Cats won't eat food if it's been sitting out for more than 30 minutes!?

Question

My cats are both 8 years old, they eat a dry food diet of Nutrience Holistic for the past year. Since then, my male hasn't had one UTI and my female hasn't had diarrhea at all. A few months ago they started leaving food in the bottom of their dish and wouldn't touch it, but ask me for more food. Sometimes I would mix the new food into the "old" and try to trick them into eating it (which may have only been there a few hours) but they still wouldn't. I'd always end up having to throw away just as much as they were eating.

I even tried mixing wet food into it, no luck.

Now I only feed them 1/4 cup 2X a day, which is how much they can eat together in 10 minutes. But, if there are a few pieces of kibble left, they'll never touch it. I have to throw it away and give fresh.

I'm concerned they're not eating enough. They're both 14 lbs, healthy, not losing weight. But why the fussiness all of a sudden. Should I switch foods? What GOOD food keeps its appeal sitting in the dish?

Answer 1

Ah, cats! Gotta love 'em. I've found there is no rhyme or reason to their sudden quirks. If they are 14lbs and healthy, you are obviously feeding them enough.

Both my cats share a litter box, and they don't care whether or not I clean it every day. They both eat the same food without complaint. But if my male cat sees ONE LITTLE SPECK of food in the water dish, he won't touch it and will cry until I refill it.

I've stopped trying to figure cats out. It lowers my stress level!

Answer 2

You said they've only been eating that food for the past year. Part of it could be that it is much healthier than the food you switched from. The more nutrient dense the food is that you feed, the less they will need to eat.

I have three cats between 8 and 9 1/2 pounds. In the morning I put out a 5.5 oz can of Merrick wet food and 1/3 cup of Innova Evo dry food. In the evening I might put out 1/3 cup of dry food if they look hungry but not always. The foods I feed are so nutrient dense that they really just don't need that much of it.

I used to have the problem of one of my cats not eating her kibble when I was feeding a lesser quality food. I had to "fluff" the food before she would eat it. I guess the food having my scent on it was enough to make her think I was giving her the food, like a gift or something. Now she is happy to eat.

As long as your cats are healthy, being fed a quality diet, and not losing weight, I wouldn't worry about how little they eat. I would just put less in the bowl so you don't waste so much. Just experiment until you find the right amount for your two kitties.

Answer 3

Don't worry, if the cats are not losing weight and their health has improved they are eating enough. My cat will not eat anything at the bottom of the bowl. She's over 18 years and I just put more in the bowl. Whatever she wants, at this age. You might mix a small amount of canned food in once in a while to entice them to eat. May be a little tired of the same ole thing.

Answer 4

Cats are very clean animals with a keen sence of smell and will not eat what they don't deem clean. I am deducing that you do not wash the bowls after each feeding and your cats are avoiding the offensive bottom layer of food.

I would also suggest picking up the food dishes after 30 minutes of allowing them to graze. Sometimes cats become picky when they have an unlimited supply of food.

Answer 5

Good food believe it or not I've found loses its yummy scent after a while. So just give them want they can eat at one sitting. I feed mine twice aday. They are all healthy. Cats just won't eat want they can't small. No worries.

Answer 6

My cat does this. She will not eat food that has been laying out. Also, she refuses to drink water unless it is coming directly out of the sink faucet. Spoiled.

Cats are generally very clean animals.

If they are not losing weight, I would not worry about it.

Answer 7

It sounds like the cats are a bit spoiled and just aren't hungry enough. My cats try this sometimes and I leave the food there until they decide they are hungry.

Answer 8

I'm betting they just don't have enough encouragement. Animals will not go hungry. A finicky cat can only exist in an over privileged environment.

Answer 9

don't change anything apart from portion size...reduce it slightly until you don't get the wasted food left

no harm in them eating less if they are not losing weight

if they get hungrier then add more later bit by bit!

don't cater too much to their demands...they're on a good diet and are healthy!

Answer 10

they are just being picky. have set times when they eat and only give them a few minutes to eat their fill. after that take the leftovers and put in a container to reuse later.