What to do if your cat doesn’t like wet food anymore

Place even the smallest amount of wet food in a bowl and more often than not your cat will be there in a flash.

The smell, taste and texture has made it a firm favourite with all different breeds, young or old, for many decades.

And yet it’s not uncommon for some fussy felines to all of a sudden begin turning their nose up to what was once a popular meal.

Believe it or not, temperature can play a role in this recipe revolt. If you’ve been serving wet food straight from the fridge, or setting it down near a window or door, it might be losing some of the aroma that makes it so appetising to our felines.  

Have you recently changed recipes? It could be that one of the ingredients in this new wet food offering doesn’t agree with their stomach or tastebuds.

Another reason a cat may suddenly lose their appetite is that they’re struggling physically. Maybe they have a broken tooth, an abscess or they’re just feeling under the weather. Stress or anxiety can also have an adverse effect on a cat’s appetite. 

Whenever you think your cat’s loss of appetite could be the result of a medical condition, contact a vet immediately. 

Cats should be fed a high-quality, balanced diet that’s packed full of natural goodness.  

At Encore, we recommend serving a combination of dry and wet food to ensure our felines are getting a wide range of proteins, carbohydrates, fats, vitamins, minerals, and fibre.

One of the largest benefits to come from feeding your cat complementary wet food is the higher water content.

This is especially important if your cat requires higher than usual levels of water intake due to medical conditions such as diabetes or lower urinary tract disease.

1. Try a different recipe. Have you been feeding your feline the same recipe for weeks or months? It may be time to try and liven up their mealtime with a new dish, something they’ve never tried before. Encore has a wide range of recipes to choose from including Tuna Fillet with Shrimp and Chicken Breast with Brown Rice in Broth Pouch. Take your time when introducing them to new flavours though. Too much change too quick, and you might end up discouraging them further.
   
   
2. Adopt alternative feeding methods. Put small pieces of wet food on your finger and gently place it on their gums. You can also try mixing it in with their dry food, or try using a different type of bowl. Under no circumstances should you attempt to force feed your cat as this can create a further aversion to food.
3. Make sure your cat is comfortable. Cats who are happy and feel secure are more likely to enjoy a  wolf down a bowl full of wet food. If something has scared your feline from their usual feeding spot – maybe the introduction of a new pet – then place a few bowls around the house in order to help them find a new dining location. Better yet, create a safe room for them where they can eat, sleep and use their litter box without fear of disruption or intimidation.
4. Add in some warm water. A splash of warm water will dilute your cat’s wet food making it slightly easier for them to chew. As well as increasing the palatability, warming the food slightly may bring some of those tasty aromas to the fore. Adding water to wet food will also help keep your felines more hydrated.
5. Tempt them with different textures. Cats can develop a preference to certain textures when eating wet foods. Consider changing things up a little until you eventually find a winning combination. Encore’s recipes come in broths, jellies and gravies so there’s plenty of choice for pet parents to begin playing around with.
6. Have you changed up their feeding schedule? Cats crave routine almost as much as food. Being such creatures of habit means even the slightest change to a feeding schedule can cause a sudden drop in appetite. Once you establish a routine, do your best to try and stick with it. Also, leave a long enough gap between meals for your cat to develop an appetite otherwise even the tastiest bowl of wet food may not seem appealing.
   

When feeding Encore complementary wet food, we always recommend making a bowl of Encore dry food available for your cat to enjoy as well.

If they’ve started going off their wet food, a diet consisting solely of complete dry food will be sufficient for maintaining health. However, in order to keep mealtimes interesting, and provide a wider range of nutrients, we do suggest re-introducing wet food over time. When introducing a new food to your cat, don’t rush the process as you will need to give their stomach and tastebuds time to adapt.