Like I said in the OP, she refuses everything but dry cat food. And believe me, I’ve tried just about everything on her. Life would be easier if she’d take something squishy and tasty when we have to give her medicine.
Have you tried tuna juice? All four of our cats love tuna juice…including the cat who doesn’t like human food, or wet cat food.
Have you tried changing her food? My cat used to do that because she hated her food. Little thing only wanted fresh beef, which I wasn’t in a position to provide her. She complained about it loudly, all the time, while occasionally taking shots at my ankles.
Jasmine does this ALL the time. She is fastidious about her food. I never fill her bowl all the way because 75% will be gone and she’ll demand ‘fresh’ food. Lately though she’s taken to sitting next to the back door and meow and meow. I open the door… meh, no she ignores that and still meows.
I think I will try arguing about the new tax laws with her, see if maybe she just needs something to argue about.
I think Garfield has the problem well stated
Yes, I have tried tuna juice. She sniffed it for several minutes; that’s the most interest she’s ever shown anything.
It’s possible that she hates her food (though she used to love it–at the pound they fed her Science Diet; I transitioned her to her current food by mixing the two. She would selectively pick out all of her current food, leaving the Science Diet). Since she’ll still eat it, though, I don’t feel inclined to change things up.
Maybe that’s her problem. She has a mean uncompassionate mommy.
Sometimes the food is stale (if it’s been sitting out), or the water needs to be changed and the bowl cleaned. Sometimes they’re asking for treats or something different, but usually, as above, they’re just asking for a little notice and affection.
My cat will do that, and then I give her some treatsies, then she does it again, so I pet her and say hi, and then she’s good to go and will eat her treats.
“Hey, he gave me some special food AND he paid attention to me. He loves me!”
Edit to say; there are some times when she’ll get her lovins, go eat some, come back clearly looking for head rubs, get some, go eat a little more, repeat until she’s happy.
A few of mine do that, all I do is go over and stir up the food a bit and it seems to make them think they’ve been given better food. Add a bit of a skritch in there and they’re happy.
Silly cats.