Food for picky senior cats

[BirdIsland]

Can anyone recommend a food to tempt my two senior cats? They're 14 and are increasingly turning their furry noses up at my offerings! The boy in particular only eats wet food. They used to have Felix as good as it looks, but won't eat that now. They'll eat the jelly off standard Felix but not the meat. They don't like Iams, Webbox, Sainsburys own, Whiskas (same as Felix, eat the jelly but not the meat) or Sheba. Sometimes even turn their nose up at fresh cooked chicken! They'll eat things like Almo Nature and Applaws but I don't think these are complete foods. I throw so much food away, I'm happy to spend a bit more if they're actually going to eat it.

Any recommendations for brands your senior furry overlords will accept??

A vet told me that cats are the only animals that will literally starve themselves to death (apart from humans I suppose). So it does stress me out when they won't eat, they used to be a bit porky so losing a bit of weight was ok but they are too skinny now. They are getting on so it's to be expected, but I hate the idea of them having rumbling little tummies because they don't like their food!

@Bamaluz good point re the arthritis. My boy is much stiffer than he used to be, and whilst we've made some adaptations for him around the house to take the strain off his joints, he might still be in pain. Maybe I'll book him another vet visit to get that checked out.

Mine only eats wet food
He likes blink, nature's menu and Lily's kitchen
The other thing you can always try is a topper like this, you just sprinkle a bit on
https://www.rudyfood.co.uk/products/rudybits-raw-food-toppers-for-the-fussiest-felines?variant=39932424028310

Mine will eat pate types with or without the melting middles, sometimes a terrine type so a pate with small bits. I also have tried chunks in gravy which we mash up to a pate. Waitrose do a chicken and chicken and duck selection in sachets which he will love initially but then refuse. He hated, as in wouldn't not touch raw preprepared cat foods, even though he would eat chopped up raw liver, chicken or beef.
I've just bought him some Lily's Kitchen pate so we shall see. He does have hyperthyroidism and his kidneys are failing, so he is super hungry despite meds but will refuse to eat anything. Up to approx 6 years ago he would only eat Iams kibble and only the salmon one. That was for about 13 years. He will eat the odd kibble but not enough to fill him up.

Katkins pouches bought online. Expensive but not a scrap wasted. Beast has regained lost weight and then some, coat shining, no furball puking. Worth the cost if you can afford. I eke it out with dry food to make it go further

Royal Canin exigent goes down well with a fussy oldie here, you can get varieties that tempt either through taste or sense of smell. Butchers classic is a decent quality food, also Bozita from zooplus, although for Felix addicts I find it harder to switch for some reason.

Just ordered some Lily's Kitchen pate, and some of the almo nature holistic, so we'll see what they make of them. They already have Gourmet Gold pate occasionally and will eat this for a couple of meals before they turn their furry noses up, so I'll keep that in the mix.

They are both sat with me on the sofa looking rather smug. It's like they know I've just spent a fortune on them and their picky palates!

Ugh, I have this problem with my two. They don't like anything. Sometimes I buy them tins of tuna or sardines, or give them bits of roast chicken, and they don't always eat all of that!

In terms of cat food, they only thing they eat consistently is Felix as good as it looks, but they've even started going off that lately. However, I discovered Felix Sensations Extras in Morrison's recently, which is basically regular Felix with a touch of cheese or bacon and they do seem to enjoy that as a bit of a change.

My two will also eat Hi Life (sometimes), but only the pouches. They don't like the little tins. Only one cat likes the Tuna flavour, but they both eat the chicken.

Fussy cats are such a nightmare! 🙄

Royal canin extigent or sensitive cc biscuits and the wet packets in jelly & gravy (mine love the intense beauty ones). High quality, not contaminated & never had a cat that didn't love it.