Can cats be fed dry or stale/left over food ?
Cats tend to be picky eaters. Most people won’t likely pick up a piece of broccoli from your plate or scavenge leftover rice or potatoes from the trash. However, they probably won’t refuse a piece of flesh. They are carnivores after all, and commercial dry cat food is often primarily composed of meat and created to satisfy felines’ total nutritional demands. It’s a wonderful mealtime choice that also serves owners’ needs. What happens, though, if your cat refuses to consume the dry food you give them? This could occur in your home for a number of reasons, such as your cat being bored with the diet or experiencing stomach problems. Learn more by reading on!
They are Used to Eating Wet Food
When switching your cat from commercial wet food to dry food, keep in mind that they might not first enjoy the dry diet. For kittens, this is especially true. Your cat may reject the dry food you give them in favor of the wet food they are accustomed to receiving. Fortunately, most cats will ultimately become accustomed to dry food and successfully make the switch to eating it exclusively with a little assistance from their owners.
Start out cautiously and mix some wet food and dry food together before meals to teach your cat to eat just dry food. Do this for a few days, after which you should go from eating more wet food to more dry food. When your cat is enjoying consuming dry food on its own at each meal, keep adjusting the food levels.
They’re just sick of eating the same food
Your cat may stop eating the same food brand if you’ve been feeding it to them for a time because they’ve become weary of the same flavors and textures. A change in the meal formula may be required if someone suddenly loses interest in their diet without exhibiting any symptoms of illness. To determine if it piques their interest, try combining some of their regular food with new food, particularly one with a different type of protein.
If so, gradually wean them off the old food by putting more of the new food in their bowl (and removing more of the old food) at mealtimes until they are only eating that food. Make an appointment for a consultation with your veterinarian if this doesn’t work.
The Food Doesn’t Suit Them Anymore
Your cat’s nutritional requirements and digestive system may change as they age, and the food they have been eating may no longer be comfortable for them. It might contain an excessive amount of a certain nutrient, or the kibble may be too large for their more mature teeth to comfortably chew. In any case, if it upsets their stomach and causes them pain, your cat is not likely to keep eating it. Working with your vet will help you identify your cat’s nutritional requirements and how to meet those needs without upsetting their digestive system.
Food is no longer edible
Even if dry cat food appears and smells fine to humans, it might go rotten. It could have developed mold or a rotten element could have been present. When you put food in front of your cat for a meal, they may reject it because they pick up on these problems. The issue in this scenario should be resolved by replacing the food with a fresh batch. Even after having their food replenished, if your cat still refuses to eat, there is probably another cause behind it.
They are Facing a Health Issue
It’s likely that your cat won’t feel like eating if it’s suffering from an issue like a dental infection, dehydration, an underlying sickness, or a persistent ailment. However, it might not be immediately apparent that anything is wrong with them at this point if they don’t exhibit any other symptoms of discomfort or disease. It is crucial to visit a veterinarian and have a complete health checkup performed if you are unable to identify any other causes for their lack of interest in feeding.
As a result,
You will need to explore by being more watchful during mealtimes, keeping an eye out for symptoms of illness and digestive distress, and trying novel ways to feed your cat because there are a few possible reasons why your cat might not enjoy eating dry food. Contact your veterinarian if you ever have any questions or are unable to pinpoint the cause of your cat’s disinterest in dry food.
