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

Original poster

I think I've broken my cat

75 replies

drivinmecrazy · 04/02/2022 12:00

He is such a fussy bugger when it comes to food but I've got into a bit of a mess.
The only food he would eat for years was Tesco pouches, only chicken and turkey, only in jelly not in gravy.
Then something changed when they changed packaging and he went off them. Since then we've limped along as he would eat felix (again only poultry and no gravy ).
Now he's gone off that. Actually TBH he will eat the chicken pouches which is only three out of twelve in the box.
Until very recently his sister would eat the others as less fussy, now she's turning into a demon to feed.

We've literally tried every bloody food on the planet.
I think I've made it worse by removing the food if he fusses and try another pouch.
We've just had to take about 40 pouches to the cat rescue cos they're not getting eaten.
So now he is just pestering me constantly and walking around all forlorn telling anyone who will listen how absolutely starving he is.
They always have good quality dried food down which he will, very begrudgingly, take a nibble at. So don't think going all dry will work.
In the past I resorted to buying frozen chicken breasts and cooking them fresh each day, even then he turned his nose up at the freshly cooked meat so that's a no goer.
Have I broken him by pandering to his fussiness?
He is just like DD2, they will happily live on chicken nuggets if I let them.

Any ideas or advice welcome 🙏

OP posts:
ClariceQuiff · 04/02/2022 12:06

Honestly, a healthy cat won't starve if food is available. He just needs to be hungry enough to eat it. If he'll eat the dry food I'd just leave that down for the moment until he gets the message nothing else is on the menu and you're not going to keep offering different varieties of pouch. Then you can reintroduce the pouches he used to like, and he'll be grateful.

Original poster
drivinmecrazy · 04/02/2022 12:12

Oh I do hope so because he's nipping my knees and ankles and looking at me solemnly constantly.
I guess it'll have to be tough love from now on

OP posts:
ClariceQuiff · 04/02/2022 12:17

Yes, as you've said, the more you pander to a fussy cat, the worse they get Sad . As long as you are confident there are no underlying health problems affecting his appetite, tough love is the best way forward.

CassieJumped · 04/02/2022 12:20

Don't do what Dh did and go and buy a massive pack of Sheba from Costco! This kitten that came to us on Aldi food now will only eat Sheba 🙈

Original poster
drivinmecrazy · 04/02/2022 12:24

Honestly I'd be happy if he ate Sheba, his sister loves it but he won't touch it.
Definitely no health concerns, he's always been a little fussy.

OP posts:
Susu49 · 04/02/2022 12:26

I know you said you've tried everything but have you tried Katkin?

Transformed our impossibly fussy eater.

Original poster
drivinmecrazy · 04/02/2022 12:27

I've not heard of Katkin. Is it widely available?

OP posts:
Calennig · 04/02/2022 12:28

PURINA wet food might be worth a try - I have a similar issue with cats only liking some flavours of felix - though I keep trying with all sorts from zooplus which they just tend to ignore - but that the only other type that goes.

I've just checked and the gourmet cat food I occaionally but from local shops it also Purina. It's not so good for them as it has sugar in but they do tend to eat it all.

Ours do eat the dry food though - we've also had a huge mix of makes and flavours - though they do try and be fussy there.

steppemum · 04/02/2022 12:30

As long as it is fresh, and clean bowl, just take him back to it, stroke him and make nice noises and walk away.

repeat x 200.

eventually they will eat and then next time it is x 100 and so on.
He's not going to starve himself is he?

DebbieHarrysCheekbones · 04/02/2022 12:32

@Calennig

PURINA wet food might be worth a try - I have a similar issue with cats only liking some flavours of felix - though I keep trying with all sorts from zooplus which they just tend to ignore - but that the only other type that goes.

I've just checked and the gourmet cat food I occaionally but from local shops it also Purina. It's not so good for them as it has sugar in but they do tend to eat it all.

Ours do eat the dry food though - we've also had a huge mix of makes and flavours - though they do try and be fussy there.

NO!!!!! Are you not aware pitons food is making many cats extremely ill due to change in the recipe

Look it up

CassieJumped · 04/02/2022 12:32

Does he act differently if his sister is about?

DebbieHarrysCheekbones · 04/02/2022 12:33

@steppemum

As long as it is fresh, and clean bowl, just take him back to it, stroke him and make nice noises and walk away.

repeat x 200.

eventually they will eat and then next time it is x 100 and so on.
He's not going to starve himself is he?

Oh yes they will If they don’t like it they won’t eat it

My cat sitter called me two days into my holiday in desperation as my three cats would not eat the cat food I’d bought as an alternative to their usual. Two days and. Or a morsel touched.

They are not like dogs Grin

DebbieHarrysCheekbones · 04/02/2022 12:34

That should read *purina

PlatinumBrunette · 04/02/2022 12:36

I have a pet family of impossibly fussy eaters, nightmare! I discovered that they’ll often eat the very thing they’ve just refused IF it’s in a different place, someone else’s bowl or served on a ‘human’s’ plate. Or on the floor 🙄 On the floor = good, in the bowl a cm away = yuk.

Newuser82 · 04/02/2022 12:40

As previous people have said you really need to just be tough. A few days of not eating much isn't going to kill him and if there is dry food available at all times then there is always something on the menu. I know it's hard but it will be worth it in the long run

Original poster
drivinmecrazy · 04/02/2022 12:44

I've just signed up to Katkin and ordered 14 day trial box so 🤞
He won't eat Purina. To be honest the more expensive the less he like it hence we were stuck with Tesco own brand for years.
He and his sister always eat together from the same bowl. We've tried feeding separately in different bowls but theyre happier eating together.

OP posts:
MidnightMeltdown · 04/02/2022 12:45

My cats are like this. There are very few foods that they will eat, and they constantly change their minds about which food they like. It's a nightmare.

I think it helps if you have set feeding times. Mine get fed 3 times a day, and they know that if they don't eat what's offered, nothing new will be provided until the next feeding time.

Original poster
drivinmecrazy · 04/02/2022 12:46

Oh we've also tried human plates even setting him a place at the table!!
I've never had a cat quite like him in all my years of having cats, and there have been many over my fifty years!!

OP posts:
TheDogsMother · 04/02/2022 12:55

I think we need a photo of said diva in order to offer the best possible advice Grin

ClariceQuiff · 04/02/2022 12:57

Oooh, yes, would love to see a picture of His Royal Highness.

JuicySatsuma85 · 04/02/2022 12:58

I work with cats and people saying to stop offering him different things because he won’t let himself starve are very, very wrong.

As a PP said, cats are not like dogs. I’ve worked with many cats that have ended up on drips because they refused to eat.

I’d recommend a behaviourist. You say the cats eat better if they are together but that can be because they feel threatened by the others presence around the food so they eat as quick as they can. Cats should always have separate feeding, drinking and toileting areas from each other.

tickingthebox73 · 04/02/2022 13:04

Would he eat a tin of tuna?

theemmadilemma · 04/02/2022 13:04

I thought fussy cats was just standard. Grin

ihaveonecat · 04/02/2022 13:06

Mine is currently standing in the middle of the room screaming at me that he might starve to death
He's had breakfast, snack, and lunch approximately 13 minutes ago Hmm

Beamur · 04/02/2022 13:10

I have 3 cats of varying degrees of fussiness. I offer a variety of foods and despite occasional wailing no one goes hungry.
I know there are less favoured flavours in the multipacks so I usually leave one of these out overnight. It's usually gone in the morning.