This is a specific conversation about Cat food — getting it right — ask about yours and get one honest answer for your exact situation.
inparticular.ai
A recipe change putting a cat off their food is genuinely frustrating — especially at 11, when you've finally found something that works and the manufacturer pulls the rug out. Cats are obligate carnivores with precise nutritional needs, and many commercial foods already cut corners; when a formula shifts, even subtly, cats often notice before we do. Wet food stays the better choice at this age, particularly for kidney health, which starts to become a real concern in senior cats. To point you somewhere useful: is your cat male or female, and do you know if there are any health issues — kidney function, weight, dental problems? And what was the brand that changed?
She's a female, spayed. No diagnosed health issues but she's due a senior check soon. The brand was Sheba — she used to demolish it, now she sniffs and walks away. She's eating a little but nowhere near her old enthusiasm.
inparticular.ai
That tracks — Sheba reformulated and quite a few owners noticed their cats going off it around the same time. The good news is she's still eating something, so this is preference rather than illness driving it, though the vet check is still worth doing at 11. Before I suggest something, does she prefer pâté-style, flaked, or chunks in gravy or broth? And is she a confident eater in general, or has she always been a bit particular?
She's always been particular, honestly. She prefers chunks or flakes in liquid over pâté — she tends to lick the gravy and leave the meat with pâté. So something with a lot of broth or jelly would probably work better.
inparticular.ai
Perfect — that actually makes this easier. For a picky senior cat who wants real liquid and proper flavour, I'd go with Applaws Tuna Fillet in Broth. It's a very short ingredient list — tuna, tuna broth, that's essentially it — which means there's nowhere to hide cheap fillers or flavour maskers. The broth is generous and genuinely appetising, the texture is flaked rather than processed, and fussy cats who've gone off heavily processed foods tend to respond very well to it. It's also high in natural protein, low in carbohydrates, and the high moisture content is exactly what you want for a cat heading into her senior years with kidneys to protect. It comes in small 70g tins, which is ideal so nothing goes to waste if she's eating less volume. You can find it on Amazon UK easily — search Applaws Tuna Fillet in Broth 70g. I'd suggest getting a mixed case first rather than committing to a single flavour bulk buy.
That sounds promising. Should I be adding anything else to her diet, or is that enough on its own?
inparticular.ai
Applaws is nutritionally complete, so you don't need to supplement it, but at 11 I'd keep an eye on her overall intake — senior cats can quietly start eating less and lose muscle mass without it being obvious. If the vet check flags early kidney changes, you may need to adjust protein levels down the line, but right now high-quality protein is exactly right. One practical thing: serve it at room temperature rather than straight from the fridge. Cold food has less aroma, and for a particular cat, that can be the difference between eating well and picking.
Good tip. I'll try the Applaws and see how she gets on. Thanks.
inparticular.ai
Good luck — I'd expect a reasonably quick response given she's not unwell, just unimpressed. If she's still unenthusiastic after a few days, come back and we can look at other high-broth options. And do follow through on that vet check — catching kidney changes early at this age makes a real difference to what you can do about them.
