The real reason your cat is so picky about food is because it’s a survival instinct. Also, cats get picky about wet food because they are addicted to dry food.

“My cat is so picky” is the number 1 comment, email, DM, etc. that I get from cat parents all around the world.

So good news, you’re not alone!

And also, we can fix this. I’ve helped hundreds of cat parents switch their picky cats from dry to healthy wet and raw diets.

You don’t have to deal with a fussy cat forever!

You just need to understand the real reason cats are picky eaters and work with your cat as he starts to trust his new food.

cat eating homemade raw food
Gracie used to beg for kibble and now loves raw!

PS – If you’re ready to ditch high carb kibble for a species-appropriate raw diet, my Switch to Raw Blueprint digital magazine is for you!

My Switch to Raw Blueprint digital magazine includes my proven food transition plan, healthy treats & topper recommendations to enhance meals, best cat food brands I feed and recommend as a pet nutritionist, and so much more so you can switch your cat to a healthy premade raw diet easily and confidently.

ash eating viva raw cat food jess caticles

Are cats normally picky eaters?

Cats are normally cautious (not picky!) eaters because this is a survival instinct. They are cautious of new food because they’ve never seen it, smelled it, or eaten it before.

Feral cats don’t take chances on new food because it could mean their survival. All cats have these survival instincts. Even if they’ve never been outside.

Picky eating is actually related to behavior which is a good thing! That means we don’t have to suffer the stress of dealing with a fussy eater forever. We just need a little patience to work with our cats.

jericho grabbing and pulling minnow treat

Why is my cat so picky when it comes to food?

Cats are also picky when it comes to food because dry food is addicting.

Dry food is very high in carbohydrates which break down into sugar. This leaves our cats hungrier and hungrier and encourages overeating.

I used to have a huge addiction to food. Even when I gave up sweets! My new binge became bread and pistachios. What’s the common theme? High carbohydrates.

Also, cat food companies know that cats are not carb eaters in the wild. So they have to add flavor enhancer palatants to dry food.

These palatants make the food more enticing so that your cat eats enough of it for it to be nutritious.

AFB International is a company that makes these flavor enhancer palatants. Popular Science published an article about their company, and the author states:

“To meet nutritional requirements, pet food manufacturers blend animal fats and meals with soy and wheat grains and vitamins and minerals. This yields a cheap, nutritious pellet that no one wants to eat. Cats and dogs are not grain eaters by choice, Moeller is saying. “So our task is to find ways to entice them to eat enough for it to be nutritionally sufficient.””

“Pyrophosphates (palatants) have been described to me as “cat crack.” Coat some kibble with it, and the pet food manufacturer can make up for a whole host of gustatory shortcomings.”

Cat food companies know that the food they produce is cheap and no one wants to eat it. So they have to add addicting “cat crack” enhancers on top so that cats actually eat it.

This is the real reason your cat is so picky about eating healthy food.

How do I stop my cat from being a picky eater?

You can stop your cat from being a picky eater by switching to a healthier food and offering more variety.

A high protein low carb wet food or (ideally) a balanced raw diet is more appropriate than feeding dry food only to our carnivore cats.

Here’s how to switch to healthy food without dealing with a picky cat:

  • Feed your cat portioned meals at scheduled mealtimes
  • Use food puzzle toys to provide mental stimulation
  • Play with your cat before mealtime to encourage natural hunting instincts
  • Replace unhealthy crunchy treats with healthy freeze-dried treats
  • Use fresh food toppers to get your cat used to eating healthy food with meals
  • Gradually reduce the amount of unhealthy dry food you feed and gradually increase healthy food

This is a very basic overview of what I teach inside my Switch to Raw Blueprint digital magazine.

Inside, you’ll get my full proven transition plan to switch from processed food to a healthy raw diet easily and confidently. Plus my top picks that I feed and recommend as a pet nutritionist, printable planners and trackers to keep you organized, and a Google sheet that does all the math for you so you know exactly how much to feed every step of the way. Purrfect for you if you’re sick of wasting time trying to figure it out on your own and want a clear and concise shortcut!

cat eating homemade raw cat food

What can I feed my extremely picky cat?

You should feed your cat a high moisture, high protein, low carb diet. All cats are carnivores, and this matches their natural diet the most.

Additionally, cats need variety. Feral cats eat 5-7 proteins to complete their diet.

So you may find that your cat is no longer extremely picky when you feed a variety of fresh and healthy foods.

Check out my best cat food brands guide for my top suggestions. I update this guide every year.

quest cat food frozen raw nuggets jess caticles

What if my cat is still picky about food?

It could be that the smell of the food is off. The cat’s nose is 40x stronger than ours. And cats are very keen on the freshness of food.

Toss any food that may be off. Trust your cat’s instincts.

If you know the food is fresh, and your cat is still picky, healthy freeze-dried treats make great smell attractant toppers.

And you don’t have to feel guilty about using them as toppers since they are healthy.

Jericho’s favorite toppers are duck liver, salmon, blue mussels, and sardine juice (in water, no salt added).

Ready to switch to raw for a happier cat?

Grab my Switch to Raw Blueprint digital magazine and get the same plan that 564+ cat parents used to switch to a healthy premade raw diet easily and confidently.