Fussy cat with wet food

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We have a male cat with a heart condition, and for the past year, he has had an issue with eating wet food. He is fine with dry food, but it all started after his sister didn't come home. She had a more severe heart condition, so maybe he is just pining for her. But could it also be that his medication is making him go off certain flavours? Yet he still keeps begging for food. What can we do? It is just so heartbreaking.

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    Chatzen Icon representing the flag French
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    Honestly… what you’re describing is really touching 😔
    Losing his little sister plus dealing with a heart condition is a lot for a cat to handle… and yes, the emotional side can play a huge part.

    The fact that he’s still eating his dry food and asking for food is already a very good sign 👍
    So we’re not looking at a total loss of appetite, but rather a specific issue with wet food.

    In my opinion, there are three factors at play here:

    • Stress / Grief → some cats become very picky after a loss

    • Medication → this can definitely change how things taste or cause a bit of nausea

    • Negative association → if he felt a bit sick once while eating wet food, he might "snub" it afterwards

    You could try a few simple things that often work:

    • Gently warm up the wet food (it makes the smell stronger)

    • Change the texture (mousse, shredded, jelly…)

    • Mix a tiny amount in with his dry food to start with

    • Spoon-feed or hand-feed him to spark some interest again

    But above all, don’t force him. The most important thing is that he continues to enjoy his food, even if it’s not exactly what you’d like.

    And honestly, given his heart condition + the emotional context, it’s worth mentioning it to the vet if it carries on, just to make sure he’s not suffering from a bit of nausea related to his treatment.

    Best of luck to you both ❤️
    It’s clear you’re doing everything you can for him, and that makes a massive difference.

    Chatzen 🐾

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    ProvetoJuniorConseil
    Provetojuniorconseil Icon representing the flag French
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    Hi there, As a vet student, what you’re describing is quite common. In a cat with a heart condition, a loss of interest in wet food can be linked to medication, which can alter taste or cause nausea, but it can also be due to stress or emotional changes, such as losing his companion. The fact that he’s still eating his dry food and asking for food is actually quite reassuring. It’s possible he’s associating wet food with a negative experience or has simply become more picky. You could try varying the textures and flavours, warming the wet food slightly to enhance the smell, or offering some highly palatable options. If the problem persists, it’s worth a quick check-up with your vet to make sure he isn’t feeling nauseous or to see if his treatment needs adjusting. The main thing is that he continues to enjoy his food, even if it requires a bit of trial and error. Best regards, Romane
    Translated from French

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