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Why are some cats fussy eaters, and what can we do about it? How to turn your fussy feline into a lean, mean eating machine!

Cats learn to be fussy eaters. In the wild, no cat could ever afford to be a fussy eater for long. It is safe to assume that if your cat is a fussy eater, it is because you have somehow trained your cat to be this way. The good news is that this means you can also train your cat NOT to be a fussy eater!

First, choose a good quality food or a small range of healthy foods. Some pet owners are discovering the benefits of raw feeding biologically appropriate foods but this is a topic for another article. Try to choose a food that has meat as it's main ingredient. If cereal tops the ingredient list, keep looking.

Then decide on a schedule of feeding. I prefer to feed my cats twice a day, but once a day is enough. Choose either once a day or twice a day and stick to your plan.

Figure out an appropriate amount of food. The label on the can or packet will make a suggestion. If you decide to feed twice a day, halve the amount so that the total food for the day is the recommended amount.

Monitor your cat's weight. Most vets will provide this service for free, just take your cat in a carrier once per month. Over time you will figure out the appropriate amount of food for your cat.

Here is the big secret: put the correct amount of food down and give your cat no more than 10 minutes to eat it. Go off and fix your hair and clean your teeth or something. When you return, if your cat isn't eating and there is still food in the bowl take it away. Don't ever leave food lying around for your cat to eat at his or her leisure.

If your cat is not used to eating a meal in one sitting, chances are you are going to get some protests. Make a rule to ignore the protests and not give in! You may love your cat, but don't love it to death. Free-feeding is the fastest way to obesity and disease in cats as they did not evolve as "grazers".

If you are feeding a new food your cat may not like it. It is up to you to determine whether this new food has any benefits to your cat's health that could not be met with other, more preferred foods. If you think it does, then just keep following this rule with the new food.

Just be aware that some overweight, sick or elderly cats should not be left without food for more than 24 hours. You may need to mix some of the old food in with the new food and transition gently.

Remember to always have clean, fresh drinking water available for your pet. If you have any concerns at all about your pet's health, please consult your veterinarian before implementing these changes.

# posted by Medical Information : 2:15 AM