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Tips & Tricks: Has your cat suddenly stopped eating its regular food?

cat sitting in front of full food bowlscat sitting in front of full food bowls

Cats are picky animals by nature. This is no coincidence, because wild, free-roaming cats have a rich assortment of food to choose from in nature. What's more, cats are solitary hunters -- unlike many other animal species, they prefer to hunt alone rather than in packs. So they can eat as much as they want -- or not at all. And they are rightly considered connoisseurs, because they choose the tastiest parts of the prey, simply because they can. It's the same with food at home: Whatever smells best to the cat's expert nose is eaten. Everything else is ignored.

cat resting on a cat towercat resting on a cat tower

But what should you do if your cat refuses the food that was so popular yesterday? 

This depends on the specific cause and there can be many reasons: The most banal reason is that your cat is simply full or, in other cases -- and this happens more often than you think: Your cat has long since understood how to make different food appear in their bowl -- namely by refusing it. If this is the case, you have proof that your cat has trained you excellently. After all, it may be that the next food you offer her will taste even better. 

Your cat may also be hesitant to accept unfamiliar, new food immediately. After all, kittens observe what their mother eats from an early age. If the adult cat isn't familiar with wet food, then "What the cat doesn't know, it won't eat" will be their motto.

 

Differentiate stress and illness!

As with us humans, stress affects cats’ stomachs and can mean hunger simply vanishes. But of course, an illness can also be the reason for the sudden refusal of food, and this reason should be clarified with a visit to the vet. From gingivitis to gastrointestinal illness, this possibility should not be taken lightly.

Tips and tricks

A good and simple way to make their food palatable again is to offer the cat a portion of freshly opened wet food, which of course smells particularly good and intense. 

If you have the feeling that your cat is trying to get you to go straight to offering new food (new brand, new recipe), as mentioned above, don't be afraid to stand firm. Cat training is not child's play, but you yourself should avoid being trained BY your cat as much as possible. 

Another option is to change the feeding place, especially if something has changed -- for example, a construction site outside resounding loudly through the walls right by where you usually place their bowl. Then find a quieter place where the cat can eat.