# How do I get my cat to eat more? **URL:** \ **Category:** Miscellaneous and Personal Stuff I Must Share\ **Created:** [March 8, 2009, 6:07pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-do-i-get-my-cat-to-eat-more/488743 "2009-03-08T18:07:16Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 17\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![phouka](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/c5a1d2/32.png) [@phouka](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/phouka)\ **Post date:** [March 8, 2009, 6:07pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-do-i-get-my-cat-to-eat-more/488743/1 "2009-03-08T18:07:16Z")
Please forgive me for breaking the cardinal cat rule - I don’t have a picture to post at this time. Raven, is a 17 year old short haired domestic kitteh with attitude. She also has kidney insufficiency. (They no longer call it kidney failure, because that’s too depressing.) The vet tells me she has 1-2 more years before it will take her out. She’s had a good long run, but I’d prefer to keep her going as long as possible. When she first adopted me, she was a small but healthy nine pounds. Now, she’s down to just under six. Her coat is good, but you can feel her hip bones and her shoulder bones all too well. The trouble is, she’s beyond a picky eater. Previously, we’d had her on the cheap, stinky cat food, as that was the only thing she’d eat, and even then, we had to swap flavors twice a week to keep her interested. Now I’ve got the KD Science Diet specially formulated for kitties with bad kidneys. She likes the kibble, but after three days of the canned food, she turned her nose up. The only way I can get her to eat it now is to mix it 50-50 with the cheap, stinky food. Even then, she eats a few bare mouthfuls and leaves the rest to dry out and get nasty. As far as I can tell, she needs to eat about twice of what she currently is. I’ve tried different foods out on her. She sniffs, thinks about it, and then stalks away. I’ve added salmon oil, both for the calories, the omega-3s, and the smell, and it might as well be Play-Do. My kitty needs to eat more, but she’s far too well armed for me to force feed. What suggestions do you have? ---
**Author:** ![Litoris](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/9f8e36/32.png) [@Litoris](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Litoris)\ **Post date:** [March 8, 2009, 6:17pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-do-i-get-my-cat-to-eat-more/488743/2 "2009-03-08T18:17:31Z")
Since she’s not long for this world, have you thought about maybe just letting her have the good stuff? Maybe a handful of ground beef/turkey/chicken/pork mixed in with the other stuff? ---
**Author:** ![phouka](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/c5a1d2/32.png) [@phouka](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/phouka)\ **Post date:** [March 8, 2009, 6:24pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-do-i-get-my-cat-to-eat-more/488743/3 "2009-03-08T18:24:26Z")
I’m at the gathering ideas stage. Do you recommend raw or cooked? How do I make sure she gets enough taurine? ---
**Author:** ![Finagle](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/b19c9b/32.png) [@Finagle](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Finagle)\ **Post date:** [March 8, 2009, 10:50pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-do-i-get-my-cat-to-eat-more/488743/4 "2009-03-08T22:50:28Z")
When my previous cat was losing weight, I would feed her a nutritional supplement that came in a tube. It was some kind of calorie-dense malt-based substance that was apparently quite tasty to cats as she’d lick it off my finger as a special treat. ---
**Author:** ![Hanna](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/h/b3f665/32.png) [@Hanna](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Hanna)\ **Post date:** [March 8, 2009, 11:02pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-do-i-get-my-cat-to-eat-more/488743/5 "2009-03-08T23:02:52Z")
My vet says that even his cat won’t eat the special kidney food. My cats (and I have one super-finicky girl) love a brand called Weruva. Of course, this stuff happens to be one of the most expensive brands I can find (rolleyes), but they always clean their plates. ---
**Author:** ![Hello\_Again](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/h/85e7bf/32.png) [@Hello\_Again](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Hello_Again)\ **Post date:** [March 8, 2009, 11:27pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-do-i-get-my-cat-to-eat-more/488743/6 "2009-03-08T23:27:38Z")
> [@Finagle](#): > > When my previous cat was losing weight, I would feed her a nutritional supplement that came in a tube. It was some kind of calorie-dense malt-based substance that was apparently quite tasty to cats as she’d lick it off my finger as a special treat. My skinny cat looks at it with distain. Its mostly corn syrup too, which struck me as not a proper food for cats. As a supplement to his regular food he gets some meat baby food in the morning. The kind that’s just plain meat, no veggies. ---
**Author:** ![picunurse](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/7bcc69/32.png) [@picunurse](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/picunurse)\ **Post date:** [March 9, 2009, 12:14am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-do-i-get-my-cat-to-eat-more/488743/7 "2009-03-09T00:14:34Z")
See if she’ll take a couple sips of beer. It’s supposed to increase appetite. A long ago vet recomended it for a sickly kitty I had at the time. It perked up his appetite nicely. ---
**Author:** ![Vihaga](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/v/b4bc9f/32.png) [@Vihaga](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Vihaga)\ **Post date:** [March 9, 2009, 1:34am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-do-i-get-my-cat-to-eat-more/488743/8 "2009-03-09T01:34:54Z")
Our cat had some urinary problems a couple of years ago (requiring surgery) and he wouldn’t even touch the bland-diet food. Of course, he wouldn’t eat _at all_ after the surgery until our vet prescribed him some valium. It worked like a charm. ---
**Author:** ![Pullet](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/edb3f5/32.png) [@Pullet](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Pullet)\ **Post date:** [March 9, 2009, 2:31am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-do-i-get-my-cat-to-eat-more/488743/9 "2009-03-09T02:31:24Z")
There are several kidney formulation diets on the market for kitties. Your vet should be able to hook you up with some sample cans you can try. I know for sure that Purina and Walthams both make their own kidney supportive diets and there may be others that have come out since I was last in practice. That said, your girl may still turn up her nose. Talk some more with your vet. Picky eaters are a problem we deal with pretty often. They should have the latest tricks. ---
**Author:** ![CrazyCatLady](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/dfb087/32.png) [@CrazyCatLady](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/CrazyCatLady)\ **Post date:** [March 9, 2009, 3:43am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-do-i-get-my-cat-to-eat-more/488743/10 "2009-03-09T03:43:02Z")
You could try warming the canned food a bit–it increases the stink factor, which is a big thing in kitty appetites. You could try hand-feeding her, sometimes that helps. Or I’ve had luck getting kitties to eat meat baby foods, like strained lamb or veal, but a high-protein food like that puts extra strain on her kidneys. I gotta ask, though, if she likes the dry kibble, why not just put her on that? It’s not got the water content of the wet, but it’s usually easier to do just do sq fluids on them from time to time than to struggle with getting them to eat something else. ---
**Author:** ![appleciders](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/85f322/32.png) [@appleciders](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/appleciders)\ **Post date:** [March 9, 2009, 3:55am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-do-i-get-my-cat-to-eat-more/488743/11 "2009-03-09T03:55:27Z")
You have only one option here- cat sized bong. Make sure to keep extra Doritos on hand. ---
**Author:** ![Sleeps\_With\_Butterflies](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/bb73d2/32.png) [@Sleeps\_With\_Butterflies](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Sleeps_With_Butterflies)\ **Post date:** [March 9, 2009, 4:04am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-do-i-get-my-cat-to-eat-more/488743/12 "2009-03-09T04:04:36Z")
I had a kitty who needed weight, too. In the last year she was alive I pretty much gave her whatever she’d eat, whenever she’d eat it. When she wasn’t happy with her wet food I’d sometimes pour a little gravy on it. She preferred [Heinz Homestyle Pork](http://heinzgravy.com/v_pork.aspx?tb=pork%7Chomestyle%7CHomeStyle%20Pork%20Gravy). I also found that she had a thing for Cheez Whiz. Go figure. I’ll keep you and kitty in my thoughts. ---
**Author:** ![Wile\_E](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/w/c37758/32.png) [@Wile\_E](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Wile_E)\ **Post date:** [March 9, 2009, 1:22pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-do-i-get-my-cat-to-eat-more/488743/13 "2009-03-09T13:22:40Z")
If she’s really not eating enough there are medications to increase her appetite. Ask your vet. ---
**Author:** ![kittenblue](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/ba8739/32.png) [@kittenblue](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/kittenblue)\ **Post date:** [March 9, 2009, 1:46pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-do-i-get-my-cat-to-eat-more/488743/14 "2009-03-09T13:46:51Z")
> [@appleciders](#): > > You have only one option here- cat sized bong. Make sure to keep extra Doritos on hand. Actually, that’s not far off…I’ve noticed that after a good catnip session, my cats are lined up at their bowl! This is strictly silly, but I’ve also found that any food the cats think is mine is much more enticing to them…if your kitty likes to investigate and steal from your plate, maybe you could trick her into thinking it’s people food…put it on your plate at the table (or, in my case, computer desk!) and then walk away… ---
**Author:** ![TroubleAgain](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/e480ec/32.png) [@TroubleAgain](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/TroubleAgain)\ **Post date:** [March 9, 2009, 2:27pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-do-i-get-my-cat-to-eat-more/488743/15 "2009-03-09T14:27:19Z")
Raw chicken livers is what my co-worker was getting her sickly boy to eat to gain weight. Yuck, but it worked…until his illness got the best of him. ---
**Author:** ![phouka](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/c5a1d2/32.png) [@phouka](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/phouka)\ **Post date:** [March 9, 2009, 6:58pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-do-i-get-my-cat-to-eat-more/488743/16 "2009-03-09T18:58:56Z")
Okay, so I have: - hand feeding - raw food - supplement inna tube - a few sips of beer - a cat-sized bong (I thought bongs were mostly smaller than cats) - valium (I wouldn’t mind a little for myself, especially after having force fed her a pill) - baby food made of meat - gravy on the wet food - catnip - raw chicken livers - tricking the cat into thinking its mine - warming the food in the microwave. Okay, so I’ve already been warming the food. It helps. I also picked up some shrimp and fish last night. Chopped fine and warmed, she scarfed it up. All other suggestions will be duly tried. About the only one I don’t think has a chance is the catnip, as wee Raven has no interest in the herbal refreshments. ---
**Author:** ![Litoris](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/9f8e36/32.png) [@Litoris](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Litoris)\ **Post date:** [March 9, 2009, 7:21pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-do-i-get-my-cat-to-eat-more/488743/17 "2009-03-09T19:21:13Z")
> [@phouka](#): > > I’m at the gathering ideas stage. > > Do you recommend raw or cooked? How do I make sure she gets enough taurine? Sorry, I had 2 sick kids this weekend, and didn’t see this until now. I recommend raw. Don’t shock her with a sudden complete change, but just toss a little raw meat in with her regular food. Animals have the natural ability to digest raw meat without all the issues we humans do. They can also eat raw bones (never cooked – those can splinter), and it’s actually a great source of loads of vitamins/minerals for them. Now, I don’t have a cite, but I suppose I could try to find one if you insist, but I remember reading several years ago that cats are finicky eaters because unlike humans, dogs or many other animals, they lack the ability to taste sweets and other specific tastes. They are primarily driven by protein. Really, though, my suggestion was meant more along the lines of “since she probably won’t live much longer, why not just let her be happy while she does” than “here’s an idea to prolong her life.” You know? Now, all that having been said, I will say that I have recently switched my dogs over to a partial-raw diet. They still get dry dog food, but I also give them raw meat and bones. In only a week, I noticed that the wolf’s fur took on a high gloss and he calmed down immensely. Now, mind you, that calming effect could be due to getting a little older, puppies are like that, but the fur? Totally going to attribute it to the meat and the bones – especially since I have noticed the chihuahua’s coat getting glossier. The chihuahua has been feed dry dog food since day one, mostly because I didn’t want him to fall into the small dog trap of being spoiled and begging for human food, but it makes no sense to feed them different diets, so here we are. If you have the time and inclination and money for it, definitely look at a raw diet. For one cat, I would imagine it wouldn’t be too costly, and I am sure there are specialty diets that take into account stuff such as kidney issues (I mean, hell, people are told to eat certain things and not eat certain things when we have kidney issues, surely we know enough about animals to do the same, right?) Caveat is that I am not one of those new age/homeopathic people that thinks that my animals have to have the best of the best of the best and that commercial foods are part of the evil agenda. I just think that from personal experience my animals that have been fed table scraps tend to be healthier and live longer than those who only got commercial foods. Plus, if I feed them the same thing (only raw instead of cooked) that I feed my family, that’s less money spent. Not to mention come hunting seasons, we know enough hunters to keep the boys in raw venison and turkey necks for a while. I am doing the partial raw because I don’t have time to create specialised (read personalised) diets for a 40 - 60 lb wolf versus a 5 lb chihuahua, so I know that they will get many essential nutrients from the dog food, but they will both benefit from the nutrients in the raw foods. I might take them to a full raw diet eventually, when I have done enough research to justify it, but no promises. As for your kitty, I say just make her happy while you can and enjoy her being happy – how many cats aren’t happy getting a handful of tuna packed in water? > [@](#): > > Foods high in taurine include fresh fish and meat. (From [this](http://www.msgtruth.org/remedies.htm)site.) Oh, yeh – I found this while I was at it – > [@](#): > > The Cat’s Sense of Taste > > Compared to humans, the cat’s sense of taste is weak. We have 9,000 taste buds, while they have only 473. They make up for this deficiency with a superior sense of smell. The preferred temperature for feline food is 86 degrees Fahrenheit–the same temperature as the cat’s tongue. Food straight from the refrigerator doesn’t appeal to Kitty, whose wild ancestors ate freshly killed prey. Try heating Kitty’s food to intensify the aroma if he is not eating well. Like humans, cats are responsive to four basic tastes: sour, bitter, salt, and sweet. Being strict carnivores, their response to “sweet” is much weaker than ours. As the cat’s most powerful response to food is through his sense of smell, not taste, is it any wonder that he may simply sniff at the expensive delicacy you just put down for him and walk away (or try to bury it) without even tasting it? (From [this](http://www.catsinternational.org/articles/senses_and_features/cats_sense_of_taste.html)site.)