My Cat Won’t Eat Dry Food – Here’s Why & What to Do

Cats tend to be finicky eaters. Most are not likely to grab a piece of broccoli off your plate or scrounge scraps of potato or rice from the garbage. That said, they likely won’t turn down a piece of meat. After all, they are carnivores, and commercial dry cat food is typically made mostly of meat and designed to meet the nutritional needs of felines overall. It’s a great mealtime option that happens to be convenient for owners. But what if your cat doesn’t eat the dry food that you offer them? There are many reasons that this might be the case in your household, including that your cat is bored with the food or is having digestive issues. Read on to learn more!

They’re Used to Eating Wet Food

If your cat is used to eating commercial wet food and you’re transitioning them to dry food, they may not like the dry food at first. This is especially true for kittens. When offering them a bowl of dry food, your feline might ignore it and hold out for the wet stuff that they are used to getting. Fortunately, with a little help from their owners, most cats will eventually get used to dry food and successfully transition to eating it full-time.

To get your kitty to eat strictly dry food, start slowly, and mix a portion of wet food with a portion of dry food before mealtime. Do this for a few days, then reduce the amount of wet food and increase the amount of dry food. Keep adjusting the food levels until your cat is happily eating dry food on its own at each meal.

They Are Simply Tired of the Same Recipe

If you have been feeding your cat the same food brand for a while, they may stop eating it because they are tired of the same flavors and textures day in and day out. A sudden disinterest in their food without any signs of illness might mean a change in food recipe is necessary. Try mixing some of their regular food with new food, especially one with a different kind of protein, to see if that piques their interest.

If so, continue slowly transitioning them to the new food by adding more of it to their bowl (and taking out more of the old food) at mealtimes until they are eating just that food. If this doesn’t work, schedule a consultation appointment with your veterinarian.

The Food No Longer Agrees With Them

As your cat ages, their nutritional needs and digestive system can change, and the food that they have been eating may no longer agree with them. It could be too rich in a certain nutrient, or the kibble can be too big for their older teeth to comfortably chew. Whatever the case, your cat is unlikely to continue eating it if it does not agree with their system and is causing discomfort. It’s a good idea to work with your veterinarian so you can determine your cat’s nutritional needs and how to meet them without upsetting their digestive system.

The Food Has Gone Bad

Dry cat food can go bad even if it looks and smells normal to humans. Mold might have started growing on it or an ingredient in it could have gone rancid. Your cat can pick up on these issues and turn up their nose at the food when you put it in front of them at mealtime. Replacing the food with a new batch should rectify the problem in this case. If your kitty still does not want to eat their food once it has been replaced, there is likely a different reason that they are not eating.

They Are Dealing With a Health Problem

If your cat is dealing with a problem like a tooth infection, dehydration, or an underlying illness or chronic condition, chances are that your kitty will not feel like eating. They may or may not display any other signs of pain or illness at this time, though, so it might not be clear that something is wrong with them. If you cannot find any other reason for their lack of interest in food, it is important to see a veterinarian and have a full health checkup completed.

In Conclusion

Since there are a few different reasons that your cat might not like eating dry food, you will have to investigate by being more attentive during mealtimes, keeping an eye out for signs of illness and digestive distress, and trying new ways to feed your kitty. If you’re ever in doubt or can’t determine the reason for your cat’s lack of interest in dry food, contact your veterinarian.

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