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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

Help please - picky eaters!

10 replies

HouseIsOnFire · 30/05/2022 00:27

Hello, am wondering if anyone has any food recommendations please!

I have two 2 yr old, indoor BSH boys who will only eat Royal Canin wet food - when I got them they were on Royal Canin kitten and I've had no success mixing it up! They have biscuits too (else we'd be on 7 sachets a day!) and deign to eat 3 different brands of those, but they will not accept any other wet food - they will eat all flavours, but obviously their fave is Intense Beauty, the little darlings 🙄

I've tried almost all brands on zooplus and pets at home, and if I try new wet food I put it down for up to three days (obviously refreshing it each meal time) and they just won't eat it. They also won't eat enough dry food to make up for lack of wet. I've also tried mixing it with royal canin, but they saw straight through that!

Does anyone have any suggestions for other brands to try please? I like to keep it grain free, I don't care if it's pouches/tins/online and they're happy with jelly or sauce but not mousse.

Aside from cost (it's gone up to £13.49 a box!), I had a panic today as had to go to 3 different shops as it was out of stock! Also hoping to waste a bit less if I canvas opinions first, I'm on first name basis with the local blue cross! 🤣

Thank you!

OP posts:
Want2beme · 30/05/2022 11:06

I don't have any suggestions, as mine are happy enough to eat the normal brands from the supermarkets. What's your main reason for wanting to replace it? Is it possible to buy online and get discounts?

dancemom · 30/05/2022 11:15

I have Turkish Angoras and they are just as fussy, particularly boy cat. Has to be fish, has to be jelly not gravy and has to be flaked not chunks. Even then he still goes off it every few months and I rush round trying to find a new one that meets requirements 🙄

Dreamies, cat soup and lik-e-stiks he never goes off though!

Original poster
HouseIsOnFire · 30/05/2022 11:51

Want2beme · 30/05/2022 11:06

I don't have any suggestions, as mine are happy enough to eat the normal brands from the supermarkets. What's your main reason for wanting to replace it? Is it possible to buy online and get discounts?

It would be great to find something they eat that was a bit cheaper (it's gone up £2 a box since the start of the year) but so be it if I spend more on their food if I have to (yes they are ridiculously spoilt)

But finding two shops completely out of stock unnerved me, I don't have a back up if there's ever a shortage (I realise that sounds neurotic, but my previous cat had her favourite food discontinued when she was 21 and wouldn't eat anything else, so resorted to cooking chicken and white fish for her last 6 months, which again I would do with these two but they act like I'm trying to poison them if I offer them chicken or tuna...)

OP posts:
Original poster
HouseIsOnFire · 30/05/2022 11:56

dancemom · 30/05/2022 11:15

I have Turkish Angoras and they are just as fussy, particularly boy cat. Has to be fish, has to be jelly not gravy and has to be flaked not chunks. Even then he still goes off it every few months and I rush round trying to find a new one that meets requirements 🙄

Dreamies, cat soup and lik-e-stiks he never goes off though!

It's a nightmare isn't it? I'm constantly mixing flavours so they don't get bored!

My two won't even eat dreamies! Maybe I should contact royal canin for a sponsorship? They are ridiculously brand loyal! The only other things they reliably eat, one will stick his head in any coffee left unattended and the other begs for soup (any flavour!) eaten in his vincinity😅

Just tried Untamed after hearing everyone say their cats were mad for it, one ate half a tin and now hasn't eaten it again, even the same flavour that was fine yesterday! And the other knocked his bowl across the kitchen, so I think that's a no...

At this point, maybe I do need to blame my parenting of them 😶😶😶

OP posts:
GoodVibesHere · 31/05/2022 07:07

My cat (10 months old) eats Thrive kibble. She turns her nose up at almost all wet food. I continue to put wet food down for her but wonder if I should just give up and let her eat just the dry. I feel like she's missing out on texture, moisture and flavour if she only has dry. She won't eat 'human food' either (have tried giving her prawns, chicken, tuna).

coffeecupsandfairylights · 31/05/2022 10:00

I would just buy in bulk if that's what they'll eat and just have lots of dry food as back up - you say they eat several brands so this shouldn't be a problem.

They don't need wet food (though they may tell you otherwise 😉). My three only eat Felix wet in jelly and it has to be the flakes not the chunks 🤣 but if they run out and I can't find any, they just have to have dry. Despite all their protests, they're not dead yet!

BookWorm45 · 31/05/2022 18:17

My cat can be quite picky, something though that has occasionally helped is warming up his food in the microwave (10 seconds) so it's not chilled from the fridge etc.

Yes I know that does sound that I am his slave...

Original poster
HouseIsOnFire · 31/05/2022 23:56

coffeecupsandfairylights · 31/05/2022 10:00

I would just buy in bulk if that's what they'll eat and just have lots of dry food as back up - you say they eat several brands so this shouldn't be a problem.

They don't need wet food (though they may tell you otherwise 😉). My three only eat Felix wet in jelly and it has to be the flakes not the chunks 🤣 but if they run out and I can't find any, they just have to have dry. Despite all their protests, they're not dead yet!

Haha but they do! One won't eat dry unless there's wet food down! And yes bulk buying will have to be it, new kitchen soon so I guess we're getting a BIG cat cupboard!

OP posts:
Original poster
HouseIsOnFire · 31/05/2022 23:57

BookWorm45 · 31/05/2022 18:17

My cat can be quite picky, something though that has occasionally helped is warming up his food in the microwave (10 seconds) so it's not chilled from the fridge etc.

Yes I know that does sound that I am his slave...

Oh gosh I'm not sure I could stomach the smell! I'll file it as the back up back up plan!!

OP posts:
coffeecupsandfairylights · 01/06/2022 06:33

Haha but they do! One won't eat dry unless there's wet food down! And yes bulk buying will have to be it, new kitchen soon so I guess we're getting a BIG cat cupboard!

They really do have you wrapped round their paws don't they Grin

I would find several suppliers of wet and maybe start adding an extra box or two each order for a while - that way if you can't get hold of any, you have enough to tide you over a bit!

If you have an independent pet food supplier near you it may also be worth seeing if they can get hold of any for you?

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