As dry food absorbs moisture (especially in warm weather), your stocks may have turned stale. If your cat has started to turn their nose up at their usual wet food, it could be because it's too cold. Wet food can lose its tasty aroma when kept in the fridge, and your cat won't eat what they can't smell.
"Dry food is fine as long as it is complete and balanced," says Dr. Kallfelz. Dry food may be less expensive than canned cat food and may stay fresher longer. Cats that eat only dry food need to be provided with lots of fresh water, especially if they are prone to developing urinary tract blockages.
While Mr Whiskers may like consistency in most areas of life, it is possible for your cat to feel bored of the same food. Part of this has to do with the innate nature of cats as apex predators.
Ultimately, your cat will decide whether she prefers dry or wet cat food. Purina nutritionists recommend feeding a combination of wet and dry food, though. This helps ensure she gets plenty of moisture in her diet, plus the dental benefits of dry food, all while adding variety to keep her interested.
The mix is key: The right balance between dry and wet food
Mixed feeding – that is, feeding wet and dry food – combines the advantages of both food types. However, instead of mixing wet and dry food in a bowl, you should offer each food type in a separate bowl at a certain time of day.
Stomach and digestive illness such as bacterial infections, viruses, and inflammation disorders can all cause a cat to stop eating. If these illnesses are not very serious, however, your cat may not show other signs and may continue acting normally despite being sick.
Cats need variety, just like humans! Similar to your cat, you would get tired of eating the same meal every day. If your cat stops eating, try switching the flavor of her food. If she's been stuck on tuna flavor, offer chicken flavor.
If your cat stopped eating wet food out of boredom, try adding different flavours into the mix. For example, once they're fed up with chicken, switch to tuna or salmon recipes. Combine gravy, pate, shredded meat, etc., and let your cat pick their favourites.
Fussy eaters will often smell the food first, and then if they are not interested, they will generally walk away or turn their nose up in the air. It may be something as simple as they are tired of tuna, but if your cat shows signs of not feeling well, you need to know what to watch out for and what to do.
One reason that cats like dry food so much is because the pet food companies do not play fair when manufacturing this sub-optimal food source. They coat the kibble with extremely enticing animal digest sprays which are very pleasing to a cat - making a poor-quality diet very desirable to the target animal.
Grazing or free feeding is a term, which refers to allowing your cat access to dry food all day, everyday - can severely impact the longevity of their lives. It increases the risk of many health issues such as urinary tract issues, obesity, diabetes, kidney disease, and physiological issues.
Dry consistency
Dried food has a very low moisture content compared to wet food. This makes swallowing of dried food and digestion more challenging in older cats, especially those with underlying gastrointestinal (GI) motility disorders. Food that is slow to be digested through the guts is likely to induce vomiting.
While Mr Whiskers may like consistency in most areas of life, it is possible for your cat to feel bored of the same food. Part of this has to do with the innate nature of cats as apex predators.
Cats Who Suddenly Become Picky Eaters
Underlying health conditions may include sore mouth or teeth, stomach or intestinal disease, kidney or liver disease or in the most serious cases, even cancer. A decreased appetite or no appetite can also occur with more acute conditions like respiratory infections.
The most common sign of illness in some cats is hiding in a quiet, out-of-the-way place. Sick cats often lie quietly in a hunched position. They might neglect grooming. They may be purring, which cats do not only when they're happy, but also when they're sick or in pain.
Cats are known for being finicky eaters and can quickly become bored with their food. This can be a problem for pet owners, as cats need a balanced and varied diet to maintain their health.
Some cats become picky about their food if they have too many options. If you provide wet food of different varieties, multiple types of kibble, and lots of treats, then your cat may be overwhelmed by all the textures and flavors.
So, do cats need wet food? Not necessarily, but feeding a combination of wet and dry food can give your cat the benefits of both. The wet food will increase her total daily water intake and provide her the variety she wants and the dry kibble will help keep her teeth clean.
Cats love playing, which is why they may get bored if there's nothing to play with. Offer them toys that would keep them entertained such as a food puzzle or a toy mouse. These are some of the best toys for bored cats.
If you are going to have your cat inside, it is important to make its environment as stimulating as possible. If you don't, cats can quickly become bored, stressed and even depressed, resulting in detrimental and destructive behaviours.
There is no right answer to this question. As with most aspects of cat care, it depends on the individual. Some cats definitely do better when they eat the same thing every day.
Cats are biologically programmed not to drink water which is near their food or near their toileting area - this is thought to be their instinctive avoidance of contaminating their water with potential sources of bacteria.
1: Naturally, cats prefer to eat several small meals a day, even when they have ad libitum food access.
You may be anxious to switch your cat's food, particularly if the new food can help address weight or health concerns. Our experts recommend a gradual transition over a 7 to 10-day period, however. A slow transition helps avoid digestive upset and gives her time to adjust to the new flavors and textures.