The Struggle is Real.
I was feeding Cornelius the same raw chicken recipe everyday with the occasional canned food. After about 7 months he struggled with Cat Food Boredom. He was always so passionate about his food and suddenly he had no interest. I had to pick him up and put him in front of his food and insist he eat. After doing this a couple times he would finally eat. Because its raw food, I can’t just leave leave the food, it must be eaten directly.
I was very happy with the results of the homemade raw cat food and I knew I didn’t want to stop. I just needed to add more variety. I started making raw beef which he loved. I would feed beef one day then chicken the next and he was happy. In my post about mixing raw and wet food I talked about I buy canned food that has protein sources that I do not make such as rabbit and lamb to add more variety.
When the new kitten arrived I kept her on the same food she was used to for the first week. Cornelius was not happy about this. He desperately wanted the food she was eating. Even though she was eating behind the bathroom door, Cornelius was at the door crying and refusing to eat his food.
Once the kitten started eating the same food as Cornelius, he was then again very interested and loved his food. He just needed her confirmation that the food was in fact valuable.
I’m a big fan of Henri, le Chat Noir, the videos and his book; Henri, le Chat Noir: The Existential Musings of an Angst-Filled Cat
My goal is to try to incorporate some new protein sources. I still want to feed about 80% homemade raw but I would also like to try out some other high quality wet food.
What about your cats? I would love to know if others have experienced cat food boredom as well? How often? How long does it last? Please share your experiences in the comments.
Early on, I had the same problem. I have a good source of pre-ground rabbit to which I mix in the supplements. I thought “well, this is great. It’s the most affordable and it’s easy, so I’ll just feed it. After all, on the dry food the cats ate the same thing day in and day out.” But after a few months they did grow bored with it, This was 11 years ago… now, I have had a complete turn over in cats, and my current bunch have been on raw since kitten hood. Since that time I’ve kept several kinds of meat and/or canned rotating all the time, sometimes mixing, sometimes not. I’m now feeding 100% raw and feed Rabbit, turkey, chicken, duck. Some is home prepared and some is commercially prepared. Recently I’ve been trying to get more texture in as well and have found a source of reasonably priced raw in large chunks with bone in as well as organ. So their meals are in constant flux but mainly with those meats. Very occasionally they will get a canned food which they go crazy for. I see very little pickiness … none, actually. They all eat well, and are weight monthly to make sure.
Author
I am realizing more and more the importance of variety in diet. The more variety and the more randomness of variety I give the less protest I see.
Cat food boredom is a common cat guardian complaint. If we had the answer to their pickiness we would be millionaires, if only they could talk. Weigh your cat routinely, unless they are losing weight I wouldn’t worry about it to much.
My cats, especially Carmine get bored with their food. Unfortunately since Carmine is on a special/prescription diet, I am not sure what we can do to make it more interesting as he cannot have new protein sources. Have any ideas?
Author
What is the prescription diet for?