Just started using Fancy Feast Gravy Lovers Salmon Feast in Gravy for my picky eater

three4rd

TCS Member
Thread starter
Alpha Cat
Joined
Jun 9, 2009
Messages
349
Purraise
142
Location
PA
I've been using Fancy Feast Classic Pate, which she used to eat, then didn't like it, then recently ate it again, and now again lets it sit. I should qualify all this by saying that I do use Mirtaz, usually once a month. It surely works, but I'd rather find a food that she really enjoys eating rather than feeling like I'm forcing her to eat something that she'd otherwise rather not. So right now I picked up a few cans of this "gourmet" gravy lovers, and so far she really goes for it. Marzi is a senior girl - probably 14 or so. I'm not crazy about the idea of sticking to a food in gravy, but it makes sense that she eats it being that when I always opened a new can of Friskies pate (which she ate for many years and still has up until recently), she really likes the first serving cause there's all that gravy-like liquid at the bottom of the can. Once it's refrigerated and starts to get dry, she doesn't care for it so generally I wind up adding just a small bit of warm water to soften it up. So should I use this gravy stuff temporarily until I find something different? The texture seems to appeal to her - at least for now. For awhile she was really into Tiki chicken (flaked) but that got old fairly quick. I've experimented with a few other brands that I can't think of at the moment.

She is also gradually losing a bit of weight, but at her recent check-up all looks ok. Doc did mention that as they get older there can be loss of muscle mass. She's been holding around 10 lbs + a few ounces but was as high as 11 lbs about a year ago. It fluctuates and I monitor her weight fairly regularly.
 

shebaa

Queen of Sheba
Alpha Cat
Joined
Aug 16, 2014
Messages
508
Purraise
370
Location
Arizona
Do you rotate flavors? If I was eating the same thing I would get bored of it too. You can try adding some toppers to make the food more appealing
 
  • Thread Starter Thread Starter
  • #3

three4rd

TCS Member
Thread starter
Alpha Cat
Joined
Jun 9, 2009
Messages
349
Purraise
142
Location
PA
Do you rotate flavors? I
Typically haven't over the years except for the last year or so. She ate the same food - both wet and dry - for probably 12 years until starting to get fussier, so I think that your suggestion is a good one.
 

mrsgreenjeens

Every Life Should Have Nine Cats
Staff Member
Advisor
Joined
Aug 13, 2009
Messages
16,774
Purraise
7,918
Location
Arizona
I'm wondering why the food gets dry in the fridge. Do you cover it up tightly? That should keep it the same texture as before it goes in, but using warm water is also good, even if it's not dry. I try to take leftover cat food out of the fridge about an hour before meal time to let it get to room temp, and then I add a little warm water to it just to make sure my cats are plenty hydrated

And I agree just to feed whatever she will eat. As they age, they do seem to get a little pickier. At least all of mine have done this. I try to give them a variety AND use toppers
 
  • Thread Starter Thread Starter
  • #6

three4rd

TCS Member
Thread starter
Alpha Cat
Joined
Jun 9, 2009
Messages
349
Purraise
142
Location
PA
Thanks for the helpful and encouraging replies! I'm starting to think that the "right" food is the one they will eat!
 
  • Thread Starter Thread Starter
  • #7

three4rd

TCS Member
Thread starter
Alpha Cat
Joined
Jun 9, 2009
Messages
349
Purraise
142
Location
PA
I don't understand something. Marzi was just in the kennel for about a week. They went through ALL the cans I sent along - which should have been way more than needed, and claimed she ate well. So she gets back home yesterday and is eating very poorly. Why? It also seems that I now have to use mirtaz almost once a week rather than once a month. I have no idea why the stuff seemed to last for weeks over the last nearly year or so, but sure doesn't seem the case anymore. As far as the gravy food, I see what some people are saying about slurping up the gravy and letting all the meat. I have no idea what to give her anymore. It has become a real struggle.
 

misty8723

TCS Member
Top Cat
Joined
Jan 16, 2006
Messages
7,908
Purraise
8,592
Location
North Carolina
When I first adopted Cricket (an extremely picky eater when it comes to wet food), I think I went though every brand and flavor out there until I finally happened on Weruva Cats in the Kitchen Chick Magnet. It is in gravy but it's kind of more chunks than shreded. She eats all of the pouch I give her at night, but I have to leave it down a while because she grazes.
 
  • Thread Starter Thread Starter
  • #9

three4rd

TCS Member
Thread starter
Alpha Cat
Joined
Jun 9, 2009
Messages
349
Purraise
142
Location
PA
I'm going to make a vet appt just to hopefully rule out anything else going on, especially since - seemingly anyway - having to use the mirtaz far more often is a big change. A work in progress as to rotating foods and experimenting. Right now she's getting 3 different canned foods at the same time. Smorgasbord. 😁
 

Maggsy

TCS Member
Alpha Cat
Joined
Aug 24, 2024
Messages
380
Purraise
240
Location
Australia
I have several brands of pate in rotation as well as a daily 'treat' of 25gr of air fried chicken breast which I smear with a little multi vitamin paste (with added taurine), she loves it and it's good for her, she seems to prefer pates and would just lick the jelly/juice of other types of food and leave the meaty morsels on the plate ...
I've not had to use mirtazapine since she had a dose two weeks ago and I'm hoping this continues
hope all is well with Marzi
 

Margot Lane

Kitten at heart, not a Top Cat
Top Cat
Joined
Oct 24, 2021
Messages
5,094
Purraise
10,768
I am glad you’re getting a vet checkup, but there does come a point with seniors where smorgasbord -or at least a rotation- seems to be the way to go. Heck, they’ve earned it and we love them, even if it’s the gravy kind. (I found with that salmon one though it can get pret-ty stinky!). Have you tried quail or rabbit? Or Mouser cat food?
 

maggie101

3 cats
Top Cat
Joined
Apr 20, 2014
Messages
8,445
Purraise
11,281
Location
Houston,TX
I've been using Fancy Feast Classic Pate, which she used to eat, then didn't like it, then recently ate it again, and now again lets it sit. I should qualify all this by saying that I do use Mirtaz, usually once a month. It surely works, but I'd rather find a food that she really enjoys eating rather than feeling like I'm forcing her to eat something that she'd otherwise rather not. So right now I picked up a few cans of this "gourmet" gravy lovers, and so far she really goes for it. Marzi is a senior girl - probably 14 or so. I'm not crazy about the idea of sticking to a food in gravy, but it makes sense that she eats it being that when I always opened a new can of Friskies pate (which she ate for many years and still has up until recently), she really likes the first serving cause there's all that gravy-like liquid at the bottom of the can. Once it's refrigerated and starts to get dry, she doesn't care for it so generally I wind up adding just a small bit of warm water to soften it up. So should I use this gravy stuff temporarily until I find something different? The texture seems to appeal to her - at least for now. For awhile she was really into Tiki chicken (flaked) but that got old fairly quick. I've experimented with a few other brands that I can't think of at the moment.

She is also gradually losing a bit of weight, but at her recent check-up all looks ok. Doc did mention that as they get older there can be loss of muscle mass. She's been holding around 10 lbs + a few ounces but was as high as 11 lbs about a year ago. It fluctuates and I monitor her weight fairly regularly.
My senior Maggie will only eat weruva,high protein,low carb,not the greatest ingredients but my cats love the shredded meat. My senior Peaches like ff classics tutkey&giblets,wellness core complete,sheba roasted turkey,and nulo. Luckily Coco likes rabbit which no one else does
 
  • Thread Starter Thread Starter
  • #13

three4rd

TCS Member
Thread starter
Alpha Cat
Joined
Jun 9, 2009
Messages
349
Purraise
142
Location
PA
I am glad you’re getting a vet checkup, but there does come a point with seniors where smorgasbord -or at least a rotation- seems to be the way to go. Heck, they’ve earned it and we love them, even if it’s the gravy kind. (I found with that salmon one though it can get pret-ty stinky!). Have you tried quail or rabbit? Or Mouser cat food?
Have not tried quail or rabbit!! We're hanging in there. Weight does seem to gradually continue to drop of late though fluctuates by a few ounces. Right now she's at 10 lbs. Around last year this time she was 11 lbs., but then going back farther I see on the Vet invoices that she was 10.5 in April '23 and as high as 12 lbs. back in '17, but then only 10.2 lbs in '16. The vet would like to see her stay between 10 and 11. Still awaiting results from the recent blood tests.
 
  • Thread Starter Thread Starter
  • #14

three4rd

TCS Member
Thread starter
Alpha Cat
Joined
Jun 9, 2009
Messages
349
Purraise
142
Location
PA
Still no word back on the blood tests. I'm on pins and needles till they call. Dreading (but surely hoping against) a hyperthyroid result. I don't know if I could go through all that again. The vet doubted that she's hyperthyroid just from the exam, and felt that Marzi looked quite good. Hopefully will know by today yet.
 
  • Thread Starter Thread Starter
  • #15

three4rd

TCS Member
Thread starter
Alpha Cat
Joined
Jun 9, 2009
Messages
349
Purraise
142
Location
PA
Blood tests came back all good. No thyroid or kidney issues, but the eating problem continues. This pickiness / fussiness is really starting to work on me. It has become so stressful worrying about her not eating and then continuing to drop weight. Seems like I find one flavor of food she likes and all is good for a few weeks at most. And this is the same cat that ate the SAME FOOD for 12 years with no problem. It can be a real struggle, and is a constant worry. I wind up throwing away enough canned food to probably feed 5 cats. As I mentioned in another thread, MY health is starting to become affected by this stress of trying to find something she'll eat consistently. Even physical therapy is not helping me and I feel frazzled a good part of the time wracking my brain trying to figure out what will work with this cat. My therapist can't believe how much tension I have in my back, etc. I'm taking a maximum number of daily muscle relaxants. Surely I have no proof to attribute most of this to the cat issues, but I'm betting it's a big part of it, since it's never far from my mind. Has anyone else had THIS much anxiety over feeding a pet?!?!
 
Last edited:

FriendofFerals

Cat Mommy
Adult Cat
Joined
Apr 29, 2018
Messages
243
Purraise
440
Location
Florida
Try Weruva OMG Gravy. It's like liquid in the can. You stir it up (or shake it before opening) and it smells like tomato soup with chunks of meat in it. My 15 yr old cat that leaves pate there all day and won't eat shreds or chunks of anything (former diabetic craving dry food) will inhale this stuff all day. Be careful opening the can because it's literally liquid but so far two super picky eaters go for it.

Low carb, low phos, no irritating additives.

Amazon.com
 

CatMom1955

TCS Member
Kitten
Joined
Oct 21, 2024
Messages
9
Purraise
7
We have a four year-old male on Fluoxetine for spraying. He’s big and muscular, but a sweetheart.

i struggle every morning trying to get his Fluoxetine in him, After disasters with trying to pill him, my vet recommended chicken-flavored crushable tablets. I mix a crushed pill into his food each morning, and he takes a few licks and walks away. If I immediately give him the same food without the Fluoxetine, he eats it all!

I’ve spent a fortune on different toppings, gravies, foods, looking for the “magic” solution. Cheap food, expensive food, raw food, etc. My vet‘s advice was…”Let him get good and hungry. He’ll eat it.”

I’m going to start putting the pill in his evening meal and see how that goes.

Can anyone recommend a food that would mask the pill‘s chicken flavor? It’s not a”bitterness” issue, as this formula uses “bitter-block” technology.
 

FriendofFerals

Cat Mommy
Adult Cat
Joined
Apr 29, 2018
Messages
243
Purraise
440
Location
Florida
We have a four year-old male on Fluoxetine for spraying. He’s big and muscular, but a sweetheart.

i struggle every morning trying to get his Fluoxetine in him, After disasters with trying to pill him, my vet recommended chicken-flavored crushable tablets. I mix a crushed pill into his food each morning, and he takes a few licks and walks away. If I immediately give him the same food without the Fluoxetine, he eats it all!

I’ve spent a fortune on different toppings, gravies, foods, looking for the “magic” solution. Cheap food, expensive food, raw food, etc. My vet‘s advice was…”Let him get good and hungry. He’ll eat it.”

I’m going to start putting the pill in his evening meal and see how that goes.

Can anyone recommend a food that would mask the pill‘s chicken flavor? It’s not a”bitterness” issue, as this formula uses “bitter-block” technology.
I have one that won't touch any food that a pill is in. He was better with this on Fluoxitine and then we switched to Amitriptaline and it must be incredibly bitter tasting...

It was a LONG trial and error process but what works is, open the food can in front of them and put it in the bowl so they can see you haven't messed with it. Let them eat for a minute or so. Load pills into a popper, sneak up from behind and say "Excuse me sir, a moment of your time..." make them sit, fingers in the side of the mouth, popper to the back of the throat and shoot...then close their mouth and rub their throat to make them swallow. By interrupting an enticing meal, they return to eating and are less likely to puke up the pills. Mine will vomit pills and even crushed pills in chicken broth. Forget mixing with food, They KNOW and won't touch it. I had one go on a hunger strike thinking I tainted all of the food. That led to opening the can in front of them and letting them see me scoop it

Is there a degree in Cat Psychology? Because I think I could definitely qualify.
 
Top