suddenly refusing wet food? :(

My 3-year-old tabby used to love his wet food, but lately he just stares at the bowl and walks away. I’m worried he’s getting sick or just being difficult.

I’ve tried switching brands and flavors, but he won't even sniff it. He is still playing with Cola, but his appetite has dropped to zero for wet food. He will eat a few pieces of dry kibble, but that’s not enough for his weight. Has anyone dealt with this sudden refusal? I’m checking the house for any changes, but everything looks the same.

Listen, if he is healthy otherwise, stop worrying about the 'sick' part. Picky cats get pickier. My Milo has thyroid issues and he refuses food if the texture is even slightly off. I just warm the wet food up a bit. It smells better to them. Check Heating up the food for how I do it. If he stops eating dry food too, that is a different problem.

Oh greg, I am so sorry! That is such a stressful feeling when your baby ignores the bowl. I know the fear. I lost Mittens last year and now with Shadow having CKD, I am hyper aware of every meal. If he is acting normal otherwise, it might be a phase. But you should really look at When to worry about not eating to see if there are any subtle signs you are missing. It is not just about the food, it is about how they feel.

I had this with Noah when he was younger. He would stare at the food and then walk away. It turned out he was just bored of the routine. I started mixing in a little bit of the dry food he likes on top of the wet. It worked for a few days. If he is a young cat, it might be more about the novelty than health. Denice had a similar issue with a young cat, see My kitten won't touch wet food for her approach. But if he is lethargic, call the vet.