Fussy cats mean that changing food is difficult but Lovebug has been developed with this in mind; providing complete nutrition, easy to digest protein and is hypoallergenic. Read this article to hear our top tips when it comes to making mealtimes a little easier with a fussy feline.
Why are cats so fussy with food?
If your cat is a fussy eater, then don’t worry. Cats are intelligent creatures and can be picky with what they eat for a number of reasons. Health or discomfort aside, the main cause is evolution where their neophobic tendencies (fear of trying new food) would protect them from eating something bad in the wild. While humans have roughly 9,000 taste buds, cats only have around 470 taste buds (dogs have around 1700!). Because of this, the way a cat tastes and smells their meals is quite different to humans and it’s important to try and tap into their natural hunting/foraging behaviours if your cat is picky with what they eat.
Tips to help your cat eat more
Make sure to supply your cat with nutritionally dense food - and always have fresh water available too. While it may seem ‘natural’ for your cat to eat fish, your cat’s ancestors would never have swum out to catch tuna! Instead, a more realistic source of protein would be hunting insects or small rodents. We have chosen the former due to it’s high sustainability credentials and because it is a naturally high protein source.
Why keeping consistent meal times for your cat is important
Cats are creatures of habit and just like humans, prefer regular meal times. Regular, routine feeding times are a great way to train your cat’s stomach and allow it to prepare an appetite for each meal. Feeding your adult cat at certain times of the day provides them with stability and routine which can help your cat cope better with any other changes in the household.
Starting a feeding routine also allows you to keep a closer eye on the amount of food they are consuming which will benefit their health and make it easier to keep them at a steady, healthy weight.
How to help switch your cat food to something new
When your cat is used to eating at the same time each day, they adapt to this routine and its body adjusts its hunger levels accordingly. If you introduce them to a new, regular routine you might also find it easier to transition your cat’s diet and introduce them to new cat food. If you’d like to learn more about how to make this an easy process, read our Guide To Switching Cat Food.
Why are some cats more sensitive to new food?
It isn’t so much the ‘new food’ that can trigger cat sensitivities, as mentioned earlier - cats simply have an instinct to not like new food. A negative reaction is usually caused by an ongoing sensitivity or allergy to an ingredient which can develop at any age. Our insect-based dry cat food is nutritionally complete and helps to keep cats teeth and gums healthy which is an important aspect of pet food for lots of cat owners. It’s also got no added dairy, no artificial colours, and quite frankly no nasties! This makes it super easy to digest and the perfect food for cats with sensitive tummies.