Choosing the right type of food for your cat is vital for health and wellbeing, which is why we’ve found the best cat food for fussy cats in the UK. After all, not all cats are keen eaters. Every cat has their favourite food – but their pickiness may mean you’ll face a few rejections before you settle. Below is the ultimate guide to cat food, primed and nutritious for the fussiest of felines.
Perhaps, you’re thinking: why is my cat not eating? Well, it could be down to several factors says Pooch & Mutt’s resident veterinarian, Dr Linda Simon, of food refusal. “It can be a sign of a medical issue, such as dental disease or nausea," and she suggests taking your cat to the vet if it starts to vomit, has loose stools or is lethargic. However, if your cat seems pretty normal, Dr Simon mentions another – not so drastic – explanation for their new-found habit, “Consider if a neighbour may be feeding them.”
As you’d expect, cats enjoy fish-flavoured food. However, they do not all live up to the stereotype. Like us, every individual will have their favourites. Dr Simon says, “Owners should not get stuck in the cycle of offering new food each time their cat turns their nose up at what is offered.” Remember to introduce any new food into their cat bowl gradually and in an ideal world, the cat “will eventually eat it and will understand that this is the only option."
Best cat food for fussy cats in the UK at a glance:
• Best wet cat food for fussy kittens: Pro Plan, Nutrisavour Wet Kitten Food Turkey - 10x85g Pouches - View at Pets At Home
• Best dry cat food for fussy cats: Royal Canin, Feline Health Aroma Exigent Dry Adult Cat Food - 2kg - View at Pets At Home
• Best wet cat food for fussy seniors: Lily's Kitchen, Chicken + Fish Tasty Cuts in Gravy for Mature Cats - 24 x 85g - View at Lily's Kitchen
Fussy eating can be a challenging behaviour, but with perseverance and an understanding of why they’re being fussy, you can stop it from becoming a habit. When you've found it, you can always spoil them with a subscription box. In this guide, we've rounded up all the best cat food for fussy cats – from wet to dry and cat food for sensitive stomachs.
Best cat food for fussy cats UK
Best wet cat food for fussy kittens
www.petsathome.com
Pro Plan, Nutrisavour Wet Kitten Food Turkey - 10x85g Pouches come with tender turkey chunks in gravy has the ideal balance of nutrition and taste for your kitten. It not only provides high-quality immunity but also helps support kidney health. The food also contains DHA from fish oil for healthy brain and eye development and balanced minerals for strong bones and teeth. Judging by the reviews, it's been a winning food for a fussy kitten.
Customer Review: "I have tried several different foods before trying Pro Plan, and this one is the first one he continues to eat most of the food without changing his mind. Meat looks softer and has more moisture than others. The smell actually much less than others. Before this, I needed to waste quite a lot of food - so, now I am happy I found one he likes to eat! It cost a little more than others but I do not need to waste food so it is OK."
Pros
- Supports immunity in kittens
- Fish oil for healthy development
- Balanced minerals for strong bones
Cons
- Limited on flavours
| Ingredients: | Meat and animal derivatives (turkey), vegetable protein extracts, fish and fish derivatives, oils and fats, minerals, derivatives of vegetable origin, various sugars |
| Suitability: | Six weeks and over |
| Preparation: | Wet |
Best dry cat food for fussy kittens
Perfect Fit, Dry Cat Food Junior – 7kg has been developed with the guidance of vets from the Waltham Centre for Pet Nutrition. It's a premium product at a higher price point than other kitten kibble on the market. But it is also higher in quality protein with 16 per cent poultry as its main ingredient. It seems to be a win for many kittens.
Customer Review: "My cats usually have food from the vet and are incredibly picky with what they eat. I ran out of vet food and tried this, and they loved it, clean bowls every time. Also, they lost weight whilst eating this much needed because they are podgy pusses, and it did wonders for their teeth too. My pair are indoor cats."
Pros
- High-quality ingredients that cats will go crazy for
- Specially formulated to help with healthy growth
- Unique formula to tackle common health needs
Cons
- Only available in 7kg
| Ingredients: | Dried poultry protein, wheat, greave protein, oils and fats, maize flour, soya protein, soya meal, liver digest, minerals, dried cereal protein, cellulose, dried kelp. |
| Suitability: | Up to the age of one |
| Preparation: | Dry |
Best dry cat food for fussy cats
www.petsathome.com
Royal Canin, Feline Health Aroma Exigent Dry Adult Cat Food - 2kg is designed for cats with fussy appetites who might refuse to eat the food you give them. However, this behaviour is not an inherent trait in cats and can be rectified. Some cats that exhibit signs of fussiness are attracted by different aromas. So, Aroma Exigent contains a fish-based aromatic profile and is specifically formulated to stimulate the natural preference of fussy cats.
Customer Review: "My cat is such a fussy eater, so I have problems trying to find a food that he will eat and I have even more of a problem trying to get him to eat it more than a couple of times! I spend so much time looking for different foods to try that when I saw this food, formulated to appeal to fussy cats, I decided to try it. I didn't really have much faith that it would last any longer than the others, but I was absolutely amazed and delighted that he loves it; in fact, he can't seem to get enough of it, so it's a winner for me."
Pros
- Designed for fussy cats in mind
- Fish-based profile to stimulate a cat
- Suitable for indoor and outdoor cats
Cons
- No variation in flavour
| Ingredients: | Maize, dehydrated fish, animal fats, wheat, dehydrated poultry protein, maize gluten, vegetable protein isolate, hydrolysed animal proteins, maize flour, vegetable fibres, minerals, beet pulp, yeasts and parts thereof, soya oil, fish oil, borage oil. |
| Suitability: | Suitable for fussy adult cats from 1-7 years old. |
| Preparation: | Dry |
Best wet cat food for fussy cats
www.petsathome.com
For a wet food option, we recommend this multipack from Royal Canin. The Royal Canin, Feline Health Nutrition Sensory Wet Cat Food in Gravy - 12 x 85g features all three sensorial-stimulative formulas within the Royal Canin Sensory range, providing rich, varied feeding experiences for your cat. Choose between Smell, Taste and Feel. Perfect for fussier cats, this multipack is designed to stimulate and appeal to your cat.
Customer Review: "I have two really fussy cats when it comes to food and they really love it, very happy!"
Pros
- Formulated with unique aroma, flavour and texture
- Multipack provides cats with a variety
- Works well with mixed feeding
Cons
- Not for all cats
| Ingredients: | Meat and animal derivatives, fish and fish derivatives, cereals, vegetable protein extracts, minerals, derivatives of vegetable origin, yeasts, various sugars |
| Suitability: | Suitable for adult cats over 12 months old. |
| Preparation: | Wet |
Best fussy cat food with prebiotics
www.poochandmutt.co.uk
How could we miss out Purr & Miaow? Their delicious complete dry food is packed with natural goodness from Salmon, Herring & Chicken to make your cat purr with delight. Boosted with prebiotics to aid healthy digestion alongside a TotalCare supplement to help your cat thrive, even the fussiest of furries can’t get enough of the meaty taste in this recipe. Not to worry: the Purr + Miaow, Salmon and Herring Dry Cat Food - 1.5kg formula is well-balanced.
Customer Review: "My fussy girl loves them, especially the salmon flavour. The size of the biscuit is good and doesn’t seem to be too hard"
Pros
- Vet recommended
- Antioxidant-rich and prebiotics
- No artificial colours or flavours
Cons
- Only one size is available
| Ingredients: | Dried salmon, dried herring, yellow peas, fresh salmon, chicken fat, pea protein, brewer´s yeast, dried apple pulp, hydrolyzed chicken liver, salmon oil, linseed, glucosamine, chondroitin sulphate, prebiotics MOS, prebiotics FOS, psyllium husk and seeds, yucca mojave, dried cranberry, dried raspberry, dried blueberry, dried rosemary, dried thyme, dried algae |
| Suitability: | Adult Cats |
| Preparation: | Dry |
Best wet cat food for fussy seniors
www.lilyskitchen.co.uk
For mature cats with a taste for the finer things in life, here is nutritionally complete heaven in a tin. The Lily's Kitchen, Chicken + Fish Tasty Cuts in Gravy for Mature Cats - 24 x 85g uses only freshly prepared meat, natural ingredients and no added sugar. Expect no nasties and bowls licked clean with this cat food. It's perfect for fussy senior cats.
Customer Review: "This is my cats favourite. They are quite fussy and like to lick food rather than chew and usually leave chunks of food. But they eat all of this and are so excited when they see the tin. It also comes out of the tin easily and doesn't leave any in the tin."
Pros
- Made with proper meat and fish
- Natural, grain-free ingredients
- Offers complete nutrition
Cons
- No variation in flavour
| Ingredients: | Freshly Prepared Chicken, Salmon, Shrimp, Trout, Pork, Gravy, and Minerals. |
| Suitability: | Made for mature cats 7 years + |
| Preparation: | Wet |
Best dry cat food for fussy seniors
www.petsathome.com
This James Wellbeloved, Dry Senior Cat Food Fish - 1.5kg will be sure to sort out your senior cat who has been going off their food. Hypoallergic - ideal for sensitive cats - this mix only contains natural ingredients, with no common allergens in sight (such as beef, soya, eggs and wheat). It's packed with nutrients to nourish your grumpy old cat who is in their senior years.... from natural prebiotics to Vitamin E to Taurine. It's impressive.
Customer Review: "My two cats have been getting very fussy with their food. They are also seniors now so I have to be careful what they eat as their stomach can be sensitive. Both of them love this, first time for ages bowls have been empty after each feed."
Pros
- Great value dry cat food with nutrients
- Support mature cats' immune system
- Hypoallergenic cat food for pets with sensitivities
Cons
- Strongly scented
| Ingredients: | Fish (meal, oil, stock), brown rice, white rice, maize gluten, olive oil, pea protein, potato protein, tomato pomace, carrot, potassium chloride, chicory pulp, chicory extract, calcium carbonate, sodium chloride, cranberry extract, glucosamine, nettles, yucca extract, rosemary extract, chondroitin, green tea extract, pomegranate extract. |
| Suitability: | Made for mature cats 7 years + |
| Preparation: | Dry |
VERDICT: What is the best food for a fussy cat?
Our two picks for adult cats are:
Feline Health Nutrition Sensory Wet Cat Food in Gravy from Royal Canin. This is certainly the most intriguing of our round-up. Interestingly, it features all three sensorial-stimulative formulas within the Royal Canin Sensory range, providing rich, varied feeding experiences for your cat. Choose between Smell, Taste and Feel. Perfect for fussier cats, this multipack is designed to stimulate and appeal to your cat. This will help you understand your cat's palate.
Next, the second pick has to be the Feline Health Aroma Exigent Dry Adult Cat Food - also from Royal Canin. Another intriguing pick, this mix appeals to your cat's strong sense of smell. So, Aroma Exigent contains a fish-based aromatic profile and is specifically formulated to stimulate the natural preference of fussy cats. This may solve all your issues...
FAQs
Is wet or dry food better for a fussy cat?
It depends on what you want for your furry friend and, of course, whether they'll actually eat it. After all, you’ve been dealing with a fussy cat, and you’re likely used to them turning up their nose at just about anything. When it comes to wet and dry cat food, there are pros and cons to each.
On the one hand, wet cat food is a good choice because it has high water content, keeping your kitty totally hydrated with meaty proteins. Unfortunately, wet food can be a little on the pricey side.
On the other hand, dry cat food is cost-effective and still contains all of the nutrients your cat needs. It also has less of a chance of bacteria forming if you leave the bowl out for long periods.
Pooch & Mutt’s resident veterinarian, Dr Linda Simon confesses that: “Most cats will prefer wet food to dry food. It can be warmed up, to increase the palatability". With this in mind, it could be ideal to use both dry and wet food for an overall healthy diet. If you have a cat aged seven years and over, invest in senior cat food. Expect a little trial and error with your picky eater. Remember: if you’re changing your pet’s diet, introduce the new food gradually.
Piper Huxley is a Homes, Garden and Wellness Product Writer for Take a Break, specialising in pet health. When she’s not barking about dog supplements, she’s online devouring cat content.