Cat stopped eat dry cat food - any ideas?

[Jodie]

My 16 year old cat would eat dry cat food constantly if she could. However, she has mostly wet and a little dry. Just hit me she's not been eating dry for a week or so, has been happily eating wet though and seems her normal lively self.

I'm going to get some different dry cat food tomorrow (she'll eat various ones) just in case she's been fussy, but I'm half wondering if she's got something wrong with her teeth or something more serious. Just wondering what everyone's elses thoughts are given she's an older cat.

[meriad]

It could very well be that she's gone off the food, they may have changed the recipe of the food you've fed in the past, it may not be as fresh - who knows. When it comes to food I don't think there is anyone that has figured out the workings of a cat's brain - what was fine today will be food of the devil tomorrow

Although equally it could very well be a dental issue which only the vet would be able to confirm and iit may be an idea to get her to the vet for a general once over, especially given her age. When last was she at the vet?

Fusses to your girl

[meriad]

and to add, it could also be that she's preferring the wet food to the dry as it's stronger in smell and as cats age, their sense of smell can lessen so chances are she's just not as tempted by the dry food

[Jodie]

Thanks for your replies! I don't think there's anything wrong with the dry, as her brother is eating it - if one refuses something they both do. They last saw the vet in February who said their teeth were good for their age, but that doesn't mean they were perfect or things haven't changed.

Obviously I'm going to worry about it in the meantime, but will get some other dry tomorrow and see if she eats that. I have the car on Friday, so can take her then if needs be.

[meriad]

As long as she's eating the wet food then she's obviously getting the food she needs, but it may be an idea to get her to the vet on Friday anyway. They usually do recommend taking older cats every 6 months for a general once over so that would sort of tie in anyway with February

[Mrs Mac]

Very likely a dental issue. I had a similar problem with my Rosie, she usually eats wet with a bowl of dry available to snack on during the day which got noticeably ignored. She had bad teeth when we took her from her previous owner so in the end it was just a matter of removing build-up and extracting two of her teeth and now she's fine again.

Having said that, she was fussy about her dry food brand until we discovered Iams Senior chicken flavour. That's a hit. Hope your girl is better soon!