Is My Cat Orthorexic?

CoachReddy

He used to eat whatever food we put in his bowl, but lately he's getting picky... first he just turned his nose up at the regular cat food - friskies... that was no big deal because I just kept trying different foods figuring we'd find something he likes... but then it just kept getting worse and worse to the point where he would literally pick out the little meaty bits in a really expensive and organic brand of non-processed cat food - he wouldn't TOUCH the rest of it.

Well my worst suspicions were confirmed when I'd been gone from the apartment all day, and came home to find my cat watching Forks Over Knives and Vegucated on Netflix! Worse than that, he'd done some google searches and found some websites that told him that processed foods were going to give him cancer and that he'd be better off if he only ate whole foods the way his ancestor cats would have eaten.

Guys... is my cat orthorexic? What can I do!?

LoraF83

It would make sense. Cats are generally pretty fussy about what they eat anyway.

weese17

D**mit, Reddy, don't make me like you!

ZoeLifts

This seems serious. Is he at the point yet where he has begun searching your cabinets/fridge and tossing YOUR processed food? If not, there may still be a chance to get him back to normal. If he has, then you're screwed. He's going to be monitoring your every move that you are following a clean diet.

magerum

Calm down and get him a Pop Tart, STAT!

quirkytizzy

Some cats like a change of pace in food. But it can get expensive and time consuming continually switching brands (not to mention the possible yak factor of the cat trying to constantly digest different brands), A vet would best be able to address how to proceed with this issue. It is also possible that there is a psychological influence at work here (kitties can respond to stress with food, just like humans!) Check to see if any changes have been made in his or your daily routine.

In concurrence with all of this, trying getting him to watch National Geographic. Maybe viewing some healthier, more species appropriate television (think lion videos!) will help him strive to be healthy and return to his primal nature!

weese17

But for srs, the only thing you can do is leave Pop Tarts lying around. No one can resist pop tarts.


NO.



ONE.

magerum

Maybe even some chips

billsica

have you tried juicing your cat food? Its a bit difficult to do with the dry stuff, but a can of wet food in a juicer is what a cat needs some times. Usually I'll just mix up a cat food and carrot bowl for the cat, and a celery carrot and kale for myself. Its quick and easy and takes less than 10 seconds to get both made. :flowerforyou:

ldrosophila

Yes he is try more kitty treats like pounce and teach him moderation

lacurandera1

D**mit, Reddy, don't make me like you!

QFT.

My cat likes fresh veg and especially spinach. maybe they can trade recipes. Course, my cat also likes ice cream and cottage cheese. maybe he can convince your cat to live a little.

UsedToBeHusky

You should give him milk!

_SABOTEUR_

have you tried juicing your cat food? Its a bit difficult to do with the dry stuff, but a can of wet food in a juicer is what a cat needs some times. Usually I'll just mix up a cat food and carrot bowl for the cat, and a celery carrot and kale for myself. Its quick and easy and takes less than 10 seconds to get both made. :flowerforyou:

I blend my dry cat food with shakeology. It's the only thing I can think of to do with the free samples I got.

LoraF83

The best thing to do would be to get him to hunt for his own food. If he kills it, he will know it's fresh and a good source of vitamins and protein. Of course, it would be preferrable for him to kill only grass-fed, organic prey, so you need to find an organic, free range mouse farm.

MsPudding

Moar burgers.

auddii

Considering you eat paleo, I'm thinking your cat is just following your example. Start eating kibble, and you should be good to go.

ihad

If he's going online when you're not around, you need to get one of those internet filters. Who knows what else he's been looking at?

iAMsmiling

It's your own damn fault...slipping him all that aspartame laced milk...using him as a test subject for your twisted nutrition theories!

zombiedawn

I'm seriously wondering why I never found these boards before. My cat is in a downward spiral and has been for years. I'm glad I have somewhere to go where others can share their wisdom on this matter. Thank you, just......thank you.

jillybeansalad

Sometimes cats just don't like corn.

A cheeseburger is much more preferable.

iulia_maddie

You should follow kitty's lead and start eating healthier. Because ALL TEH TOXINZ!! ERMAGHERD THE TOXINZ!!

magerum

Moar burgers.

^This

ryry_

Like cat owner like cat

UsedToBeHusky

Have you tried kitty on marshmallows?

AllonsYtotheTardis

cmriverside

You should give him milk!

NO no, cats won't drink milk in nature. They don't drink it in nature!!

magerum

BurtHuttz

This is a serious problem and all of these flippant problems are not helping the OP.

CacheRaddy, I recommend that you give your cat OPTIONS. Put small portions of things in bowls. Write down what he chooses and what he avoids. Also, make sure you're observing him; he might be a mouser and you don't even know; he could be getting his nutrition on the skreets. If you can set up some nanny-cams around the neighborhood, you could watch to see if he's secretly slipping out to rummage garbage or birds nests.

In any event, I really, really hope you find a way to work this out. Orthorexia in cats is the number one killer of orthorexic cats.

BinaryPulsar

There has been a lot of good advice in this thread, and as you can see other people's cats have this same problem (people just don't usually talk about it), but please get the help of a cat psychologist. Your cat needs professional help. We can all just give you advice, but it's not a replacement for the professional help your cat needs. If you take care of this now, you might be able to prevent this from becoming a life long struggle. It's good that people are talking about this more openly now, but there is also the risk your cat could join on online forum. Those have been popping up for cats all over the place. It's tough because we do what we can, but cats are so secretive. Just be sure that you don't stand in the mirror and call yourself fat or unhealthy in front of your cat. They always see that!!! You think they aren't watching, but they are. I also agree that you need to start eating the cat food that you want your cat to eat. You need to model that behavior and help your cat see that the food is safe and good and healthy.

SpeSHul_SnoflEHk

But for srs, the only thing you can do is leave Pop Tarts lying around. No one can resist pop tarts.


NO.



ONE.

I can. PopTarts.. .Meh. It's my mutant power- The ability to resist pop tarts.

LovesStrays

I think you should respect your cats wishes - if he want to live on such a restrictive diet then you should be supportive. Eventually he'll trust you more and open up, then you might be able, after many conversations, to convince him that a little "bad" food now and again isn't going to kill him or derail his progress.

Who knows, he might even try a pop tart one day :flowerforyou: