Cat Refuses To Eat Anything But Treats.

Wreek · Nov 13, 2018

PushPurrCatPaws said:
The first thing you have to do is train your boyfriend to not give any more treats!

Seriously, though, I wanted to ask - how old is your kitty? When was her last check-up at a vet's office? It's possible that something more is going on than just not liking a certain type of food... maybe you could take her in for a "well-check" visit with your vet and get some general tests done. It's good to tell the vet, too, how long she may have been having issues with eating particular types of foods -- or even with eating just any type of food! Do you think you have noticed any other types of behaviors or actions that might be worrying you, along with the finicky-about-food issue?

It's treat addiction. This started after he gave them to her. She usually cleans a plate of food every few days but after the treats, she barely nibbles. Ugh

She's been extremely finicky since she was a kitten. I figured it was just her taste or personality and went with it. Maybe not a good idea. I dunno.

Wreek · Nov 13, 2018

jen said:
They may be complete and balanced to meet a cats needs based on feeding 15 treats per 10lbs of body weight per day... However, their own website says they always recommend to offer them as treats in addition to a regular balanced cat food, not alone.

Like any dry food, that is way too many carbs for a meat eater and like with a dry only diet, you risk things like obesity, diabetes, kidney issues, etc as they age.

3 months on Temptations is one thing, how about years and years? I would love to see bloodwork and organ function then, particularly blood glucose levels.

I forgot to mention she is a water hog, drinking almost a quart or more a day. I am loathe to feed her treats as food.

tarasgirl06 · Nov 13, 2018

Wreek said:
I called my vet shortly after I posted here. Mobile vet coming Thursday.

She's Tiger, 7 years old. I've had her since she was a tiny kitten. She's always been a grazer and a very finicky eater. When I had other cats, they ate anything. Not her! Lol! I moved out of state and the other cats stayed with my best friend of decades. Broke my heart but they have a good home and I still talk to them on the phone. Lol

She won't touch table food, milk, catnip, meat. Barely eats a nibble of cheese. I've tried for years to vary her diet but gave up. Tried to switch her to wet and that failed miserably.

I noticed the weight loss yesterday which is what made me panic. She's been refusing her food for days, barely nibbling. Last night and today, she hasn't touched her food.

She's very active, still thinks she kitten but ultimately that can mean nothing as cats don't show illness. Called the vet just in case. And for the weight loss.

Thus far, no luck. So treats for food it is.

*GOOD ON YOU* for arranging a vet visit. May it be helpful for Tiger and for you!!! *Prayers* :vibes:

lisahe · Nov 13, 2018

Wreek said:
I forgot to mention she is a water hog, drinking almost a quart or more a day. I am loathe to feed her treats as food.

That's a lot of water for a cat -- definitely something the vet should know about. And even though the water consumption can be a sign of illness, like diabetes, as

jen mentioned, it's still better to keep feeding her treats -- anything! -- until the vet can come.

I'm so glad you set up the vet visit, that's a very good thing, particularly since it's a house call. Fingers crossed that the vet can give you some good advice! At Tiger's age, a blood (test) panel is a good idea no matter what -- so many of the conditions they test for are very treatable -- so it's good to get that done.

Wreek · Nov 13, 2018

Kefa said:
I don't think his mother told him about that. If he won't touch fish, tuna, salmon, chicken, turkey, duck, pork, ham, beef, liver, bacon, or any other meat, raw or cooked, I have serious doubts he would eat a mouse, live or frozen. He mostly just grooms his real fur toy mice. He thinks small felt things with bubble wrap inside are to be killed.

Ha. My girl loves string. And little wadded up paper balls. Lol

Wreek · Nov 13, 2018

lisahe said:
That's a lot of water for a cat -- definitely something the vet should know about. And even though the water consumption can be a sign of illness, like diabetes, as jen mentioned, it's still better to keep feeding her treats -- anything! -- until the vet can come.

I'm so glad you set up the vet visit, that's a very good thing, particularly since it's a house call. Fingers crossed that the vet can give you some good advice! At Tiger's age, a blood (test) panel is a good idea no matter what -- so many of the conditions they test for are very treatable -- so it's good to get that done.

She's always drank that much. I'm probably wsy overestimating but I need to refill her bowl daily.

Wreek · Nov 13, 2018

I hit reply too fast... she's always drank more water than ate solid food. I always thought it was just her preference. ??

Wreek · Nov 13, 2018

tarasgirl06 said:
*GOOD ON YOU* for arranging a vet visit. May it be helpful for Tiger and for you!!! *Prayers*

Yes! They know her well. They always say, oh.. the super sweet, super attached to mommy kitty is here!

LTS3 · Nov 13, 2018

Kefa said:
If they are Temptations then they have complete cat nutrition and they can live on those.

Temptations are only a complete diet if 1/4 cup is fed instead of the suggested Whiskas cat food:

I wouldn't feed Temptations or other treats exclusively.

Try crushing up a few and sprinkle over the regular dry food. Try healthier treats instead of the ones your cat is addicted to (what are they anyways?).

Treats are ok in moderation but not a necessary part of a cat's diet.

What is your cat's urine output like on that much water? A huge amount of urine would indicate something like diabetes or hyperthyroid.

Wreek · Nov 13, 2018

My BF is better with numbers....estimates she drinks 5 to 8 ozs of water a day.

Wreek · Nov 13, 2018

We usually give temptations treats but he decided to try friskies which was a BOGO for two big jugs. Big mistake. Ugg

Wreek · Nov 13, 2018

Good news though! She's chowing on the kitten chow! Better than freaking treats. As her usual, she only licked the wet food. Lololol

Wreek · Nov 13, 2018

She's so funny about her water. When we pick it up to clean or refill, she follows and circles us until we put it back. She'll even grab at it as we try to pick it up, lol. As soon as we start to lower it back down to her, she grabs at it with her paws. She's done this for years. Lololol

jen · Nov 14, 2018

Yeah I would definitely have her bloodwork checked out. Her need for water is a little odd.

Wreek · Nov 14, 2018

I always thought she drank a lot because of the dry food. But she's been a water hog since she was a kitten.

Kefa · Nov 14, 2018

Homer has always drank a lot of water too. I give him purified bottled water. He drinks about the same as yours, 1 1/2 to 2 cups a day. He has a big drink before he goes to bed, after his bath, and a big drink after cat breakfast.

The feral cats I started feeding about three weeks ago drink a lot of water too.

When I looked through the treats, none said Complete and Balanced except for Tempations. Now according to the AAFCO, they can't put Complete and Balanced on pet food in the US unless it meets their standards, which were just revised as of 2016. I think that guideline is about calorie replacement, not nutrition. Anyway, he is fine, and he pees 3 times a day and takes 1 dump, which is usually quite perfect. He sleeps 8 hours, plays for 6, has a nap, and then plays some more.

I figure between the Purina Naturals and the Temptations and the fresh grass, he is doing okay : )

One of these days he might eat wet food. Maybe.

Kefa · Nov 14, 2018

Let us know how the vet visit goes !! I am curious since my boy and your girl seem to share the same opinions about food and water. In fact, I had to use Purina Kitten Chow first to get him to eat Purina Naturals.

She isn't Siamese is she?

maggiedemi · Nov 15, 2018

Temptations treats made Demi really sick. I threw away so much food, thinking that the food was causing the vomiting and weight loss. I had seen that warning about Temptations, but I didn't believe it until somebody I trust on here posted about it. I'm so sad that I made him sick. Just be careful, okay? I don't want anybody else to go through what we did.

Wreek · Nov 15, 2018

Kefa said:
Homer has always drank a lot of water too. I give him purified bottled water. He drinks about the same as yours, 1 1/2 to 2 cups a day. He has a big drink before he goes to bed, after his bath, and a big drink after cat breakfast.

The feral cats I started feeding about three weeks ago drink a lot of water too.

When I looked through the treats, none said Complete and Balanced except for Tempations. Now according to the AAFCO, they can't put Complete and Balanced on pet food in the US unless it meets their standards, which were just revised as of 2016. I think that guideline is about calorie replacement, not nutrition. Anyway, he is fine, and he pees 3 times a day and takes 1 dump, which is usually quite perfect. He sleeps 8 hours, plays for 6, has a nap, and then plays some more.

I figure between the Purina Naturals and the Temptations and the fresh grass, he is doing okay : )

One of these days he might eat wet food. Maybe.

The trears that caused this mess was Friskies but we usually gave her Temptations. Even brought her a bunch of different flavors back from Hungary in Eueope last year. They called them Dreamies, lol. We've tossed the Friskies and she's eating the Temptations and kitten chow. Once we get her back on a regular diet, I swear I'm never giving her treats again. Lol

She's trying to chew on my phone right now. Dunno why but it's one of her favorite games, lol

Vet on their way thus afternoon.

Wreek · Nov 15, 2018

Kefa said:
Let us know how the vet visit goes !! I am curious since my boy and your girl seem to share the same opinions about food and water. In fact, I had to use Purina Kitten Chow first to get him to eat Purina Naturals.

She isn't Siamese is she?

My baby is a medium/ long hair tabby mackerel. She gets lighter colored in the summer.

Right now, she loves her Meow Mix. Had it for years. Will use this opportunity to transition her to a higher quality food. She still hates wet food. She's soooo finicky and resistant to food changes.

Cat Refuses To Eat Anything But Treats.

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