Expert QA

My cat will not eat any kind of canned cat food. He is almost 4 years old. How can I get him to eat wet food?

From the Editors of The Daily Cat

Cats are creatures of habit, so your cat most likely is used to the dry food it has been fed over the years. It’s also true that cats prefer certain tastes and textures to others. The crunch of dry food might be particularly appealing to your pet.

If you are feeding your cat a high-quality dry food appropriate for his age and condition, then you needn’t worry about transitioning to a wet food. But it is a good idea to let him get used to a wet diet in case he needs to eat such foods at a later point because of a health issue or other reason.

Ohio-based veterinarian Amy Dicke advises the following when trying to get your cat’s approval of wet food:

• Be patient and don’t rush your cat’s acceptance.
• Begin by offering a small sample of the can food in the morning and evening.
• Cats prefer their food at “body temperature,” but do not warm the food more than once or twice, as this will promote bacterial growth.
• Crush some dry food and sprinkle it on the top of the can food or pour a small amount of the water from a can of human tuna over the top of the food.
• Gradually reduce the quantity of kibble left out for the day.

Be sure to keep your cat’s overall food intake the same, following manufacturer guidelines; you don’t want to overfeed or underfeed your cat during this introduction phase.