Reasons Why Cats are Picky Eaters: What's Behind the Be

Devoting heaps of time and energy to mastering the art of preparing homemade raw and cooked cat food, meticulously balancing the ingredients with a scientific approach, you tirelessly craft delicious and nutritious meals for your feline friend.

With a gleam in your eye and a heart brimming with anticipation, you place the bowl of homemade delicacies in front of them, contentedly hoping: "May they all finish it up!"

But in reality, your cat might respond like this: a mere sniff and then a turn away; enduring hunger for hours without a nibble; preferring to gnaw on cardboard boxes or chew through plastic bags rather than take a single bite of the carefully prepared feast you've prepared.

Why Cats Picky Eat

Owners Catering to Their Cats Too Much

When a cat is fed a regular diet of kibble or other foods, and the owner switches to something new just because the cat doesn't like it, the cat becomes cunning. It learns that by simply not eating, the owner will accommodate its whims. This leads to increasingly picky eating, where even the most appetizing food loses its appeal.

Snack Lures and Additives

Cats are often bombarded with an array of snacks, from freezedried treats to canned meat snacks, fishy tidbits, and fishshaped biscuits. However, overindulgence in these snacks can lead to a loss of appetite for their regular meals. The high content of flavor enhancers in snacks can not only harm their health but also lead to anorexia, causing them to lose weight and have dull coats over time.

Cats Forming Negative Associations with Food

If a cat has a bad experience with a particular type of food, such as vomiting after eating it, it may associate the discomfort with that food. From then on, it may refuse to eat that food, even if it's the same brand, and resist its taste.

Internal Parasites or Hairball Buildup

If a cat frequently refuses to eat, is inactive, and rapidly loses weight, it may be suffering from internal parasites that hinder nutrient absorption, or it may have a hairball buildup affecting digestion. In such cases, the cat's behavior is more indicative of anorexia, with disinterest in all food, rather than pickiness.

How to Correct a Cat's Picky Eating Habit

Keep Them Hungry

Stop providing an allyoucaneat buffet. Feed your cat on a schedule, allowing them to feel hungry between meals. This can help improve their picky eating. It's also recommended to feed them just two meals a day, as cats tend to get very hungry after more than 12 hours without eating. A hungry cat is more likely to have an appetite, thus resolving the pickiness issue.

Let Them Burn Off Energy

Spending quality time playing with your cat can help them burn off energy, which is the most effective way to maintain a good appetite. Cats have a natural hunting instinct, so playing with a laser pointer or a feather toy before mealtime can make them feel like they've caught a prey,刺激 their appetite.

Clean Food Bowls

The food bowl is a crucial tool. Cats may not eat if the bowl is too high or too low. It's best to keep the bowl level with your cat's stomach to avoid discomfort. And don't forget to clean the bowl after each meal to ensure it's hygienic.

Add Supplements to Their Diet

If your cat has a particular favorite, like chicken or fish, you can incorporate these flavors into their kibble. Even though commercial cat food generally meets their nutritional needs, it may not always cater to their metabolic requirements. Adding a small amount of supplementary food, such as cooked chicken or fish, can provide additional vitamins and promote healthy metabolism.

No matter the method, never resort to the mindset of letting your cat starve if it doesn't eat. Some cats are very stubborn and may not eat even when hungry, which can damage their livers.