Lazy Eating Habits

**deshni** · 12th June 2012, 09:15 AM

Hi All

Roark is not on a raw food diet but I do give him raw food from time to time as I believe the pure protein is good for him. He is about seven and a half months old and he has been eating raw food from about ten weeks. Obviously at this stage though I started him on mince and then I would cut up pieces of meat for him when he was too young to tear off the bone.

My cat is now lazy and I have no-one to blame but myself. He refuses to eat any type of meat unless it is cut up into manageable bite size portions and heaven forbid he has to rip food off a bone. If he sees meat which is on a bone he will sniff it and lick it and then walk away and eat his dry food instead. This behavior is the same with fish where instead of enjoying eating it off the bone, he will refuse to touch it unless it has been cut up for him.

Does anyone have any tips for me? I am afraid that I have turned by big strong cat into a bit of a wuss.

**Howlinbob** · 12th June 2012, 04:05 PM

Hi there

Firstly well done for introducing some raw food in the first place. It is really, really good for them.

I started my kitten Herbie on raw food as soon as I got him at 13 weeks, and fortunately he ate everything I gave him, including chicken wings. It probably helped that he has 3 big brothers who all set a good example by tucking in. A bit of competition for the food stops them being all that fussy!

Sounds like Roark needs some firm encouragement. Forget the meat on the bone for now. Remove the dry food so that he doesn't have a choice. Serve the chunks of meat on their own, in a small size you know he will eat. Gradually over a few days, increase the size of the chunks. Then work up to a chicken wing.

I wouldn't worry about getting him to actually shear the meat off the bone himself. As long as he's getting the meaty chunks and chicken wings, he's getting the benefit of chewing and teeth-scraping. Once he's OK with wings, try a chicken leg bone with some meat on. They like chewing on the ends and exposing the marrow - all good exercise.

Would love to see some pics, by the way!

**deshni** · 13th June 2012, 11:29 AM

Thanks, I'm going to try removing the dry food and getting him to work up to chicken wings and legs. Here are some pictures!

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**Howlinbob** · 13th June 2012, 04:50 PM

OMG! What a stunning boy. Just love his black and white, especially that cute black chin! *smooch*

**deshni** · 22nd June 2012, 09:52 AM

I am very happy to report that after some firm encouragement and teaching Roark that if he is not willing to work for his food then he will be fed unappetizing wet food!

My kitten (who is 8 months old today!) did me so proud last weekend by eating an entire piece of sole off the bone and eating the bone! And this morning he was chewing on some chicken necks!