Expert: Dear Tabbi - 7/17/2008

Question
Hi - My kitten will not touch cat food. I have tried anything. She will eat it a little if i feed her by hand but when it comes to chicken, red meat or tuna she will lick the bowl. Any ideas? I tried to leave her for a day without given her anything but cat food, she snubbed. She knew i would not let her starve to death and got human food the late that evening. She needs to eat. Dry food? As an appetizer only...
I admit she has character but i can't keep feeding her only human food.

Thanks for your help
Cheers

Answer
Juliette,

You have a spoiled little kitty! People food is ok but she also NEEDS to eat catfood. It has the minerals and nutrients that cats require in it. Also dry food cleans the tarter on her teeth.

I would get a high quality kitten chow (Iams, etc.) and leave a bowl down and available anytime so she can nibble if she wants to. She needs the protein from the kitten chow her first year. After that switch to adult dry food.

I would get a couple of cans of cat food and put a can of people tuna in it and mix it up in a plastic bag. Most cats will eat that.

Mix a some of the meat or chicken that she likes in with her cat food. Let her learn that if she wants the meat or chicken that she will have to eat her cat food to get it. You can gradually cut back on the meat or chicken as she gets used to eating the cat food.

Ignore her (I know it's hard to do) when she begs for people food. Don't give in! The bad habit will only get harder to break as she gets older. The saying is true..."if she's hungry enough she will eat it". BUT If it's warm do not leave canned cat food out very long. She WON'T eat it if it spoils and won't trust it again. But always leave a bowl of kitten chow out and available.

BUT...There are many people who WON'T give their cats catfood so they fix nurishing meals for their cats with healthy and required ingredients. If you are interested in going that way, I am including a site that gives you  the information you need about feeding your cat a nutritional non-catfood diet.

This is a three part series that is excellent:
(copy and paste, or type, the whole links into your address bar)

http://www.pet-grub.com/part1/scene1.pets
http://www.pet-grub.com/part2/
http://www.pet-grub.com/part3/

I hope this helped.
Tabbi