what tastes like tuna?

[Rafiki]

Rafiki has liver issues and as a result she is quite picky about food. Up until the end of April, she only ate raw and snubbed every attempt to give her anything else. Since this health issue began, we have given her anything and everything she is willing to eat. In the last few days, she has been obsessed with people-tuna. She will eat a full can in one meal, no problem. Tonight, she has asked for more after consuming her full can (4 oz of food + 1 oz of water). She is currently in the process of eating another 1/2 can. I really do not like giving her tuna because it is too far up the food chain and has a lot of issues for cats but bottom line is that I need her to eat. What is similar in flavor to tuna without the negatives?

 

[Carykd7kau]

Linda, it is my understanding that cats are not real flavor driven. They eat what their systems NEED. It is possible there is something in tuna that she needs for her liver issues. Maybe Omega 3 ... I don't know. But don't rule out that she is getting something she needs from the tuna. Just sayin...

 

[Pam Flachs]

Since Rafiki has a taste for seafood...have you tried other fish, such as raw tuna or salmon? You might also try draining the juice from a can of tuna and adding it onto another food and see if she will eat that...I have heard that cats can't resist the taste of canned mackeral, too. I understand your concern about her eating the canned fish, but she IS eating...have you tried any of the tuna or fish flavored canned cat foods? Again, try those with added canned tuna juice...

 

[Rafiki]

I have tried salmon, mackerel and sardines and she snubbed them all. She sometimes eats the Wellness tuna but both the minced and morsels were a bust this week. The internal medicine vet suggested white fish but I seem to recall that this is rather tasteless (at least as far as sushi is concerned). She definitely will not eat raw fish - or at least not up until now so I was trying to think of what I can lightly cook and serve her.

 

[DumaLove]

Have you tried canned chicken? Might be higher in sodium but maybe you could find one that isn't.

 

[cbain]

I really hope Rafiki starts eating and gets his or her health back very soon !

 

[Rafiki]

The sole fillet was not a hit.

 

[Rafiki]

Sole filet was "acceptable" after it was soaked in tuna juice and served 80/20 tuna/sole.

 

[admin]

Sole filet was "acceptable" after it was soaked in tuna juice and served 80/20 tuna/sole.

Have you tried any of the Fancy Feast fish? At this point, I think you just need to get her to eat - doesn't matter what canned it is...have you tried Applaws at all? What about Earthborn Holistics fish flavors?

 

[Rafiki]

Last night she ate about 5-1/2 oz of tuna/sole fish plus about 3/4 oz of liquid (tuna juice plus what I cooked the sole in). This morning she only ate about 2 oz total.

She will not go near Fancy Feast. It is the oddest thing but she has never taken a bite of grocery store cat food. I have not tried Applaws or Earthborn. I will look into them.

I also bought some ground kangaroo meat and some bison burgers to try.