How To Stimulate A Cat's Appetite

Cats are known to be picky eaters. Sometimes this is just a matter of preference, and sometimes it is a matter of illness or old age. Whatever the reason, sometimes the appetite just needs a jump-start. Here are a few ideas for foods that will stimulate or kitty's appetite and help him start eating again.

Try Jack Mackerel. This is an incredibly fishy fish that comes in a can. You can find it in the canned meat section at your grocery store, usually on the top shelf. It costs about $1.50 a can. (When you buy your fish, be sure to buy some zip-lock sandwich bags. I'll tell you why later.) When you get it home and open it up, you will see that it contains 3 or 4 cooked fish with heads and tails cut off packed in a yummy, fishy juice! About half of one of these fish makes a good meal for a cat. Add a little of that tasty juice, and you've got a feast!

Make a week's worth of tasty cat meals!

Of course, if you only have one cat, you may be wondering what to do with the rest of the fish! That's easy. Get out your zip-lock sandwich bags. Cut the remaining fish in half. (It's easy, they just fall apart.) Put half a fish into a sandwich bag and add a bit of the fishy juice. Repeat until all the fish and juice are evenly distributed among six to eight sandwich bags. Put these in your freezer. Now you have a week's worth of food for your cat for under $2.00. Just remember to take a bag out every day to thaw. You don't want to put this in your microwave and heat it up, or you will have an incredibly fishy smelling house!

Another way to tempt cats who are off their feed is with creamed soups. This is especially good with older cats and cats who are ill. Favorite flavors seem to be Cream of Chicken and White Clam Chowder. Mix the can of soup up with 1/2 can of skim milk or prepared powdered milk. Be sure not to use any other kind of milk because the fat in milk tends to cause diarrhea in cats. Warm the soup very slightly. It should be lukewarm. Preparing the soup this way should make two or three meals for your cat, depending on how big he is.

You could use salt free chicken or beef bullion to reconstitute the soup. You can also use these alone to get a little nourishment into your cat and be sure he stays hydrated. Of course, keep a bowl of fresh water available at all times.

Your cat will surely love Jack Mackerel, and he will probably adore creamed soups and bullion. However, remember that these are not complete foods. Be sure your cat always has a bowl of dry food available. Introduce canned food every few days to see if your cat is ready to eat it again. You can't force your cat to eat his cat food, but at least have it there for him in case he wants it.

Copyright:SB:April 2, 2009