Why Your Cat is Suddenly Refusing to Eat Dry Food

A sudden change in eating behavior is usually a solid sign that something is wrong with your cat. It can be especially worrying if your cat suddenly refuses to eat the same dry food he has eaten with no fuss throughout the year. Here are some reasons why.

1. Cat Has Difficulty Chewing Kibbles

Your cat won’t eat the dry food if he is having trouble chewing it. This could happen for a number of reasons. It could be due to the pain felt from a dental disease or it could be something that happens more gradually due to old age.

You will know that something is wrong if the cat has no problem chowing down the wet food but won’t go an inch near the dry food bowl. You should get a diagnosis from the vet if this behavior persists.

2. Lack of Access to Clean Water

If your cat’s diet mainly consists of dry food then keep a close eye on the amount of water he drinks. Your cat may suddenly refuse to eat dry food if he doesn’t have access to “clean” drinking water. Your cat might be in a state of chronic dehydration, which can be a big deterrent for eating dry food.

As a general rule of thumb, it’s considered healthy to incorporate some wet food into a cat’s diet. It’s a good way for cats to remain hydrated as up to 80% of wet cat food may consist of water (depending on the brand).

3. You Received a Bad Batch

While unlikely, the dry food you recently bought for your cat may just happen to be a bad batch. Cats may also refuse to eat the dry food if you have decided to switch it up recently. They are quite picky and dry food isn’t really considered “normal” for cats since they are obligate carnivores.