Managing the fussiest eater ever - your cat!

I'm NOT eating that!

Cats can be picky eaters, so making sure that they get a good and nourishing diet can be a real challenge. Firstly, acknowledge that your cat is a meat eater. Some people, with the very best of intentions, feed their cats meat-free meals. But cats need taurine in their diet and the only way they can get it is by eating meat.

Secondly, understand that when it comes to pet foods you get what you pay for. Some cheaper  options vary wildly in the range of nutrients and minerals they contain – even between different batches of the same brand. This makes it difficult to ensure your cat is getting all their necessary nutrients and to accurately measure their calorie intake.


If your cat is fit and healthy, then your primary choice is wet or dry food. Well, I say ‘choice’ but it’s not really a choice that cat owners get to make; as our feline masters usually express a clear preference! There's no point arguing. Just bear in mind that with dry food cats will need access to plentiful supply of fresh water. I can personally recommend the Drinkwell Water Fountain - Molly our Bombay is huge fan. It might look a bit gimmicky, but it keeps circulating water and cats seem to love the trickle effect.


Like the human population, cats are also getting fatter and it’s mostly down to portion control. If you feed your cat biscuits or kibbles, it’s important to stick to the recommended daily amounts on the side of the bag. A quick way is to measure and mark up a small cup so you know how much to give them per meal. It won’t look a lot, and your cat may/will complain, continuously but it’s the only way to keep them trim.


With wet food, again note how much your cat should have each day. It probably won’t tally with the size of the tin/sachet but remember; overfeeding is not a kindness. Nor is it cheap.


If your cat suffers from any long-term conditions, the right nutrition can help. Specific prescription foods are available for all kinds of conditions, from joint stiffness, renal problems and sensitive stomachs to brain ageing. Your vet can recommend the best foods to support your cat’s condition. Once they’ve pointed you in the right direction you can buy the full range from Pet Drugs Online and get it delivered to your door. And remember - although they’re termed ‘prescription diets’ you don’t actually need a prescription to buy them.


To give a quick real life set of examples of how targeted foods can help - we've got a 17 year old Bombay on Renal (wet and dry), a 5kg+ cat on obesity (dry) and some semi-feral young 'uns on Calm (dry but mixed with regular wet food). One helps medically, one helps with the waistline and the other means we don't get our fingers gnawed. As much!