High Palatability Cat Food: Which One to Choose?

High palatability cat food is mainly offered when our small friends lack appetite or suffer from some disorder.

There are indeed several factors capable of influencing cat nutrition.

By reading this article you will discover the most frequent causes and which tasty food for cats you can offer to solve the problem.

Feeding Problems in Cats: What Do They Eat in General?

Before understanding why your cat is not eating, you need to reflect on its nature and understand whether what we are offering in the bowl respects it.

The cat is a feline, so it is classified as a strict carnivore. This means that in nature its diet is based almost exclusively on food of animal origin (small rodents, birds, lizards, mice).

Over time, in fact, its teeth, digestive system and behaviour have evolved based on its predatory activity.

Even though the cat has now become a domestic animal, it has not changed its nutritional need and has a greater need for proteins compared to other mammals, which is why highly palatable cat kibble of good quality must contain at least 28-30% of proteins with high biological value, therefore derived from meat and fish.

Not all food for cats, however, respects these characteristics. To find out what an adequate food for cats should actually contain, read our in-depth article.

The Causes of Loss of Appetite in Cats

If the food you have purchased is the right one, but you notice that your cat’s diet is experiencing important deficiencies, it is advisable to take it to the vet to rule out any systemic pathologies and hairballs.

Besides diseases, there are other reasons that push the cat not to feed itself sufficiently, such as heat, a move or a change in routine.

Does your cat approach the food, lick it and smell it, but not eat it? Then the bowl is not to its liking and high palatability cat food can help you.

Picky Cats: Solutions in “Details”

Before changing food, remember that cats are selective animals that are very particular – it only takes one environmental situation they consider unfavourable for them to change their attitude and eating habits.

Veterinarians, in fact, are often consulted by owners regarding recipes for picky cats to prepare. Sometimes, however, it is enough to modify a simple detail in the environment to solve the lack of appetite.

For example, a cat might not want to eat if the bowl is dirty or too close to the litter box. It is better to use bowls made of glass, ceramics or metal, clean them every day and position them in a room different from the one the cat uses for its needs.

Feeding Problems in Cats Due to Specific Foods

Age, lifestyle and any pathologies of the cat modify its nutritional needs, exactly as happens for humans. For this reason there are:

• • Food for cats with weight problems with a reduced content of fats and proteins in a dose such as to guarantee excellent functioning of the intestinal tract;Food for sterilized cats because their metabolism changes and therefore nutrition must change too – in fact, the energy requirement of a sterilized cat decreases by 20-30% and it is necessary to take this into account to avoid obesity problems;
  • Food for cats with food intolerances that help eliminate dermatitis and other eating-related disorders. These are normally monoprotein foods useful for identifying whether one protein more than another might cause problems for the animal. For further information, read our guide on food intolerances in dogs and cats. These specific foods can, for various reasons, be unpleasant to small felines.

High Palatability Cat Food: Possible Solutions

How to get a cat that won’t eat to eat? To get food that your cat will be fond of, you can opt for multiple solutions: make what you already have more palatable, with different strategies, or change brand.

Palatability of Cat Food: How to Increase It

Are you wondering how to increase the palatability of cat food? To make cat food palatable you can first present it at room temperature or in any case lukewarm, because in this way it releases the smell that encourages the cat to eat.

Our feline friends, in fact, rely heavily on their sense of smell when deciding what to eat and a very strong smell can stimulate their appetite.

You can also vary taste and consistency, remembering however that it is best not to change the diet at times of stress when it prefers to eat already known foods. To do this you just need to add some highly palatable wet cat food, which has a softer and juicier consistency.

Its health, by the way, will thank you: cats should eat mainly wet food to ward off serious kidney problems over time.

A further expedient, finally, consists of adding aromatic herbs such as mint, rosemary and parsley to the bowl.

Even cat grass, in an indirect way, can prove very useful for increasing the palatability of cat food in case your cat is stressed or has digestive problems, giving relief to the stomach. After consuming it, your pet’s sense of appetite will grow.

Supplements to Increase Cat Food Palatability

Some people suggest adding supplements to increase cat food palatability. But if you offer your cat a high-quality industrial diet, you could create a dangerous excess for health.

In the case of homemade diets and therefore food for cats made at home, instead, it is preferable to ask your veterinarian for advice to avoid potential imbalances.

What can be added without any problem to cat kibble, in addition to wet food, are natural appetizers, such as salmon oil and chicken liver.

High Palatability Food for Elderly Cats

The elderly kitties deserve a chapter all their own. They are the ones who suffer most from heat, ailments and changes.

For them it is important to exponentially increase humidity, proteins, amino acids, “good” fats, antioxidants and anti-inflammatory substances in the bowl to reduce the risk of insidious and potentially life-threatening diseases.

The preferred temperature for their food? According to the latest research, 37°.

Some high palatability food for elderly and inappetent cats contain ingredients such as chicken, salmon and sweet potatoes, which provide high-quality proteins and are easily digestible.

High Palatability Cat Food: Selection Guide

There are many highly palatable cat food brands on the market, but they are not all the same. The palatability of cat kibble, in fact, can be given by the quality and freshness of the ingredients, or by artificial substances that make “good” what would naturally even harm cats.

This is the case, for example, of all those companies that use artificial flavours and dyes to make tasty ingredients to avoid such as grain and cereals, sadly present as the first ingredient on the label.

If you are looking for high palatability cat food, with Naxos you will assure your small friend products with raw materials:

• Intended for human consumption;
  • 100% made in Italy;Short supply chain;
  • High biological value.

Our highly palatable cat kibble are loved even by the most demanding palates. They have proteins as the first ingredient on the label and are enriched with precious superfoods – such as pomegranate, spirulina algae, Sicilian citrus fruits, prickly pear – that support the immune system of our four-legged friends.

They are designed for different specific needs – sterilized cats, allergic cats and kittens – without sacrificing taste.

Take a look at the range of our products for cats. Discover how to buy them online or find the store closest to you!