Help me find a kibble my dsh will actually eat

Hi everyone. I am struggling to find a kibble that my 5-year-old dsh, Nacho, will actually eat. He is very picky and has rejected three different brands we have tried. I am looking for high-quality options that are palatable for fussy eaters. What specific kibble do you recommend?

Nacho is only five, so if he is healthy, you do not need special diet food. However, if you are looking for quality, check out this thread where I discussed renal diets. Even for healthy cats, the protein sources in those are high quality. But be careful, some cats with CKD need specific restrictions that a healthy dsh does not. If he is just picky, try warming the kibble up slightly. That releases the smell.

Thanks Steve. Warming it up is a good tip, but I worry about the texture. He is used to wet food. I read this post about weaning cats off wet food and it was very helpful. Do you think I should mix the kibble with some wet food to get him started?

My gray tabby Whiskers is also a picky eater. I found that mixing in a little bit of broth from the wet food cans works wonders. We do this for our arthritis care too since it keeps them hydrated. But for a healthy dsh like Nacho, I would look at feeding amounts to make sure you are not overfeeding him while you transition.

Wait, is the kibble dusty? My Bella is a 6-year-old siamese with asthma and dust gets her crazy. I found low dust kibble options that are actually better quality because they hold together more. If Nacho is sensitive, maybe it is not just taste? Have you tried a low-dust formula? ? ? ?

I think the texture issue is valid. My Willow is 11 and senior, and she prefers softer kibble. I mix in some water. But for a young dsh, I would stick to the warming advice Steve gave. It is less work than mixing every meal. I hope you find something he likes soon.