As of: February 27, 2024, 11:00 a.m
By: Lara-Sabrina Kiehl
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Shaggy the cat usually wrinkles his nose when he sees his cat food.
His owner is desperate, but ultimately comes up with a solution that the gourmet likes.
Cats are independent and proud creatures who, like humans, have certain preferences - especially when it comes to their meals.
Shaggy the cat is no exception.
If he doesn't like something, he shows it.
But his imaginative owner finds a clever way to get Shaggy to enjoy eating his cat food again.
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Shaggy the cat insists on a side salad
Dina Moeller knew relatively quickly after she adopted him that Shaggy the tomcat was picky when it came to his choice of food.
Additionally, it was difficult to find food that supported his sensitive digestive system.
While Dina was searching for the optimal cat food, Shaggy started stealing salad ingredients while she was preparing dinner, the cat owner tells
Newsweek
.
So Dina decided to take an unusual step – a side salad.
Surprisingly, Shaggy suddenly developed an appetite again when he was given his side salad alongside his usual cat food.
According to the owner, Shaggy's stomach problems also seemed to improve after eating salad.
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Possible reason for culinary preference
The cat owner shares her cat's curious culinary preferences via the
TikTok
account @the_shags2021, but also shows other favorite dishes of the little black gourmet, such as corn and watermelon.
Dina suspects that the house tiger's unusual taste is due to his past.
As a former street cat, Shaggy may have been feeding on leftover food that was in the trash and is therefore drawn to atypical food.
Read here how a man feeds a cat and the cat brings his four kittens as a thank you.
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In any case, that's the explanation for Dina, as she reveals: "I think if you're programmed into it from a young age, it's hard to overcome the old habits." But she also emphasizes that Shaggy isn't completely against cat food.
“We go through phases,” she says.
If he gets bored of a certain flavor of wet food, the salad will get him to eat it.
If it's a flavor that he's really into, he'll be happy without the salad.
However, if it's not his favorite variety and he doesn't have any lettuce, he goes on a food strike.
If your cat is sick and won't eat, chicken broth can pick it up.
Five tips for picky cats
Cats are often picky when it comes to food, but there are tricks that can help.
(Symbolic image) © Pond5 Images/Imago
For owners of picky cats, feeding times can become a challenge.
Yes, there are helpful tips to encourage even the pickiest cat to enjoy his food.
The Perfect Dining Spot:
Cats are sensitive to food bowls, so try different ones to see their preferences.
Some like shallow bowls, others prefer raised bowls.
Make sure the bowls are clean and place them in a safe, easily visible location.
Cats are hygienic, so they refuse older food.
It's best to offer several small portions and avoid placing the bowl against the wall or too close to the litter box.
Or maybe an automatic cat feeder is right for you.
The optimal temperature:
Cats prefer warm food because in nature they eat small, warm prey.
If there is wet food in the fridge, you should let it stand for a moment or warm it slightly to intensify the scent.
Be careful not to make it too hot to avoid loss of nutrients.
A balanced mix:
To stimulate your appetite, it helps to vary the protein sources, such as beef or fish.
Regarding wet food or dry food: Some cats prefer dry food, but wet food is usually better because cats often drink little.
A mix of both types could be a good solution.
Try to get your cat used to wet food in the morning and evening, while dry food is always available.
Cats prefer lots of small meals throughout the day.
A change in feed should be done as slowly as possible.
Physical exercise:
Play with the cat before feeding to stimulate its appetite.
Mimicking hunting situations can make her hungry afterward.
Combine feeding with play by spreading dry food around the room and letting the cat hunt it like prey.
Fewer treats on the side:
Cats like snacks, but if they get them too often, they might reject the main food.
Therefore, use treats sparingly or sprinkle them in small quantities over wet food to stimulate the cat's appetite.
TikTok users are excited about Shaggy
The clip of Dina and her cat Shaggy is causing a stir on
TikTok
.
The clip has already been viewed over 8.4 million times and received over a million likes.
The community shares its thoughts in over 15,000 comments.
Here is a small selection.
“The meat pie and a small side salad please.”
“Bro has decided it’s new year, new me and he wants to eat healthier.
🤣”
“The next level is the espresso for dessert.
😂🤣”
“The cats are already training us the way they need it.
My cat managed to get me to go to the toilet with him.
He also wakes me up at night for this.”
“You let her watch the table too often!
😀🥰😂”
“Well, if the tomcat tolerates the salad well, then everything is 👍, be it for him, for the smacking bear.
💕🤗💋”
The editor wrote this article and then used an AI language model for optimization at her own discretion. All information has been carefully checked. Find out more about our AI principles here.