Why is my cat such a picky eater?
That’s typically how a conversation with a cat owner starts. Well, guess what? Most cats are picky, and there are good reasons for it.
Cats are obligate carnivores, meaning their diet must primarily consist of animal products to meet their specific nutritional needs. Meat provides several essential nutrients that cats cannot produce themselves or get in sufficient amounts from plant-based sources. Looking at their teeth and the absence of molars suggests that they do not grind their food extensively, unlike many omnivorous or herbivorous species.
Here are the essential nutrients cats get from meat:
1. Amino Acids (Proteins):
Cats have a high protein requirement and rely on animal proteins for vital amino acids that are the building blocks for muscles, tissues, enzymes, hormones, and antibodies.
Key essential amino acids include:
* Taurine: Essential for cats. Deficiency can cause serious health issues like heart problems (dilated cardiomyopathy) and vision issues (central retinal degeneration). Taurine is found almost exclusively in animal tissues.
* Arginine: Essential for detoxifying ammonia in the body. A deficiency can lead to serious neurological and gastrointestinal symptoms.
* Methionine & Cystine: Involved in various metabolic processes and essential for muscle development.
* Other essential amino acids like isoleucine, leucine, lysine, phenylalanine, threonine, tryptophan, and valine are also abundant in meat.
2. Fatty Acids (Fats):
Meat provides healthy animal fats, which are the most concentrated form of energy for cats. They also help in absorbing fat-soluble vitamins and support the health of cells, nerves, and skin and coat.
* Arachidonic Acid: An omega-6 fatty acid vital for cats, as they have a limited ability to produce it from other fatty acids. It's essential for healthy skin and coat, kidney function, and reproduction.
* Omega-3 and Omega-6 Fatty Acids: While some omega-3s are found in certain fish, animal fats offer a balance of both, which are essential for reducing inflammation and supporting overall health.
3. Vitamins: Meat is a rich source of several vitamins vital for feline health:
* Vitamin A (Retinol): Cats can't convert plant carotenoids into Vitamin A, so they must get pre-formed Vitamin A directly from animal sources, especially liver. It's essential for vision, immune function, and healthy skin.
* B Vitamins (e.g., Thiamine (B1), Riboflavin (B2), Niacin (B3), Pyridoxine (B6), Cobalamin (B12), Pantothenic Acid, Biotin, Folic Acid, Choline): These water-soluble vitamins are crucial for energy production, nervous system health, and overall cellular function. Meat, especially organ meats, is a great source.
* Vitamin D: Assists with calcium and phosphorus absorption for strong bones and teeth. Unlike humans, cats cannot produce Vitamin D from sunlight, so they need it from their diet (fatty fish and fish oil are good sources, as well as some meats).
* Vitamin E: A key antioxidant. Beef liver is a good source.
4. Minerals: Meat offers a variety of essential minerals that support many bodily functions.
* Calcium and phosphorus are essential for healthy bones and teeth. Maintaining the right balance is important. Chicken necks, for example, provide a natural source of calcium because of their bones.
* Iron: Essential for producing hemoglobin and transporting oxygen in red blood cells. The liver is especially high in iron.
* Zinc: Essential for skin and coat health, wound healing, immune function, and growth.
* Copper: Plays a role in iron absorption and transport, skin pigmentation, and skeletal growth.
* Magnesium: Involved in energy metabolism, muscle function, and bone development.
* Potassium, sodium, and chloride: electrolytes essential for hydration, nerve signaling, and muscle contraction.
Cats are not small dogs. These two species differ significantly in their nutritional needs, metabolism, anatomy, and behavior.
Cats, unlike dogs, prefer fresh food. They lack a metabolism capable of digesting decayed food and effectively eliminating toxic byproducts.
Cats have developed a remarkable sense of smell and taste that prevents them from eating anything that isn't fresh and may be harmful. This specific behavior is part of the “pickiness” people mention.
Your cat is picky, just like any other cat. This species has to be selective in its choices to survive.
What does that mean for your daily life with your cat?
1. Typically, a cat will not eat wet or raw food that has been sitting out for longer than 20-30 minutes. Serve small portions only.
2. Your cat will likely prefer the dry food from a freshly opened bag. And not from the bottom of a 20-lb bag that has been sitting in your cupboard for 6 months.
3. When you feed your cat raw or lightly cooked meat, it should be fresh; otherwise, it can be given to the dog.
4. Your cat may take time to adjust to a new food or scent. Neophobia in cats is common.
5. Cats need daily meals. Unlike dogs, which can go without food for a day, cats must be fed every day, even if they are overweight and shouldn’t eat that much. Fasting for more than 24 hours is NEVER suitable for a cat.
6. Some cats are picky or hesitant to try new things because they are not hungry. If you free-feed your cat dry food 24/7 and she is neither skinny nor underweight, she may not be hungry.
Leaving a lot of food out for an indoor cat often makes the cat lazy, unwilling to play or move around. This starts a vicious cycle of eating and sleeping.
Cats are animals that hunt for their food. In the wild, they hunt between 8 and 12 meals per day, engaging in hunting, eating, grooming, and sleeping. This cycle continues. Free feeding, probably from an automatic feeder, reduces a significant amount of the energy they usually spend on catching prey. It can lead to boredom and may cause behavioral problems.
7. Different cats like different textures, flavors, and temperatures. When you adopt a new cat into the household, it might be that she prefers the total opposite of your older cat.
Kittens grow up to become cats, but in most cases, the preference for taste and texture is set when they are very young. Research shows that they have a strong tendency to prefer what their mama cat liked to eat.
8. Have you ever heard of whisker stress? A cat’s whiskers, 12 on each side, 24 in total, are not just cute. They have many functions; we could dedicate one monthly newsletter to each.
Whiskers are thicker than hair and are deeply embedded, connecting to the nervous system. The tips have sensory organs called proprioceptors that send messages to the brain, helping the cat determine an object’s distance, direction, and even surface texture.
They are so sensitive that if pressured, they can cause what is known as "whisker stress." This kind of fatigue is often a result of the cat's whiskers bumping up against the sides of its food dish. If your cat is scooping food out with its paw or knocking food on the floor to eat, consider getting a wider bowl.
9. Food aversions are more common in cats than we may think. Food aversion can occur when a cat is feeling ill and is continuously offered a particular food or is even force-fed. The cat associates the feeling of illness or vomiting with that food or smell, and will, therefore, try to avoid it.
This food aversion may have even settled before you adopted this cat. Due to the cat overpopulation problem, many kittens are rescued who are sick and require medical care. When your cat was offered a particular food as a sick kitten, she will probably avoid this flavor or texture for the remainder of her nine lives.
10. It has been recognized for many years that the digestibility of both protein and fat decreases in cats over the age of 10 years. This condition is well recognized in cats, but it is less common in dogs.
While the cause of the decrease in appetite remains unclear, the changes in your cats’ weight and appetite are remarkable. The cats lose the ability to properly digest the fat and protein in their meals.
As a result, they lose weight. This is the time to find the food they LOVE and can't resist. Most cats at an older age prefer lukewarm wet food. Wet food is more palatable than dry, and a slightly elevated temperature enhances its flavor.
To sum up, a cat can be picky for various reasons. Some are part of her genetic makeup, while others are a result of her life experiences.