Some cats are fussy eaters.
We know cats are independent creatures who only tolerate us humans. But what makes them fussy. And just what does ‘fussy’ mean. The dictionary definition is ‘excessively busy with trifles’; anxious or particular about petty details’. (Ref: The Macquarie Dictionary.) However when it comes to cats, my definition of ‘fussy’ is more to do with likes or dislikes of various types of cats.
Some cats are very fussy about what they eat. They prefer a certain brand of food and if it isn’t available, they would sooner go hungry than eat something they’re not sure of. However, they will deign to eat the ‘new food’ when no-one is looking. I think they just don’t want us to see them ‘giving in’.
Other cats can be fussy about where they sleep. And if it smells funny because you have just washed the bedding, they will let you know of their displeasure and proceed to ‘make it their own’ again by rolling in the bedding to add their scent back. And if you put the bed in a different room for any reason, be prepared for your cat to refuse to sleep in it until it is returned to its right place.
I have known cats to stop using the litter tray because the litter type has been changed. It feels and smells different so they’re not sure if they will like it.
Fussy cats like to have their place.
What all this means is that cats are creatures of habit. They don’t like change unless they are the ones making it. Some cats will happily sleep on a favourite chair for years, then move to sleeping on the bed instead. Nothing will entice them back to that chair – they are not interested. However if you have moved that chair or had it recovered, then you are the one ‘at fault’.
If you do decided to change the cat food, do it slowly over at least a week. Start by adding a little of the new cat food to the old type, then increase the new while having less of the old so your cat can get used to the new taste. The same goes with changing the litter in the litter tray. Do it slowly over a period of at least a week. If you need to wash the cat bedding, do some of it but leave some so it still ‘smells right’.
I have seen many websites and forums that will tell you to only leave cat food down for ten minutes and if it is not eaten then, take itaway. This could be one way of re-training your cat to not be fussy when eating, but do you want to be that regimented with your cat? I much prefer to allow my cat to have choice in what it does and when. She regularly eats the ‘gravy’ or ‘sauce’ off the sachet ‘casserole’ type cat foods but then comes back later to finish the rest. I wouldn’t want her to have to eat quickly or lose it. But that is my choice.
Yes, cats can be fussy about what they want to do and when. But to me, that is part of the joy of having a cat. They are independent creatures and their idiosyncrasies are part of what make them so loveable.
