What Do You Do When an Older Cat Becomes a Picky Eater?

Providing an older cat with proper nutrition is essential to the cat's health and well-being. With age, your cat may fall victim to various diseases, and his eating pattern may change. The cat can become finicky, ignoring the foods he once loved. To make sure your cat gets the nutrients he needs, learn various ways you can encourage him to eat.

  1. Visit the Veterinarian

    • If your cat has recently become a picky eater, an underlying issue may be to blame. Just like people, cats are prone to various diseases as they age. Constipation, dental problems, diabetes, and kidney and heart disease are just some of the conditions that can develop. Take your cat to the veterinarian for a checkup. Once diagnosed, your veterinarian can provide treatment and instruct you on how to adjust your cat's diet accordingly. Depending on your cat's condition, the vet may also prescribe an appetite-stimulating medication.

    Enhance the Aroma of Cat Food

    • To encourage your picky cat to eat, heat his food to a warm temperature in a microwave. You can warm moistened dry food or canned food. Warming the food enhances its aroma and may tempt your pet companion to eat. Stir the food before serving it, then test it with your finger to make sure it's not too hot. Adding onion-free baby food or the water from a can of tuna to the food may also motivate your cat companion to eat.

    Change Your Cat's Feeding Times

    • To get your cat to eat, avoid having food readily available to him at all times of the day. Feed the cat two times per day instead. Measure out one portion and present it to your cat. Wait 15 minutes and observe your cat from a distance. If he's picky and refuses to eat it, remove the food. Wait for the second feeding time to present the food again. Over time, your cat will realize that if he doesn't eat during the scheduled times, there will be no other food available to him. This may motivate him to eat both of the times you present his food.

    Make Your Own Cat Food

    • Home-cooked meals may stimulate your cat to eat. Ask your veterinarian for appropriate recipes. These can include protein sources, such as chicken, liver and hamburger. Serve your cat a diet that consists of two-thirds home-cooked food and one-third regular store-bought cat food. Then, over approximately two weeks, gradually increase the amount of cat food and decrease the amount of home-cooked food. Your pet companion will be eating his normal cat food again without realizing what happened.