When the same food containing the same protein is fed day in and day out for months or years, intolerances often develop. One very important reason for offering your pet nutritional variety is to help prevent food allergies. Just as humans benefit by eating a variety of foods, so do companion animals. I often emphasize the importance of variety in the diet of cats and dogs, with both my veterinary clients and readers. Karen Becker – a holistic veterinarian who is also a huge supporter of raw food diets for dogs and cats – and she offers an answer to the question of picky eating habits in cats…and actually you can relate this research to dogs as well (just ask Chewy – born and raised on kibble until the age of 4).Ĭats Fed a Variety of Foods Are Less Finicky

Anyone with a cat of his or her own knows what I mean by this: proud, stubborn – and a bit snooty (much unlike a dog). It’s funny because I’ve had cats in the past (both on kibble and canned food) and boy, were they finicky eaters!Īt first I thought it had to do with their demeanor. I can give her chicken, beef, pork, lamb, and even fish and she simply gobbles it right up. One thing I’ve noticed about Chiquita is that she is not a picky eater when it comes to her raw food. She took to the BARF diet immediately…in fact, it’s actually how I was able to coax her out of the bush to begin with. She has been on BARF since I first pulled her out of a bush near my house – hungry, cold, and scared after being abandoned by her mother. I also have a cat named Chiquita (Chiqui for short).

My own dog, Chewy, has a notoriously spoiled appetite, and before I switched him to the BARF Diet, it was a huge struggle to get him to eat ANYTHING! I know how frustrating it can be to have a finicky pet. For those that struggle with picky dogs or cats, I feel your pain.

Notoriously finicky pets