Stray Cat, Fussy Eater

[Jennykenny]

A cat visited my garden recently and was howling for food. Since I had nothing really suitable to hand I gave it some milk and chopped up cheese, (yes I know, but as I have become vegetarian more or less, didn't think it would enjoy tomatoes and lettuce).
Anyway ran round to the corner shop and got some sachets of a well known cat food, but he/she doesn't seem interested. Why would a hungry cat not eat packaged cat food??

[wolf63]

Cats lie.

If it was a starving stray it would eat anything.

If it was just visiting it might be picky. The idea is for you to feel bad and buy nicer cat food or chicken.

They are con artists. Buy a packet of Dreamies, a cat treat most cats love.

[Psybbo]

We bought Cat Milk for a visiting young cat, it took a mouthful and spat it out.

[Islay]

Its playing you. Our village stray visits 6 or 7 houses and eats at each one!!

[Jennykenny]

I must admit it doesn't seem to be too unhappy, just very loud.

[Baldric]

;o)

https://sp.yimg.com/xj/th?id=OIP.M52bec1f4b738f7b429092f94554583eco0&pid=15.1&P=0&w=210&h=171

[Buenchico]

Milk is bad for cats. Oddly, however, cheese isn't! (Many brands of 'cat treats' incorporate cheese. Two of my little darlings love a bit of cheddar whereas the other two won't go near it).

Any cat that refuses the (expensive!) sachets of cat food though almost certainly isn't hungry! Some cats just miaow or howl almost constantly. (My littlest one, Tablo, can even manage a 'distressed miaow' while purring contentedly at the same time!).

If the cat's not actually skinny, she's not in great need of food and probably not a stray anyway. (I had two 'hungry strays' come to live me me. They'd been with me for a couple of years before I found out that I was regarded as the local 'catnapper' because their official homes were in two adjoining houses across the road!)

[Jennykenny]

Thanks BC good to know. Will stop the milk.

[Arksided]

As mere Humans we're here just to entertain cats, they're by nature natural hunters... it maybe just a mating call and desperate for a shag.

[Kathyan]

There is a saying that dogs have owners but cats have servants!

[CrapAtCryptics]

Probably gets that at home and was hoping for something special from you.

[roopower]

There's a lovely children's book called ' Six Dinner Sid' about a scrounging cat. Six different families thought they owned him, until 'he' had kittens and they all had one. I like a happy ending!

[roopower]

Our cats are all terrible with food. Get a free sample and it's the best thing since sliced bread, buy a bag full and it's a case of " what have you bought us this rubbish for?" None of the six will eat one of the major brands.

[smurfchops]

You could try putting a collar round its neck with a note inside asking if it belongs to anyone ..... If it does, the owner will open it and read it! Put your contact details on the note ....