Odd Eating Behaviour Change - Help!

[roskobulator]

hi all - i have 2 male maine coons - one 2.5 years old (alpha cat!) and one 2 years (his faithful companion! lol) ...
they both have been on a raw food diet from the beginning and they both are magnificent cats .... very active, very healthy, both wonderful examples of how careful diet and overall good care can really result in lean, playful, happy animals. both are ravinously good eaters, never an issue. however, a few days ago, the younger male started turning away from his food, something he's never done. since they get raw food, mixed with various other supplements, i figured maybe he smelled something in that particular batch of meat that i used that he didn't like. so ..... got meat from a different place, prepared it as usual and he seemed fine with it. mystery solved so i thought! ...... to make a long story short - he's become a very picky eater in a matter of days - won't eat the standard diet he's had for 2 years, and we've had to give him everything from boiled chicken, to some raw organ meats, then maybe back to chicken, etc .... to get him interested. he's become kind of a "spooky" eater ... very cautious, hesitant. i had him completely checked out at the vet and, just as i figured, there was nothing the vet could find. very mild gingivitis, but certainly not enough to cause him not to eat the way he has been doing. if there is something "psychological" going on, can't figure out what that is. both cats get along famously. would love to know what could account for this change in behaviour. it's got me really puzzled. thanks for your help!

[jckkerrison]

If you hadn't said that you had taken him to the vets the first thing I would have come up with would have been mouth problems or a sore throat,when we have cats brought into work with the same symptoms it is normally one or the other.Is he drinking ok...?

[catslave]

Have you tried putting the supplements into a gravy and putting over the meat? Maybe he "knows" they are there are is trying to avoid them. My Buddy is raw fed (for health reasons - crystals in bladder etc) and he is a bit picky sometimes but his favourite turkey drumstick always wins him round.

[Howlinbob]

Hi there, I agree with Catslave. Don't add the supplements and see if he accepts the meat without. Go through a process of elimination to see if you can find out what's bothering him. And are you sure he hasn't got sore gums? Welcome, btw! And pictures please.....x