10 Meal Toppers Picky Cats Go Crazy For

Add the following healthy, cat-approved foods and toppers to your cat’s regular meal and improve smell, palatability, and your cat’s enthusiasm!

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#1. Sardines. Wild caught, unsalted sardines packed in spring water. Cats love them, and they’re a food topper with longevity benefits! Sardines are incredibly nutrient-dense. They’re packed with Omega-3s and vitamin D, both of which are cancer preventatives. They’re also a rich source of selenium, which promotes thyroid health and helps neutralize free radicals, protecting the organs from damage. 

Not only that, but sardines are an incredible source of CoQ10, a powerhouse coenzyme renowned for its antioxidant properties and a favourite supplement of longevity scientists. 

Plus, sardines are sustainable and supply the lowest levels of mercury and the highest levels of EPA and DHA of any fish. These essential fatty acids decrease inflammation and promote healthy skin function. And cats love them! You can give your cat half a sardine for every 10 pounds of body weight, 1 – 2 times per week. Buy sardines packed in water or fresh if you can find them! (Avoid farmed fish).

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#2. Tuna or Tuna Water. This is an easy win. If you open a can of water-packed tuna, save the tuna water—and maybe a morsel or two of the tuna itself—for your cat. Added to their regular food, the fishy smell helps tempt your cat to eat, and the water content helps keep cats, notorious for low water consumption, hydrated. 

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#3. Coconut oil. Many cats love the taste of coconut oil. Start small—just 1/8 teaspoon a day added to your cat’s dinner. (Too much, and you risk causing diarrhea.) Adding coconut oil to your cat’s diet can benefit their immune system, help with hairballs, reduce arthritis inflammation, improve bad breath, and help with a healthy stomach, says Dr. Anna Gardner, a holistic veterinarian in Washington. It can also help with constipation. 

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#4. Bonito Flakes are a healthy, nutritious supplement that you can sprinkle on your cat’s meals daily to make your cat’s food more appetizing. Derived from a single protein source—the tissue-paper-thin dried, smoked shavings of skipjack tuna—bonito flakes have an intense umami flavour, so a little goes a long way. High in protein and low in calories and fat, they’re a healthy and effective way to tempt picky cats. 

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#5. Catnip. You may not know this, but cats can actually eat catnip. Try sprinkling a bit of dried catnip over your picky cat’s dinner. It may spark the interest needed to entice them to eat. It’s perfectly safe to ingest and good for their digestion too! Plus, eating catnip can have a calming effect, useful for anxious cats. 

#6. Churu. Cats love Churu meal toppers and creamy treats. Adding a bit to your cat’s regular food can be just the thing to tempt your food-adverse kitty to eat. Made of wholesome ingredients without grains, preservatives, or artificial flavours, you can feel good about adding a Churu topper or creamy treat to your cat’s regular meal. They’re low-calorie, too! (from $4, inabafoods.com)

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#7. Meat baby food. Plain meat baby food is a great way to tempt cats. It’s devoid of salt, onions, artificial flavours, and other things that are bad for cats, and its pureed texture makes it perfect for mixing into cat food. 

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#8. Fish oil. Fish oil not only lends a flavour and fish scent many cats love, but it’s an excellent health booster. Rich in Omega-3 fatty acids EPA and DHA, fish oil can improve your cat’s skin and coat health and support joints and cognitive function. If your cat weighs 15 pounds or less, give them ¼ to ½ teaspoon a day right on their food.

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#9. Nutritional Yeast Powder. A lot of cats love the cheese-like flavour of nutritional yeast powder. Unlike regular yeast, it’s safe for cats because it contains no leavening agents. It’s packed with B vitamins and protein and can strengthen your cat’s immune system, promote skin and coat health, and give your cat an energy boost. Try dusting a bit on your cat’s food to perk up their regular offering.

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#10. Grated parmesan cheese. Many cats find cheese irresistible. Harder, aged cheeses, like parmesan, are considered safe for cats because they’re low in lactose. (Soft cheeses, like mozzarella, which can be higher in lactose, are on the no list.) Parmesan is still high in fat and salt, though, so it should be an occasional treat. Sprinkling a little on your cat’s dinner can do wonders to entice them to eat.

This article originally appeared in the award-winning Modern Cat magazine. Subscribe today!