A cat that doesn't find the right food can develop behavioural problems. And if you overdo it on the quality of its meals, it may be more vulnerable to diseases, hence a final gain, zero. So you might as well do everything right, right now!
They say difficult cats. The term "maniac" would suit them better! In fact, a cat will never touch food whose freshness seems doubtful. Likewise, he will sulk his bowl if you place it too close to his litter box. Finally, since plastic releases molecules that some cats find repellent, it is in your cat's best interest to choose a glass or porcelain bowl (clean and perfectly rinsed), especially one that is not too deep because your new friend wants to be able to watch what is going on around him while he eats. The same goes for his drinking water, to be left at his disposal 24 hours a day, changing it twice a day.
Cat food: pâtés or croquettes?
In fact, it is not so much the presentation, but the quality of the nutrients that counts. Favour the top-of-the-line, available in specialized stores and from veterinarians, because the proteins provided are real pieces of meat or selected fish and not bits of tendons or other parts deemed unfit for human consumption. Since a cat must have access to the food 24 hours a day (it loves to peck), the kibbles are particularly practical. The Sam & Lily brand offers healthy kibbles without cereals (or kibbles with little cereal) and a high meat content. They are available for delivery on the Shop by Miaoubox.
However, nothing prevents you, if you really want to, from offering her a pâté (same brand, same range) in the morning for example and croquettes at will the rest of the time. Giving him only pâté and leaving him at home is more complicated, because after a few hours, he might stink, especially in summer! This risk is all the greater since a cat hates being served an iced meal: he wants it lukewarm or at room temperature, otherwise he thinks he's dealing with a corpse and refuses to touch it at all.
Your cat's menu: no fantasy!
Believing that they are doing the right thing, many owners often change their pet's menu, for fear that he will find his meals too monotonous. But apart from possibly changing the perfume, while remaining within the same range and brand, this fantasy is useless. Useless and even harmful because the cat has the necessary enzymatic equipment to digest its usual meals, but not necessarily the new foods you wish to introduce. By changing your cat's eating habits, you risk causing digestive problems (especially diarrhea). For the same reasons, don't give him your leftovers: cats, just like dogs, are not table scraps.
Finally, if you change his meal as soon as he pretends not to touch it, your cat will quickly understand the merry-go-round and play hard to get, in the hope of always getting better. So many reasons to find a food that is suitable for him - taking into account his age, his condition and with the advice of the veterinarian - and not to change any more!