Dear Critter Corner: My cat JoJo has been turning his nose up at his food for the past few days. His appetite has been hit-or-miss — sometimes he eats all his food and sometimes he just nibbles. I’m worried he might not be eating enough. What can I do?
When our kitties become a little finicky with their food, it’s a good practice to rule out any medical conditions by taking them for a vet visit. Your vet can determine if there are any underlying medical concerns causing JoJo’s fluctuating appetite, and if it will require a change in his diet.
If JoJo is healthy and there are no medical concerns, then it could be that JoJo is getting bored with his current food. Just like people, cats can become bored with eating the same kibble or wet food day in and day out. Some cats might enjoy a little variety in flavor, texture, size, with gravy or without gravy, etc.
Start by slowly incorporating new flavors into JoJo’s diet with the same consistency as his regular food. For example, if he eats chicken pate, he may enjoy trying turkey pate. Or if he prefers salmon bits in gravy, then try tuna bits in gravy. It can be helpful to stick with the same brand as you try out different flavors. The same brand will most likely use the same processing facility and undergo the same processing requirements.
Offer just a small amount of the new food, whether it is next to his usual food or mixed in. This will help his stomach get used to the new food and lessen the likelihood of an upset stomach. If he does get an upset stomach, stop the new food immediately. Sometimes more limited ingredient food of the same flavor might be helpful, or the same flavor but a different brand. Each brand processes and enhances their food differently, making some more palatable than others.
Also, pay attention to whether JoJo exhibits any different behaviors when on one food versus another. Does he tend to get more hairballs or groom or scratch excessively? This could be the result of a food allergy, and he may prefer only certain foods that don’t trigger this. Once you find a few flavors or brands that JoJo enjoys, try to alternate these throughout the week to give him flavors to look forward to.