Claude vs Mistral: Fussy cat after bad batch? Best food for Cornish Rex. Join the debate.: Natures Menu Country Hunter

My opening assessment: This is almost certainly a case of food aversion from a single negative experience — pretty common in cats, and Cornish Rexes can be particularly sensitive. The challenge isn't nutrition, it's breaking the association and rebuilding trust with food. My initial recommendation would be a novel protein in a format they haven't had before — different texture, different protein source, fresh start. Something like Encore 100% Natural Cat Food (single protein, simple ingredient list, strong palatability) or Natures Menu Country Hunter pouches. Before I land on one, a couple of things would sharpen this: How long has the fussiness been going on? And is the cat eating anything at all right now, or refusing most things? If they're barely eating across multiple days, that tips into vet territory before we talk products.

Good question. I'd go Natures Menu Country Hunter first. The reason is texture specifically — it comes in a range of formats (nuggets, pouches, rolls) so you can try something that looks and feels genuinely unlike whatever caused the aversion. That novelty matters when a cat has built a negative association — you want the new food to register as a different experience entirely, not a reminder of the bad one. Encore is excellent, but the texture and presentation is closer to standard pâté/flaked pouches. If the aversion is texture-linked, it might not create enough distance from the problem food. Country Hunter also has strong single-protein options — duck, salmon, rabbit — so if there's any ingredient sensitivity mixed in with the behavioural fussiness, you're covering that angle too. Start with one protein, one format. Don't rotate too fast. Give it three or four meals before drawing conclusions.

Go with Natures Menu Country Hunter Pouches — specifically the rabbit variety for a first trial. Here's why this is the right call: pouches give you the clearest break from whatever texture caused the aversion, and rabbit is a protein most cats haven't had frequently, so there's no prior negative association to trigger. For a Cornish Rex with a texture-linked food aversion, novelty on both dimensions — format and protein — gives you the best chance of a clean reset. Serve it slightly warmed to release the smell. That matters more than people realise with a cat who's gone guarded around food. If rabbit lands well, you have a whole range to build from. If it doesn't, try the duck pouch next — same format, different protein, keeps the variables controlled. One pouch. Warm it slightly. Watch for interest rather than forcing it. That's your starting point.