[USER]

I have cat food that my cats don’t seem to like, and I don’t have the money to buy more. What can I do to make it more palatable for them?

We need to use what we have on hand. Please no rude comments.

If you don’t have anything useful to add, please scroll on by.

Thank you.

[Kate]

Depending on where you purchased it, some stores will let you exchange it even if you’ve already opened it.

I went through some disastrous returns while my dog was working out food, allergies, and the companies were really lovely.

I do the warm water trick on his dry kibble to let it soak in and make a gravy

[Darinka]

Olives (let them sit in water for a day in the fridge, change it 2-3x to remove some salt from brine) contain the active ingredient of catnip so a couple of those mashed and mixed with food should do.

Or olive oil. I use olives as treats sometimes.

[Kiersten]

If you can make some bone broth and add to it (let sit for 3-5 min before serving so it’s semi soft and the flavors meld), that might help.

Adding a scrambled egg to it might help

[Donna]

Look it up and make sure there is no recall on it, if all of your cats won’t eat it, there may be a reason.

The only suggestion I have is adding warm water or cat friendly broth to it.

[Sherri]

Ask if anyone could trade. Post a pic of what you have telling them that your cats are being picky.

Maybe someone will have a trade for you.

[Kerri]

I have a cat who is such a picky eater! I read about sprinkling nutritional yeast on cats’ food to get them to eat it and IT WORKS!

It’s like cat crack to my picky eater! You can buy it in Walmart or on Amazon.

Costs about $6 for a fairly large container and that one container lasts for months.

It is so much easier than adding tuna, water or bone broth and so much cheaper than buying 100 different flavors or brands lol

[Penny]

Add the water from canned tuna to the dry food. Or chicken broth. Not a lot, just for flavor

[Lisa]

tuna fish juice is usually crack for cats. Sometimes mine would eat (when she was being picky) if she had catnip around to get high on.

Also, raw chicken juice or bits of raw chicken can be enticing but don’t leave the food out after if she doesn’t eat it.

It will of course grow too much bacteria. Maybe an hour or two at most.

[Xia]

You could see if somebody in your local buy nothing or trade groups has something to share or trade with you, maybe they have the same problem and you can swap.

Also, some humane societies have food pantries for pets so you could try to pick up or swap if they allow it.

[Truly]

I bought Publix brand dry cat food and all 5 cats refused to eat it. I took it back to the store and they gave me credit to buy a different kind.

[Hope]

Nutritional yeast
Or Parmesan cheese
Make sure there is no recall on the food
There maybe a reason they aren’t eating it.

A lot of places let you take it back also

[Angela]

You can try warming it up slightly. Also, if it is not already a gravy type food you can add a bit of water to see if that will entice them

[Chanell]

Is it wet or dry?
Can you trade with a neighbor?
Is there a Buy Nothing group where you are?

Do you have any catnip in the house?

There are a few things you can use as toppers that might encourage them to eat like the water from a can of tuna or unsalted tomato sauce.

Did you switch brands?

[Joyce]

You didn’t specify whether it is wet or dry food. For either, you could buy a can of the cheapest tuna you can find.

Mash up a little of the tuna with a fork and mix the little pieces in with the food. Drizzle a little of the tuna oil or water on top.

if my cats don’t like a certain food, they won’t eat it. but on the other hand, I haven’t tested them to see if they would eat it if they get hungry enough.

my cat rule the house.

[Ackley]

I do this:
When I boil my chicken thighs (with skin, bones and all) to make myself chicken salad, I save the meat for me (discard bones) and in the separate bowl I add & cut up the skin & cartilage.

I divi up the skin & cartilage into coffee cups then add 1-2 scoops of the leftover broth to each cup.

Cover with plastic wrap and refrigerate.
Then each time I feed them, I pull one out and microwave for 30sec. and add to their food.

They LOVE it.

Good luck

[Allyson]

Cats imprint on food texture from when theyre young. If it’s wet food and they’ve rarely had wet food, they likely don’t want it for that reason.

If it’s a different texture of wet food than theyre used to.

Dry food – if you’ve had them on a lower quality, high carb food and
then tried to switch to higher quality, lower carb food, they won’t want it as they could be addicted to the carbs.

Some cats will even turn up their nose at different shaped kibble too.

[Haley]

I agree with everyone else. Add some some broth. I have cats and they didn’t like some of their food but I kept giving it to them and they ate it until the bag was gone.

I didn’t buy more food until they finished that bag.

[Anne]

I have picky dogs. I sprinkle a little bit of Parmesan cheese on their food. The off brand kind. Good luck!

I always think if they get hungry enough they’ll eat whatever’s out!

[Lois]

Actually they will eat it if they are hungry enough. I’ve had animals 60+ years, believe me.

Don’t keep switching it out or adding things because then they will turn their noses up and expect it every time.

[Author]

Posts