Is this normal?
Yes. Fresh food smells and feels different from kibble, and pets used to strongly flavoured dry food can be cautious at first. Cats are naturally more careful with new foods. Picky eating also grows when a pet learns that refusing a bowl brings something tastier.
What to try, most effective first
- Keep set mealtimes. Offer the meal, pick the bowl up after the meal, and offer it again at the next mealtime. Don't leave food out all day.
- Stop the alternatives. Pause extra treats and table food during the switch, and don't keep swapping foods when the bowl is ignored.
- Serve it slightly warmed. Room temperature or slightly warmed, never hot. Warmth releases the aroma. See how to warm it gently.
- Add bone broth. Pour a little Soluky bone broth over the meal.
- Slow the switch down. Go back a step, or use the gentle 21-day plan for dogs or cats. Mix the new food well into the old so it isn't sitting on top.
- Hand-feed the first bites to build trust in the new food.
- Try another recipe. Dogs: Lamb is a favourite with fussy eaters. Cats: Purrfect Fish is a flavour picky cats tend to love, and Purrfect Lamb suits cats bored of chicken. You can swap recipes in your next box.
Also check the portion
If there are leftovers every day, the daily amount may be more than your pet needs. Check their weight and activity in My Pets so the portion is right: how much to feed a dog, how much to feed a cat.
When to call your vet: a cat that refuses food for more than 24 hours, a dog that refuses food for more than a day or two, or any pet that stops eating and also seems unwell (vomiting, diarrhoea, low energy, weight loss). Cats should never be left to go without food to "teach" them to eat.
Still struggling after two weeks? Message the Soluky team on WhatsApp +966 56 748 1781 and we'll help you choose a recipe. Related: what to expect in weeks 1 to 4.