For the last 9 years Booger has eaten only dry food. When I first took him to the vet he recommended dry food. Lately, however, it seems everyone recommends wet food, especially wet food with no grain.
So I purchased several cans of "Before Grain" made by Merrick. I used a guide I found online to begin switching him over about 2.5 weeks ago. To this day he still hates the wet food and barely eats. He's losing weight at an alarming rate and I'm very, very afraid he's going to suffer liver damage. He was originally 16 lbs. I don't own any type of scale, but I'd say he's lost 10%-15% of his weight, so I'm very worried.
I've tried using tuna water and actual tuna to get him interested, but he just licks the food where the tuna is until it's gone and leaves the rest. I'm out of ideas. What can I do to get him to eat the wet food without damaging his liver during the process? Do I need to take him to the vet for a blood test to check his liver function since he's lost so much weight?
Also, the can recommends feeding twice a day. Can a cat actually eat a whole large can of wet food at once? It looks like so much food, how could it fit in the stomach.
I would appreciate any advice and help.
EDIT: I should add that Booger is an indoor cat only, so he's not getting food outside or anything.
So I purchased several cans of "Before Grain" made by Merrick. I used a guide I found online to begin switching him over about 2.5 weeks ago. To this day he still hates the wet food and barely eats. He's losing weight at an alarming rate and I'm very, very afraid he's going to suffer liver damage. He was originally 16 lbs. I don't own any type of scale, but I'd say he's lost 10%-15% of his weight, so I'm very worried.
I've tried using tuna water and actual tuna to get him interested, but he just licks the food where the tuna is until it's gone and leaves the rest. I'm out of ideas. What can I do to get him to eat the wet food without damaging his liver during the process? Do I need to take him to the vet for a blood test to check his liver function since he's lost so much weight?
Also, the can recommends feeding twice a day. Can a cat actually eat a whole large can of wet food at once? It looks like so much food, how could it fit in the stomach.
I would appreciate any advice and help.
EDIT: I should add that Booger is an indoor cat only, so he's not getting food outside or anything.
He can still live a good life though. He will just require a bit more care.
