Petco Text Logo
Petco Pet Logo

  • Two Easy Ways to Start Earning Rewards!

    rewards header
    Become a member today!
    Members-only pricing and offers, personalized care notifications, Vital Care points back on every purchase and more!
    Already a member? Sign in
    Petco Pay LogoBecome a credit card member today!

    Earn 2X Pals Rewards points at Petco
    when you use Petco Pay!

    APPLY NOW
    Learn More About Petco Pay Benefits

Why is my 1.5-year-old cat eating less and getting bored with food?

Updated on September 23rd, 2025

Pet's info: Cat | Ragdoll | Male | unneutered | 1 year and 5 months old | 13 lbs

My ragdoll kitten is now 1.5yr old. His appetite is lesser then before. He eats around 2 cans of 3oz wet food and 85gms of dry food in a day. Is this sufficient nutrition? He tends to get bored of this food flavors very quickly and avoids eating the same can after 10days. Earlier he used to eat around 3cans with dry food every day. Is this normal

2 Answers

Most Helpful Answer

Dr. Heidi DVM, CVA, CCRT, CVTP, CVSMT, CVCH

Answered By Dr. Heidi DVM, CVA, CCRT, CVTP, CVSMT, CVCH

Veterinarian, Certified Veterinary Acupuncturist, Certified Canine Rehabilitation Practitioner

Published on August 8th, 2018

The exact amount of calories that a cat needs certainly depends on their weight and activity level, but will tend to decrease slightly when a cat reaches an adult age. So, that might be why Baluu is eating less canned food than he used to. If he did not used to eat the dry food along with the canned food, then that would also account for why he is eating less canned food. In general, we usually recommend about 5 ounces of canned food for each 10 pounds of body weight if they are not eating any dry food. Based on that, it sounds like Baluu is eating a sufficient amount since he is also eating some dry food. If it seems like Baluu is losing weight, then I would recommend having your veterinarian examine him to make sure there isn't something going on internally. Otherwise, I would suspect that his metabolism is just slowing down a little and he doesn't need as much food as he did when he was younger. Some cats really desire some variety in their food, and it sounds like Baluu is one of those cats.
Good luck! I hope that answered your questions. Thanks for using Petco Pet Education Center, formerly Petcoach.
Vote Icon1Pet Parents found this answer helpful

Related Answers from Veterinarians

  • Answered By Laura Johnson VMD

    Veterinarian

    Published on May 6th, 2018

    HI, thanks for using Petco Pet Education Center, formerly Petcoach!

    I think if he isn't ravenously eating all the food I would cut back to 2 1/2 to 2 cans of wet food per day. Especially since he is eating dry as well. On average an adult cat should eat about 3 cans of Fancy Feast per day if that was there only calorie source. Since Baluu is also getting dry food I think you can cut back on the number of cans per day. Maybe feed 1 cam in the morning and 1 can at night and see how that goes and will leave the dry out.

    I wish you the best!

    Vote Icon

    1Pet Parents found this answer helpful

Smart Picks for Smart Questions

Food & Nutrition
How much food for a 1-year-old cat losing weight and appetite?
Thanks for using Petco Pet Education Center, formerly Petcoach! This is actually more based on the weight than the age per se. If Kovu is really 7 pounds like your profile says, he should be eating about 250 to 300 calories per day to gain weight. The caloric content can be easily found in the can or bag of food or online. Good luck and have a great day!
Updated on September 23rd, 2025
Training & Behavior
Why is my 1-year-old cat clingy and not eating? Is this normal?
What you are describing does not sound normal. Certainly adult cats will eat a little less than kittens if they are less active, but it sounds like Mischa's appetite has decreased pretty dramatically. You can certainly try changing brands or flavors of food in case there is something she does not like about her food. I also do not recommend mixing the canned and dry food because if they do not eat it all at once, moistening the dry food can cause bacterial growth. So, if you feed both types of food, just put them in seperate bowls. If you try a different food and Mischa still does not eat well, I would recommend having your vet examine her and possibily run some bloodwork to makes sure that everything is normal. Good luck! I hope that was helpful. Thanks for using Petco Pet Education Center, formerly Petcoach.
Updated on September 23rd, 2025
Food & Nutrition
Why won't my cats eat dry food but still love wet? Are they underfed?
If both of your cats are 6 months old it may be that they simply don’t need as many calories and are eating less dry food for that reason. It’s pretty rare for cats to be too thin but you could check with your vet to make sure their body condition is good if you’re concerned about underfeeding. If you don’t want them to eat as much wet food then offer less. If they are maintaining their weight and are not vomiting or having diarrhea I wouldn’t be concerned that they’re eating a little less food.
Updated on September 23rd, 2025
Food & Nutrition
How to feed my 1-year-old cat to prevent obesity and manage weight?
Hello, depending on her lifestyle, indoor only cats should be fed atleast twice daily. This can be a variety of dry and wet food and should not exceed more than 1 cup of dry food per day or more than 1 can per day. There may be differences depending on how many calories each food contains so it is hard to determine this. Your kitten should be consuming around 201 Kcal per day. Hope this helps and best of luck.
Updated on September 23rd, 2025
Food & Nutrition
Why is my cat losing weight and not eating after adult food switch?
I wouldn't think that a decrease in appetite and weight loss would result from a diet change. Some cats can be quite picky and will stop eating a food they previously liked or be hesitant to try a new food, but eventually these cats will eat once they get hungry enough and picky eating should not result in significant weight loss. I wouldn't be concerned about changing to an adult food in an 11 month old cat either - Kovu was probably very close to his adult height by that point. I think seeing your veterinarian to have Kovu's weight checked and for a complete physical exam sounds like a great idea, and if they feel he is in good health you can discuss trying to find good quality diet that he seems to like and then monitor his weight closely.
Updated on September 23rd, 2025
Food & Nutrition
Is it normal for my adult cat to eat less and seem lethargic?
Cats tend to eat slightly less once they have finished growing and their behavior can also settle as they grow up. If there is any weight loss or other signs of ill thrift such as poor coat or muscle condition i would recommend a full health check. Be sure to keep up to date with deworming medications and other preventions
Updated on September 23rd, 2025
Food & Nutrition
My cat is gaining weight. How much should a 2-year-old fixed male eat?
The amount of food will vary depending on the particular food. Generally, a small can of Fancy Feast twice a day is all a cat will need. If you feed dry food, post a picture of the feeding guidelines and we can help you determine how much. This is also a great time to help your pet exercise. You can use a feather toy, a small ball or pom pom on a string, a laser pointer, etc.
Updated on September 23rd, 2025

Related Searches

Cat FoodWet Cat FoodCat SuppliesCanned Cat FoodSenior Cat FoodDry Cat FoodCat Food Variety PacksGrain Free Cat FoodCat Food PouchesCat Food with GrainKitten FoodHigh Protein Cat FoodFreeze Dried Cat FoodWeight Management Cat TreatsVeterinary Diet Cat FoodCat Food Trays, Cups and TubsKitten Formula & Milk ReplacerCat Bowls & FeedersCat TreatsCat Broths & Toppers
Have A Vet Question?

Book an appointment with the pros – our expert vets are here to help.

Book Now

Share

Styled arrow button