitten food with poached salmon fragments. I poached 2 salmon fillets for him today so fully expect him to stop liking them.

Toddlerteaplease · 29/03/2020 22:12

Snorg says the Baron is welcome to come and share her 10kg bag of Iams.

nearlynermal · 29/03/2020 22:21

By the way, Snorg is the best cat name ever

Original poster

PinkSparklyPussyCat · 30/03/2020 10:09

Tell Snorg if he can get around the travel restrictions he's on his way!

OP posts:

Toddlerteaplease · 30/03/2020 10:26

@nearlynermal her real name is actually Magic. My sister nicknamed her and her late sister Snorgmaiden and Fattycat and it stuck! Cheddar is Cheddars real name though.

Toddlerteaplease · 30/03/2020 10:28

@nearlynermal gratuitous pic of said Snorg.

Fluffycloudland77 · 30/03/2020 10:58

Fun fact;

If you put food down in an odd location they’ll eat it. Something to do with them thinking your feeding another cat.

I’ve fed mine rejected food in the hallway, halfway up the stairs, in our bedroom.

nearlynermal · 30/03/2020 12:03

@Toddlerteaplease what a winner! Gorgeous kitty.

Original poster

PinkSparklyPussyCat · 01/04/2020 18:30

And the protest continues. I put down a pouch yesterday morning, he looked at me as if I was mad and went to bed. I think it's going to have to be dry food and no ipatikine for the time being unfortunately.

Yesterday I had to ask my boss to hold on when we were on a call as I needed to retrieve a catnip mouse, he's walked all over my desk and I've done a call with him running around loudly chasing his toys. I think he wants me to go back to work!

OP posts:

Duchessofblandings · 01/04/2020 19:54

fluffyoudland: maybe this also explains why they live drinking the water from those pesky bird’s baths.

Toddlerteaplease · 01/04/2020 20:22

He's probably is protesting about you being in his space all day!

Beamur · 01/04/2020 20:31

My fussiest cat is my rescue. If I put down the wrong food she turns her nose up and sits in front of the cupboard where the food is kept as if to say 'try again'
However, there are 2 new kittens on the block desperate to steal her food, so less is getting wasted!

Toddlerteaplease · 01/04/2020 22:24

I have the least fussy cats ever. They eat what is put in front of them. They loved royal canin. But it makes Cheddar sick. So we are on iams. I buy it in 10kg bags and know they will eat it.

nearlynermal · 02/04/2020 07:32

Cat Flu Kitten is going in for observation today to see if he's got FIP, so neither cat has had any breakfast this morning. There's nothing as cuddly and affectionate as a hungry cat...

Inappropriatefemale · 02/04/2020 07:35

My little bundle of furry joy woke me at 6.30 today just to get in and cuddle! Oh she can’t just jump on to the bed herself, madam needs me to pull her up, but I do love her.

TedsFederationRep · 02/04/2020 07:52

This thread is making me laugh - much needed these days - and what Fluffycloud says about why they will eat previously rejected food if you put it in an odd location suddenly makes sense.

TedCat is 20 and, after years of having to scarf down any old food before his recently-departed brother snaffled it all, he is now the pickiest eater you could imagine. I do "retire" some food for a month or two till it might be back in favour but what to give him every meal time is a riddle wrapped in a mystery inside an enigma.

However, he will eat the rainswept biscuits left outside the back door overnight for the neighbourhood stray while turning his nose up at the fresh food in his bowl...

Original poster

PinkSparklyPussyCat · 13/04/2020 18:43

After 2 weeks the protest ended last night. His Lordship decided that he no longer wanted biscuits and a tasty pouch would be nice!

OP posts:

YetAnotherSpartacus · 14/04/2020 12:23

Was it served on a silver plate with lit candles in candlesticks?

MrsKingfisher · 22/04/2020 13:18

One of mine will only eat shitty whiskas and she's always hungry because of it, if however I put her brothers grain free stuff in his bowl and leave it open (microchip feeding bowls) she will then yaffle the lot! I have to be sneaky at times!

madcatladyforever · 22/04/2020 13:31

My 19 year old extremely spoilt old lady has got an entire carrier bag filled with different and lovely organic and extremely expensive cat food non of which she will touch, nose right up followed by frantic miaowing.
In desperation I went out and bought some cheap shit from the local shop which she chowed down on like she was starving to death...…...

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