Looking for the best cat food for finicky cats? Does your cat ignore you when he hears you opening a can of cat food? Perhaps your cat refuses to finish his food every mealtime?
Are your kitty’s favorite cat foods not doing the trick anymore? Chances are, you have a finicky feline. And if you don’t address the issue soon, his health may suffer.
Don’t let a picky cat get you down. We know no one has the patience, time, and money to keep trying one type of cat food over another just to get a fussy eater to finish his meals.
So we put together a list of the best cat foods (dry food, wet food, and even raw!) for finicky kitties like yours. And if you read further down, we also listed the reasons why most cats don’t eat.
Sheba’s Turkey entree offers up delicately prepared turkey meat in a richly flavorful pate form.
The wet food is available in single-serve food trays to make feeding easier. The formulation uses natural juices from the meat to add more flavor and moisture to each meal.
Each wet food tray contains fresh turkey, chicken, and liver. These three are the only protein sources in the formulation, with none coming from plant-based sources. In fact, there is no produce included.
The biologically appropriate wet food relies heavily on meat to provide your cat all the nutrients she needs every day.
77% of 201 reviewers gave this wet cat food formulation a 5-star score. There’s no more food waste and no more picky cats, according to owners who gave the wet food their two thumbs up.
Their cats insist on eating every single drop and would often ask for more. Some kitties have also been reported as gaining weight, which is a good thing for cats who’ve lost some pounds due to extreme fussiness about food.
Cats are carnivores and this wet cat food recipe was crafted to reflect that. There are no grains or grain alternatives like potatoes, legumes, or sweet potatoes.
It is mostly meat, fat, and added vitamins and minerals. This is a great option for a cat who has a food allergy since it has no fillers or artificial ingredients. Just pure, clean ingredients for your feline.
Pros:
Easily recognizable and limited number of ingredients
Crafted with 6 freshly caught fishes: mackerel, herring, flounder, Acadian redfish, monkfish and hake. Also included are nutritious organ meats making it more flavorful.
Since cats are obligate carnivores, they will thrive on a biologically appropriate diet that mimics what their ancestors ate in the wild — whole prey and nutrient-dense.
This kibble is crafted around that thought, and it is packed with essential fatty acids and 90% protein, which all come from quality fish ingredients.
Aside from the above-listed first five ingredients (all composed of animal protein), the recipe also contains whole hake, mackerel meal, herring meal, blue whiting meal, whitefish meal, and pollock meal. There are some legume ingredients to add a bit of carbohydrate, but those are much further down the list.
This Orijen recipe has 320 reviews and a rating of 4.7 stars out of 5. Pet owners reported that their picky eaters regularly finish off their bowls and lick them clean when given Orijen Six Fish.
And since the dry cat food does not contain any fillers or artificial ingredients, even kitties with food allergies thrived. Coats and skin have also gotten so much better since being placed on the diet.
Not only do we approve of the meat-packed formula, we also like how each kibble is coated with freeze-dried liver.
Liver is often given to picky cats since it enhances the taste of any meal a lot. With a freeze-dried coating of liver and a fish-packed formulation, it will be hard for your kitty to resist.
This all-natural cat food formula by Purina Beyond is designed specifically with indoor cats in mind.
The food is a grain-free diet that has loads of animal protein to keep your feline at a healthy weight, plenty of natural fiber to help with controlling hairball, and a good amount of probiotics to support digestive health.
The food’s first ingredient is fresh salmon, a great source of omega-6 fatty acids. If your cat is partial to fish, this would be a healthy diet to feed him to get him back to eating more while maintaining his weight.
This recipe has 407 reviews as of this writing and 80% of those are five stars. It’s a big hit with many cats, who often finish every single piece of kibble in their bowls.
And because of the fiber content, a few customers are also quite happy that their felines rarely cough up hairballs now.
The dry food is made without soy, poultry-byproduct, wheat, corn, or anything artificial. It also has less fat content to help your kitty with weight management, so even if he gets his appetite back, there won’t be any problem with your cat turning into a chunky fella.
Pros:
Customers like that it’s a healthier food choice than most other cat foods
Formulated with novel proteins such as roasted venison and smoked salmon, this grain-free recipe includes peas and sweet potatoes that deliver the highly-digestible energy your active cat needs.
This Taste of the Wild Rocky Mountain recipe is crafted to provide felines with a balanced diet that takes from several animal protein sources.
Although it’s led by chicken in meal form, it’s also formulated with roasted venison, smoked salmon, and fish meal.
The varied animal proteins in this dry cat food formulation by Taste of the Wild are supposed to appeal to finicky adult cats who simply need a more interesting new food.
Aside from the digestible and high protein content, this food also contains natural antioxidant support from a blend of fruits and veggies like blueberries, tomatoes, and raspberries.
This is one of the most highly-reviewed and rated formulations for cat food on Chewy.com. Taste of the Wild has 1070 reviews and 79% of those are five stars.
Only 4% gave it the lowest ratings. Many picky eaters were reported by their owners to eat this food enthusiastically. Several have also started to gain weight, while others became their playful and active selves again.
We like the addition of dried chicory root in the recipe. The chicory root provides prebiotic and digestive support for your cat.
The minerals are also chelated so that absorption into the body is optimized. And the high protein levels are also a big plus, particularly for cats that are on the active side.
This kibble features meat from cage-free chickens and non-GMO produce. It’s specially made to boost your pal’s metabolism and help him stay strong, active, and healthy.
Halo Holistic Healthy Weight is a dry food that is designed to satisfy your furry buddy’s taste while helping slim him down. The food is crafted using holistic ingredients, such as cage-free chickens and non-GMO veggies or fruits.
The recipe is free from rendered meat meals and only uses whole meat. Fresh and whole chicken is the first ingredient, while the nutrient-dense liver is the second — not only to add protein support but also to enhance the food’s palatability.
The calories and fat are reduced and there are no artificial ingredients, allowing your cat to metabolize the nutrients from his food more efficiently.
74% out of 217 reviewers gave this recipe a 5-star rating. Many say that the food is one of the healthiest they’ve found for their fussy cats that their pets also seem to find tasty.
A few cat owners with sensitive pets also found that this dry cat food formulation works well with their cats’ fragile digestive systems.
We like how the Halo brand uses only wholesome ingredients in crafting this recipe. And not only does this meaty recipe appeal to cats, but it also has a pretty functional role in helping fat ones lose the extra weight.
Pros:
Uses cage-free chickens
Non-GMO produce
Con:
Two legume ingredients included in the first five of the list
American Journey Turkey & Chicken is crafted with high-quality nutrition to keep your fussy cat going the whole day. It’s a grain-free meal that delivers 40% protein from real meat and wholesome veggies and fruits.
The wholesome kibbles contain plenty of antioxidants for supporting a healthy immune system, omega fatty acids for beautiful fur and skin, and taurine for strong hearts. It also includes plenty of meat ingredients aside from the ones you can find in the first five of the ingredients list.
The reviews on this product are pretty impressive. There are 1612 as of this moment and 78% of those gave it a five-star score.
Pet owners highly recommend this diet for being a healthier option for cats. It’s an excellent food that provides the right amount of nutrition without causing felines to grow fat.
Turkey meal, chicken meal, and menhaden fish meal are good enough but the addition of deboned and deboned chicken has got our nod of approval.
These are some of the most high-quality ingredients you can feed your pets. We also like the addition of prebiotics and probiotics into the formulation.
Pros:
High protein content
Contains plenty of high-quality ingredients (meat)
Every bite is packed with omegas from flaxseed or salmon oil to maintain a healthy skin and coat, plus antioxidants, taurine, vitamins and minerals to support immunity and well-being.
A nutrient-dense and grain-free chicken recipe, this Wellness CORE wet food is crafted to fuel all of your little feline’s adventures by giving him lots of energy and supporting his need for lean muscle development.
A special feature of this wet cat food recipe is its inclusion of antioxidant-rich cranberries to help give optimal feline health.
Chicken and liver top the list of ingredients in this canned cat food formulation. Many cats love chicken, and the liver further enhances the palatability of the food.
In many cases where a pet refuses to eat, adding chicken liver is often advised to encourage them to eat. Of course, the liver does more than enhancing the taste. It is rich in nutrients too, much more than muscle meat.
A 4.3 rating out of 5 is not bad at all, and many pet owners enthusiastically recommend this wet food, particularly for older and picky cats.
One reviewer mentioned that his senior kitty is doing well on this diet and still has that shiny coat despite his advanced age.
We find this wet food diet a healthy and balanced one to feed your picky eater. Its smooth pate texture and the chicken meat and liver should entice even the fussiest feline friend to gobble it up.
And since it’s free from carrageenan, fillers, artificial flavors, colors, and preservatives, it’s bound to be healthy too.
Blue Wilderness Chicken is specially formulated for growing kittens to support their eye, brain, and cognitive development.
The wet food recipe is crafted with DHA, a fatty acid found in mother’s milk, and it also comes with wholesome fruits and vegetables for a balanced diet.
The pate-style canned cat food uses a single animal protein source — chicken — so as not to overwhelm your little feline when he is just starting out to discover new tastes and flavors. It also features healthy fats in the form of salmon oil, which is high in omega fatty acids.
The majority (70%) of cat parents gave this wet food formulation a 5-star rating. Kittens come running as soon as they hear the lid from the canned food pop off.
In many of the reviews, people told of their cats not wanting anything else but this food. And since it uses only healthy and high-quality ingredients, they’re quite happy for their formerly picky cats to eat a lot of it.
Even a fussy eater will love this pate, especially when it is high in meat and includes chicken broth and liver for enhanced palatability.
Kittens, particularly, need healthy ingredients to help them develop properly. And this formulation gives them that.
This kitten formula is filled with premium proteins such as salmon and ocean fish that aids in maximizing the absorption of amino acids and essential nutrients for your growing kitty.
This Purina Pro Plan wet food recipe is a specialized formula designed precisely for growing bodies. The kitten food is filled with high-quality proteins in seafood flavors that cater to a cat’s tastes.
It is fortified with live probiotics for digestive health and numerous antioxidants to support your little cat’s developing immune system.
The wet food is led by two fatty fish ingredients, salmon and ocean fish. These two are rich in healthy fats which are good for your pet’s heart.
The liver gives the recipe enhanced palatability and nutrient, the fresh chicken for more protein, and rice as a safe source of carbohydrates for kittens with sensitive tummies.
There are only 65 reviews for this canned cat food formulation but 78% of those are 5-star ones.
Cat parents report that kittens eat this formula readily, and even nursing moms want in on the food. It’s also cheaper than other wet foods of the same quality.
The brand markets the canned cat food as providing advanced nutrition to give little felines a healthy head start.
It is rich in DHA that nourished brain development, calcium for strong bones, omega-6 for beautiful skin and coat, and vitamin A for strong vision.
Weruva Cats’s wet food offering is designed to give felines cat food that tastes like home cooking.
It’s perfectly balanced with heart-healthy taurine, minerals, vitamins, and amino acids. Every bite is loaded with enough meat and protein for your furry pet.
This grain-free wet food uses lean chicken breast to provide your picky eater with enough fuel for a whole day of adventuring.
Ocean fish and tuna were also used to boost the protein levels of each meal and add interesting seafood flavors for a yummy twist.
Discriminating kitty cats who turn their noses up at regular wet food are claimed to lick their bowls clean when given Weruva’s Splash Dance canned food.
We like how the brand uses only real ingredients that you can see. There are no unrecognizable products anywhere in the recipe.
There are also no problematic ingredients like gluten, carrageenan, or artificial colors and flavors. It’s a clean formula that you can trust.
Pros:
Clean ingredients
Picky cats eat it with relish
Con:
Some customers say it contains shredded chicken instead of being a pure pate texture
Stella & Chewy’s freeze-dried morsels are crafted based on the philosophy that cats will thrive on the same diet that they eat in the wild.
The all-natural recipe made from sustainably sourced and raw, freeze-dried protein will make your cats beg for more.
All of the ingredients in this formulation are sustainably sourced. The salmon is wild-caught, while the chicken is farm-raised without the use of hormones or antibiotics.
A whole prey diet, the ingredients in the recipe include ground bone and organ meat for extra nutrition.
70% of 354 reviewers rated this formula a 5 out of 5. Many cat owners who tried this diet on their picky cats were happily surprised that it’s easy to get them to clean off their food bowls.
Those with sensitive stomachs also did well on the food and wastes have become more solid and less smelly.
We approve of this raw recipe that starts with 98% salmon and chicken. It’s a meaty and all-natural recipe that most cats (indoor or wild) would want to see during mealtimes.
It doesn’t contain gluten, fillers, grains, artificial preservatives, or colorings. And it offers a balanced and complete nutrition without relying much on produce.
Pros:
Cat food undergoes very minimal processing
Waste has no odor
Con:
Expensive
Why Won’t Your Picky Cat Eat?
Your fussy cat used to have a good appetite and now, suddenly, he’s turned into a finicky eater. What happened?
So you’ve ruled out a medical issue, and you’re still confused why your cat stopped eating. There are a number of reasons why fussy cats turn their noses up at food, and here are some:
1. Your cat’s diet is boring.
Is your cat eating the same thing over and over again? Like humans, your cats can also get tired of dining on food that lacks variety.
This is not to say that you should immediately change his diet from dry to wet cat food completely or vice versa. But it is a great idea to switch up the flavor that your cat eats once in a while.
2. Your picky eater may prefer a particular texture or flavor.
Some cats will pick one type of pet food flavor over another. Or they may be inclined to eat a wet food diet over a dry one.
Once you’ve identified what type of cat foods your fussy cat is partial to, it is much easier to pick out the right recipe for him.
Say your cat likes poultry. You can feed him a simple chicken recipe and then switch it up a bit by going for another chicken recipe with a bit of twist to it. Maybe it’s a turkey and chicken formula or another combination.
3. He’s gotten used to human food.
Do you give your pet scraps from the dinner table? He may have gotten a taste for human food, which is saltier or sweeter than cat food.
Resist the temptation of doling out small bits of food from your own plate. Your cat’s diet is usually unsalted and sugar is a no-no.
4. You gave him too much food variety.
Just as your cat can get bored of eating the same thing over and over again, your fussy cat may also get overwhelmed when you provide him with many different foods of varying textures, flavors, and styles. Too much of a good thing can actually harm your cats.
5. He’s not hungry.
If you’re basing your pet’s food intake on his body condition, then you may be worrying about nothing. Cats aren’t supposed to be fat.
As long as your pet is eating each day, not losing any significant weight, and is acting his usual self, then he’s good.
Getting Your Kitty to Eat
There are several ways you can entice your cat to eat. You can also try to combine a few of these different options together if trying each individually doesn’t work.
1. Find out if your cat is a social eater or one who loves to dine alone.
If you’ve got multiple cats in the household, try and see if your fussy cat will eat better if he’s somewhat separated from the rest during mealtimes.
There are cats who love company when eating, and then there are others who prefer to be a little distant during meals.
2. Change his feeding bowl.
Instead of a deep and narrow dish, opt for one which is shallower and wider. This way, your cats whiskers won’t keep banging on the sides of his bowl.
Also, select a stainless steel one. Plastic containers can harbor bacteria, which may lead to cat acne. Glass or ceramic bowls are okay, but these break more easily.
3. Establish a routine.
Try to keep the feeding schedule regular so your cat can get used to expecting his food at the same time each day.
4. Reduce treats.
Treats can reduce your pet’s appetite and their motivation to eat since they know there will be treats anyway.
5. Switch up his meals.
We don’t mean completely change your cat’s diet. Just let your pet try a different flavor once in a while. For example, your cat thrived on the chicken recipe by a particular cat food brand.
If he’s not allergic to other animal proteins, try out the other flavors in that same cat food range. Or, if you’re feeding your feline wet cat food, try giving him the dry food counterpart.
Usually, different recipes in the same line will contain very similar ingredients with the exception of the main ingredient. This way, you’re not giving your cat a totally different diet. Just one with a different flavor or texture.
A regular food rotation would take away the boredom from so-called ‘old food’ and make your cat feel like he’s being given something new.
6. Add a liquid or toppers.
Wet foods are usually enough to entice picky eaters to chow down. But if that doesn’t work, toppers are an excellent way to stick to your cat’s regular diet while giving him something new. The toppers offer an interesting twist to an old favorite food.
Liquids do the same thing. Add a little broth to your cat’s dry food. The liquid enhances the smell and taste of the food, enticing picky eaters to partake.
7. Try meatier dishes.
Cats are obligate carnivores, and a cat food that’s low in meat and protein is not going to make them chow down. Look at the label of the recipe. It should have a lot of protein in it, and the main ingredients should be mainly made of meat.
Wet cat foods are traditionally meatier than their dry counterparts. You might want to try giving your kitty some wet food and see how he likes it.
Transitioning to New Food
If you’re switching your picky eater to a new cat food that you think will give him back his healthy appetite and gusto for mealtimes, there are some things that you should do to make sure he converts well. A complete and sudden change in diet can cause a digestive upset, so make sure to transition slowly.
Begin with adding 25% of the new food to your cat’s food. Do this for about three days. Slowly increase until your cat’s food is a mix of 50% new food and 50% old diet. Do this for another three days. Around the 7th day, the new food should be about 75% of his meals. You should have fully transitioned to a 100% of the new food by the 11th day.
Final Thoughts
One last thought about felines labeled as picky eaters. While a lot of cats prefer routine, there’s a small segment of kitties that like to eat whenever they feel like it.
As much as we’d like for them to eat on schedule, these cats are more apt to graze their cat food. Again, as long as your cat seems healthy and is not losing weight, there is no need to be worried.
Frequently Asked Questions
How do I get my picky eater to feed my cat?
Pet owners can actually help to create a fussy eater by taking advantage of the huge variety among cat foods; different kibble flavors and sizes, different textures and flavors of canned foods, pouches of semi-moist food, and freshly packaged meals in the refrigerator section of the grocery or pet store.
Why is my cat being picky with food?
If your cat normally enjoys dry food but has suddenly become a fussy eater, you may need to replace your supply. 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.
Do cats get bored of eating the same food?
Just like people, cats and dogs can get bored with the same food day in and day out and truly enjoy variety. Cats and dogs that eat the same food for an extended period of time may become sensitive to one or more of the ingredients in their food.
What do I do if my cat doesn't like his food?
Stop feeding extra foods and special treats and stick to a daily scheduled feeding routine. If possible, put down a small amount of food several times a day, as cats tend to be grazers. Put down the proper amount of food at a regular time each day and wait. If your cat won't eat the offered food, try again later.
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