Fussy elderly cat.

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AlinFaolan

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We have a 16 yr old cat, he is becoming more and more difficult to feed, he’ll eat something one day and turn his nose up the next. I have tried everything from bin end to expensive he reacts the same, he does also get dry food. In his younger days he was raw fed, but a mouth infection as we went into lockdown meant I moved him onto wet food. I know this is fairly typical for elderly animals but has anyone any suggestions of a decent wet food he might eat constantly….
 
Mine has to be at least 16yo, bless her. She can't be a day less than this.

She has got me thoroughly trained; OK so I buy a budget-box of pouches, tins, or whatever, and then she will have a couple of days where she will graciously eat the food that is offered, then won't eat it.

It matters not whether it is the "bargain tins" or the very best such as Sheba; she is still a fussy eater and follows the same routine.

She also forgets that she's just eaten, and will rub up against me humming & "buzzing" that she is the most starving cat on the planet literally 5 mins after I've just fed her. She's driving me up the wall!

So am feeling you pain OP. I think it just has to be an "elderly" thing?? I actually love her very dearly; we have about 8 other cats here and she's the only one who comes indoors, the rest are semi-feral, so when she does go, I shall miss her very much. Also because she was mum's cat and used to come in and sit with her. I know that one day I will end up saying goodbye to her, and that is gonna be really tough.

Wish I had some solutions OP. But I don't!! Sorry, other than to sympathise intensely lol!
 
First port of call would be a vet check to see if he has anything going on in his mouth again. He is likely also sore elsewhere at such a venerable age - is he on any sort of regular pain killer, or arthritis medications? A dip in appetite can be cause by other things too, I’d probably want a full blood panel done.

Once all clear and any pain dealt with, you may find he’s more receptive to eating.
 
He’s not on any medication and hasn’t seen a vet for about a year, so maybe a visit is due, fairly sure his mouth is ok, as he will munch a few biscuits and dreamies and happily eat roast chicken, lamb etc.
 
For our fussy one we just buy a bunch of different brands/flavours in small cans and rotate/offer her a choice of open cans. Cutting firmer textures up in small bits motivates her more.

This stuff she will always eat but it's not complete so we mix it in with other types
www.zooplus.co.uk

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There's also Liquivite which is very palatable and gets calories in.
 
My old lady is nearly 18. Luckily she doesnt yet have any metabolic or kidney issues so i have her on the 7+ Purina Gourmet Gold pate bought from the supermarket. She will only eat the pate, not any of the other versions of Gourmet Gold like flaked or gravy etc.

I think the pate is easier on her mouth and is wet enough to give her enough water intake and smells good to her. At one stage i had her on Kattovit pate bought from zooplus. She would eat that but not as reliably as the Gourmet Gold Pate, of which she eats every single scrap. Though she doesnt eat it all in one go but comes back to it during the day until its gone.

There is also a regular not senior version of the Goumet Gold Pate and sometimes I have to give her that if there isnt any senior food available to buy and she will also clear her bowl. I dont care if it is full of sugar and bad stuff now, she is old enough to get what she enjoys.

Also if i have to leave her overnight, i leave out Royal Canin Ageing 12+ dry food and she will reliably eat that. She prefers getting dry food after a break from it though, she doesnt like it as her sole source of food, whereas she would happily eat the wet pate Gourmet Gold on a daily basis and doesnt get bored of it.
 
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Highmileagecob said:
Try something with an appetising smell. Tuna, tuna warmed up in the microwave, sardines, poached chicken, small amount of liver, liver warmed through....Hate to be negative, but this could be the start of kidney issues.
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We lost our other cat at 19 to kidney failure, so it has crossed my mind, though she never really was fussy with her food, just got to little and often. He will eat nice things, just not a regular cat food….
 
My sister's old dog is at this stage too. Loves stuff one minute and can't be asked the next. My sister is buying sliced beef for her and cocktail sausages, stuff like that in desperation. Dog is still full of bounce though when out with mine. Just part of being old sadly, people get like it too.
 
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